WISE WOMAN RETREAT
SRI LANKA
FEBRUARY 04th to 11th 2024
** FULLY BOOKED **
In collaboration with my fabulous friend Justine Thompson
2025 Dates: 16th to 23 Feb
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2025 Dates: 16th to 23 Feb 〰️
Too often we get lost in the demanding roles we fulfil in our lives. Meeting the needs of those we love, of our career & our community.
But when do we meet our own needs? How do we create enough space to really tune out the noise & tune into the wise women we are?
Journey with us to experience the beauty of Sri Lanka's mountains. Recharge & explore the fullness of your self.
Nurture your body, mind & spirit with 7 days of nourishing yoga, meditation and a variety of self care practices.
Imagine yourself here …
A sanctuary of natural beauty & so very peaceful. Watch the clouds roll across the mountain tops, the light bounce off the lake surface below.
All you need do is arrive. Come prepared to reconnect with yourself in the company of other like minded women.
An opportunity to relax in the beautiful surroundings of the lush Sri Lankan mountains.
Press pause and remind yourself of just how amazing you truly are.
This is a retreat for women who want to stretch out in the sunshine, enjoy an Ayurvedic treatment, swim or explore & eat loads of deliciously fresh locally grown food.
A week of daily yoga & meditation practices with a perfect mix of active & quieter movement, yoga nidra & pranayama.
Space & practices to focus on reclaiming your energy & hearing your own wisdom.
Proposed schedule…
Early Morning Breath Work & Guided Meditation
Morning Alignment focused Yoga
Brunch - plant-based buffet style
Daily Journaling prompts
Free time to chill out in the lush surroundings of the Welikande retreat, swim in the beautiful pool, reading, time for activities - ayuvedic massage, cookery class, waterfall hike
Late afternoon / early evening Yin Yoga practice followed by a deep rest Nidra
Followed by a delicious buffet style plant-based dinner
Silent evening meditation
About The Yoga …
The yoga practices are suitable for all experience levels, including complete beginners and the focus is very much on finding the right alignment for your body and moving in a way that feels comfortable. Offering a variety in styles by balancing the movement practices in the morning that get our energy flowing, with the slow, stillness and restful qualities of Yin yoga and Yoga Nidra at the end of the day to help to wind down and relax.
We’ll be using a variety of props such as bolsters, bricks and yoga belts and you’ll be supported in your practice to find what really works for you and your body.
The breath work and meditation practices at the start and end of the day are designed to be tools that you can easily take away and incorporate into your day to help provide clarity and focus.
Our retreat space is the Welikande Estate.
A tranquil property offering accommodation with views overlooking the valleys below or into the lush gardens. Rooms are welcoming & designed with comfort in mind. This is a place to feel at home.
A large balcony is the perfect spot to meet for meals and the two yoga meditation shalas offer the chance to practice whilst listening to birds singing in the background. You can relax by the pool, visit the Ayurvedic wellness centre for a massage or explore on a trek to the local waterfall.
This is the perfect location to experience the natural beauty & culture of Sri Lanka.
Kind words from previous retreat guests
A beautiful mountain retreat -
Welikande Estate
This is a beautiful eco-conscious yoga retreat located in the Knuckles Mountain range, the heart of Sri Lanka.
This secluded estate sits high in the mountains overlooking the Victoria Lake. With acres of lush gardens as well as a yoga shala and meditation studio, a Spa centre, swimming pool, and mountain view accommodations.
Welikande is considered to be one of the best retreats in Sri Lanka.
And of course you will enjoy amazing food….
The meals are prepared with love & packed with the rich flavours of Sri Lanka.
The 3 meals per day will be mainly plant based with many ingredients sourced from the property or local market. Expect exotic fruits & colourful snacks as well as locally grown coffee. Nutritionally balanced meals that leave you feeling nourished.
Fresh drinking water, tea & coffee will be available throughout the day
The menus are flexible enough to accommodate any additional dietary requirements, please let us know of any food allergies when you book.
