Rukgala is a small, boutique yoga and wellness-focused resort on the shores of Victoria Lake near Kandy. Rukgala fashioned the property out of an old private house and added a little to give some comfortable rooms and great places to relax in a gorgeous setting. 

More than the built spaces, Rukgala Retreat is about offering a unique and refreshing experience of Sri Lanka in a beautiful and still quiet part of the island. It is mostly about warm welcomes, good food, great yoga and (for those that want) some easy adventure.

https://www.rukgalaretreat.com/

So, what can you expect?

Two to three yoga sessions a day. All, of course, optional. Yang mornings and Yin evenings.

• 7:30am: Coffee (or tea) on the deck overlooking the mountains.
• 8am: A strong morning practice, followed by a dip in the saltwater pool.
• 9:30am: A fresh and colourful breakfast buffet
• 10:30am: Time to yourself; choose solitude or socialise, paddle board or swim, take a hike or a nap.
• 1pm: Nutritious and delicious lunch – Eat light, we will be practising again.
• 2pm: Nap, read, float in the pool or around the grounds.
• 4pm: After some time to digest we meet again in the jungle Shala for Sean’s favourite time of the day – nerd time. We will dig deep into the science of breathing and explore some useful (and actionable) anatomy.
• 5pm: A softer, slower, and more gentle practice to wind down. Expect long-held stretches and therapy balls.
• 6pm: It’s time for sunset and to head up to “coconut ridge”.
• 7:30pm: Hungry? Good. Dinner is family style. A wholesome meal around a huge wooden table.
• 9pm: The night is to be spent as you wish; stargazing, socialising or most probably, sleeping.

The next day? We get to do it all again.

Times are approximate.

Activities include sunrise hikes in the hills, paddle boarding in a natural lake, Sri Lankan cooking and art therapy.

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The yoga clause and programme at Rukgala Retreat (the “Resort”) are organised by Pure (Travel) Limited (“Pure”), and all travel arrangements, reservations ticketing, package payments are made for and on your behalf by Excella Travel (HK) Limited (Agent License No. 351074) (“Excella Travel”).

Sean lay there, perplexed, in a puddle of his own sweat. Coming from a competitive sport background, being the ‘worst’ person in the room wasn’t something he usually welcomed. But this time was different – for the first time he felt still, both mentally and physically. 

Yoga was first advised by a doctor in 2014 to deal with the stress of his master’s degree and the numerous broken bones from his previous obsession, BMX. Admittedly it was the physicality that first drew Sean to Yoga. At the end of his first class, he had witnessed people doing amazing things with their bodies with what seemed like no effort at all. He could do none of it, and that is what hooked him. Noticing parallels between the extreme(ish) sports he enjoyed and Yoga – such as the sense of community and diversity of the practice – trading in his BMX for a Yoga mat was a simple decision. 

Since 2017 Sean has been living, working and teaching in India and Sri Lanka, and moved to HK in 2020. Despite a hectic travel schedule, Yoga helps to keep him grounded carrying his mat with him wherever he goes. 

Sean credits his Ashtanga teachers for teaching him to favour consistency over creativity in both his practice and teaching. The discipline gleaned from Ashtanga is infused with the ingenuity and pedagogy from Rocket Yoga teacher David Kyle. David taught Sean that how and why you teach is generally more important than what you teach and that familiar poses can be transformed by looking at them through a new lens.

Sean’s previous work as a Speech and Language Pathologist means that communication (verbal, visual or otherwise) remains at the core of his thinking. He is constantly learning to refine cues to allow more space for what matters, whether that is the power of silence (inspired through multiple Vipassanas) or technical nuggets to master the crow pose. 

Expect a dynamic class, punctuated by balance poses that cultivate stillness of the body and mind. Sean’s habit of deconstructing complex poses means that all students, regardless of yoga experience, can confidently explore challenges asanas. By sharing the rationale behind a technique or pose, students feel leaving more empowered and knowledgeable on how to advance their practice, be that in class or at home.

Inclusive of:

• 5 nights’ full-board accommodation, taxes, and service charges
• 1-hour full body therapeutic massage
• Sri Lankan cooking class
• Guided sunrise paddle on Victoria Lake
• Round-trip airport-resort transfer
• All yoga fees

PACKAGE PRICES WITHOUT AIRFARE:    

All prices below are per person for 3-8 March (5 nights/6 days)

Quadriple occupancy (a larger room hosting 4 guests in a shared space) is also available. Please email Samuel Lee, Yoga Event Manager at samuellee.yi@pure-international.com for registration and more information.