Bright, colorful and overflowing with sounds and smells this teardrop shaped island will tantalize all of your senses. Performing your asana and pranayama first thing in the morning after waking up, concentrating on your breath, feeling silently sanctified by the presence of divinity, steeped in mystery, you may well encounter that true essence you set out to find, when you booked a yoga and meditation vacation in Sri Lanka.

Staying in the Orient, yoga and meditation are probably never far from your mind. And in Sri Lanka, with its ancient cultures and traditions, and its grandiose temples and sanctuaries, of course, you will have ample opportunity to engage in both.

Thinking about yoga and meditation, the first thing that will come to mind will most likely be relaxation. But yoga and meditation really only start after that. Its effect is most profound and lasting when you are in a relaxed state already. This is what most resorts will teach you as the best order of things.

Having said that, there are all kinds of yoga and meditation sessions to be had. Choices range anywhere from ‘lite’ versions, like mindfulness training sessions you can drop in on per day, to immersing yourself into ‘hard core’ yoga and meditation practices for weeks on end. And that is not the only thing to consider when planning your yoga and meditation holiday. There are more aspects to think about and make choices in. There are: Yoga and meditation practices based on Hinduism and Buddhist teachings in as many different denominations as you can think of sometimes teachings given by specialized meditation teachers, yoginis, and monks in Sri Lanka, offers of yoga and meditation in combination with Ayurveda, detox, weight loss, wellness, and/or health.

There are yoga sessions in an array of different forms Hatha, Vinyasa, Vipassana, Ashtanga and Kundalini. Opportunities are also available to arrange yoga and meditation practices in combination with other activities, like surfing, cooking and local language classes, etc.

There are yoga and meditation sessions for beginner, intermediate, and advanced levels, for the initiate and the uninitiated. There are also specialized resorts that specifically offer organic and locally sourced or homegrown vegetables, fruits and staple foods. Most resorts are located along the west and south coast of the island. So there are many opportunities for combinations with other activities around snorkeling, whale & dolphin watching, visiting the ramparts of Galle Fort, the old Dutch Reformed Church, and the warren of its town’s streets, visiting the old hippie hang-out Hikkaduwa, going on safari out in one of the nearby national parks like Yala, are but a few that immediately come to mind.

Despite the centuries old yoga and meditation traditions throughout its history, it has been only in the last decade or so that yoga and meditation for tourists has become a big thing in Sri Lanka. As a consequence, many resorts have sprung up. And with so many different aspects and choices catered to, there will always be a plan that suits everybody’s inclination, needs, tastes, budget and time schedule.