Room of your own
** SOLD OUT **
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We have 6 single rooms with a double bed or single.
Each room has its own bathroom.
Share with a friend
** SOLD OUT **
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Coming with a friend and wanting to share a room together or happy to share a room with a new friend?
We have 5 twin share rooms available. each room has its own bathroom.
Meet Your Hosts -
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Louise Edwards
I’ve been teaching people to move their bodies for over 30 years - originally, as a personal fitness trainer, and eventually settling purely on yoga.
My passion is in Yin Yoga, and Slow Flow Hatha sequenced around the seasonally aspects of the Five Elements of traditional Chinese medicine. This is a practice that is so dear to my heart, having felt the personal benefits to my physical and emotional well-being by adapting my own routines according to the shifting seasons.
My teaching style supports students to find the best alignment in a pose for their own body, appreciating that all skeletons are different and not only change as we age, but also are affected by other seasonal energetic variables.
The classes that I offer are accessible, adaptable creative and will always consider elements of functional movement to help to support the aging body.
I like to weave in other practices such as meditation, breath work, journaling and Yoga Nidra to enhance emotional wellbeing and balance.
In addition to my Yoga training, I hold further qualifications in Yoga for Menopause, Yoga Therapy for Cancer Care and Yoga for Sleep and Insomnia.
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Justine Thompson
Curiosity has been a driving force in my life and has taken me on some pretty extreme paths. It was curiosity that brought me to yoga in my twenties.
Now in my fifties I have a stronger appreciation for getting into the details. My interests lie in alignment based yoga taught with appreciation for the incredible structures & systems of the physical body. My classes aim to cultivate strength, balance & understanding of the optimal blueprint for the individual. With the integration of a heart-centred theme, each class invites people to move from the physical into the subtle body to foster awareness of the Self. To see with eyes of love.
Out of my own struggles with menopause, I trained to teach yoga for all stages of menopause. A time that can feel so overwhelming but can be an incredibly powerful transformation in our lives.
I continue to be a student of Hatha Yoga & the Tantric texts. I offer the powerful practice of yoga nidra to encourage people to step through the layers of conditioning as well as release the symptoms of chronic stress.
My classes are a welcoming & safe space for people to explore their practice & foster self awareness.
And how this collaboration came to be…
(how Justine and I met)
Justine and I have been connected for a little while, having sharing the same business coach (the fabulous Amy McDonald), but had never actually met in person until January 2023 when we were both joining Amy’s Abundant Yoga Teacher retreat in Chiang Mai, Thailand.
We’d agreed to meet ahead of the retreat for a Monk’s Trail sunrise hike to a beautiful mountain top temple that contains relics of the Buddha. When Justine arrived at 5:30am in her Birkenstocks I knew that she and I were going to become great friends. Especially when the two of us elder women reached the summit of the hike first!
In fact, that beautiful hike was the seed that planted the idea of a retreat collaboration in Sri Lanka. Our very knowledgeable guide gave such an insightful talk on the history of the Buddha and the links to Sri Lanka.
We share many common interests and definitely bonded over the incredible Thai food shared during our retreat, our love of the work of Dr Sharon Blackie and all things yoga, of course.
Every once in a while, someone really special comes along and connections are made that just click into place. I consider Justine to be a very dear friend, I’m so happy that our paths crossed and cannot wait to host The Wise Woman Retreat with her.
More Retreat Reviews for Louise & Justine…
Q & A Information Sessions
We’ve had lots of really great questions and we’ve done our best to answer them, but they’re still coming in.
So, we’re running another session before the Early Bird pricing finishes at the end of September. If you missed the earlier sessions, or have questions and want to know more, do grab your self a coffee & join us LIVE on Zoom.
And if you can’t make the Live session, do sign up and send us your questions. We’ll answer in the session and send you the recording straight after.
We have just a small number of shared rooms available and by booking now, you can shop around for the best flight deals and spend time planning your trip.
We really want you to join us in Sri Lanka next February - escape the British Winter and treat yourself to some warmth ahead of Spring time.
