From The Straits Times    |

It doesn’t always have to be about a beach holiday when it comes to finding that perfect chill-out vacation. You’re bound to be fighting with other tie-dyed backpackers for a slice of quiet on the beach, the last thing your harried old soul – or skin – needs.

Try something different by heading to the Maya Villa Wellbeing Resort in Aranwella, South Sri Lanka. Situated in the unspoilt Sri Lankan countryside, the Villa is a beautifully restored 19th-century manor enclosed by paddy fields and tropical gardens.

The focus of this holiday is definitely yoga, but yoga lovers, yoga enthusiasts and even the yoga un-enthusiasts will enjoy the sessions. This is because the daily yoga classes are tailored to meet the needs of each individual guest.
 
Whether it’s gentle Iyengar-style yoga or something more dynamic, Maheshe Kodikara, the veteran in-house yoga master with over 20 years of teaching experience, will take you through daily sessions in the resort grounds.
 
Think of what it will be like meditating on the manor’s verandah facing the paddy fields, or doing taichi in a tree-lined, two-acre private garden. If you’re craving complete peace of mind, it can’t get any better than this.
 
YOGA PACKAGE DEAL
For the price of US$2230 or approximately SGD$2882 per person, Maya Village Wellbeing Resort offers a full-board, all-taxes-included holiday package for seven days and six nights. For double room occupancy, the full cost for a second guest is US$1210 or approximately SGD$1564 per person.
 
This package takes care of all your meals throughout the stay, with an option for vegetarians, specially prepared by the resort’s chef. A traditional Sri-Lankan dinner is on the menu as well.
 
There will be one yoga class, one meditation or pranayama class and one taichi class, each lasting one-and-a-half hours and taking place over five days.
 
You won’t just be cooped up in the resort stretching your muscles, though. The package comes with daily excursions to either a local temple, one of the pristine local beaches, the village market in Tangelle or to Rekawa to see endangered turtles.
 
It also includes airport transfer, two massages in your room, a cooking class to learn to prepare Sri Lankan fare and a trip to UdaWalawe, one of Sri Lanka’s best-kept national parks, for a picnic and some wild elephant-watching.
 
To find out more about Maya Village Wellbeing Resort or to make a booking, visit their website at www.mayatangallesrilanka.com or send an email to mayatangalle@gmail.com. Bookings must be made at least four weeks in advance.