And if you have any other questions, please feel free to get in touch or watch our recorded Zoom Q & A Info Sessions from earlier July.
We’ve already hosted 2 sessions and you can catch the replays here -
Watch the earlier QnA Replay here
Click on the image to watch
FAQs
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Yes! All experiences are welcome and with a group size of no more than 16, you’ll be completely supported and seen in your practice. You’ll be very much encouraged to listen to your body and develop a practice that works for you.
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We’ve arranged for you to be collected from the airport in Colombo, where you’ll be driven in air-conditioned cars directly to the retreat, where Justine and I will be waiting to greet you.
You can choose either your own room or a twin share.
The focus of The Wise Woman retreat is to welcome and celebrate you all by providing a safe and nurturing space where our uniqueness is welcomed and celebrated, boundaries are respected and opinions and emotions are honoured.
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You can choose just how much or how little you do.
This is YOUR opportunity to step away from your daily routine and press the pause button, dial down the volume and reconnect with your Wise Woman.
There’ll be daily journaling prompts that offer the chance for self reflection, optional sharing circles, meditation and breathwork.
Other activities available and included are -
Ayuvedic massages
Cookery classes
Waterfall Hikes
Cultural trip to nearby Kandy to visit the Buddha’s Tooth Relic
Or you can just relax, read, swim and REST!
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Our morning classes will be alignment focused Slow Flow Hatha Vinyasa Yoga.
Our late afternoon practices will be stiller, long held Yin Yoga.
We may include some gentle QiGong, self acupressure & Deep Rest Yoga Nidra.
All classes will be thoughtfully sequenced to offer a balanced blend of stillness & movement.
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Thats perfectly fine. We’ll help you find your way into this beautiful practice and guide into finding a comfortable position and help to debunk some of those meditation myths. You’ll learn how to build this simple practice that helps to calm busy mind chatter into your daily routine.
Your Investment - £1600
Includes …
7 nights full accommodation & meals,
Return airport transfers from Colombo
All yoga practices
Other daily activities
Excludes …
Your flight
Personal Travel Insurance
Shared Room Payment Options
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Pay In Full *
Full Payment for Wise Woman Retreat
* £350 is a non-refundable deposit£1600
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Deposit & 3 Month Payment Plan *
Deposit Payment of £625 (Non-refundable)
& then 4 more monthly payments of £325
Wondering if The Wise Woman Retreat is for you?
This Sri Lankan adventure is your treat!
A chance to celebrate the kids finally leaving the nest or the end of slaving in a job that drained you of joy. Perhaps you have recently found freedom by stepping away from an unfulfilling relationship.
For whatever reason join us to celebrate who you are, the wonder of life & the adventures that lie ahead of you.
This is a chance for you to connect with other like-minded women and share some nourishing practices in the peaceful and tranquil surroundings of the Sri Lankan mountains and remember just how incredible you really are.
Each and every one of us has lived experiences that have shaped us into the women we are today, however the demands of our daily lives can sometimes overshadow all of our incredible gifts - our creativity, inspiration and even joy.
This 7 day retreat will give you time and space to pause, take a breath and tune into your Wise Woman - she’s still in there & we can’t wait to welcome her.
And if you’re still wondering …
Can you answer YES to any of these questions ?
Are you seeking a peaceful and tranquil escape from every day life, where there is space for you to unwind and breathe?
If you’re looking to be in the company of like-minded women and share space for connection and creativity.
Maybe you’re new to yoga and looking for practices that will support you to find balance and harmony, where you’ll be seen and assisted to find the best way to move your body safely.
If you’re craving nourishment in body, mind and soul; We’ll be eating delicious home-cooked vegetarian food, sitting in daily meditations, and exploring the practices of journaling. This retreat could be just the re-set button you need.
And if you still have any questions or want to ask me anything about The Wise Woman Retreat …
Please come along to one of our Live streamed Q & A sessions or feel free to drop me an email.
We want you to be as excited as we are about this wonderful retreat and all questions are welcome.