60 Minutes
Heat & Steam (Swedana)
Shastika Shali Pinda Sweda (Navara Rice & Milk Therapy)
The Milk-Rice Muscle & Skin Feed
Retreat Overview
Return to Ceylon
A Qi Breathwork & Ayurveda retreat in the misty hills above Kandy — awaken your energy at dawn, release your body at night.
Awaken your energy at dawn. Release your body at night. Set in the mist-covered hills above Kandy — where jungle meets a sea of clouds at sunrise — Return to Ceylon is an intimate retreat by AWAY and Yasmin Hill, where ancient Chinese energy practice meets the healing science of Ayurveda. Your guides are Lynn, senior yoga and wellness instructor, and Cecilia, integrative wellness architect.
At its heart is Qi Breathwork (元气呼吸法), rooted in traditional Chinese Qigong — a practice that works directly on the body’s core: toning the waist, slowing the signs of ageing and raising Qi and blood. Around it, ten guests are invited to slow down and rebuild with daily Ayurvedic oil treatments prescribed by the resident doctor, forest walking meditation, Somatic Dance and sound healing with singing bowls. Each guest is given a private single room — because true healing needs both companionship and deep solitude.
Meet the instructor
LynnView profile
CeciliaView profile
Highlights
- Qi Breathwork — Slim the Waist, Slow Ageing, Raise Vital Energy: The core practice of the retreat, rooted in traditional Chinese Qigong (元气呼吸法). Through breath, rhythm and deep abdominal engagement it tones the waist, improves oxygenation and circulation, and raises Qi and blood (提升气血) — restoring warmth, colour and stamina.
- Doctor’s Constitution Diagnosis & Personalised Detox: A private consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor identifies your unique constitution (dosha). Oils, herbs and treatments are prescribed individually — a personalised detox, not a standard spa menu.
- Professional Ayurvedic Healing: A full team of trained therapists delivers a one-hour treatment every day, using oils prepared to your prescription, in private treatment rooms.
- Kandy Jungle & a Sea of Clouds: A secluded sanctuary wrapped in forest in the hills above Kandy — mornings begin above a sea of clouds, nights fall into deep silence.
- Culture — Temple, Saree, Dance & Elephants: A full Kandy Cultural Day with prayer at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in traditional Kandyan sarees, an evening of traditional dance, a fire ceremony and a farewell visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage.
- Estate Cuisine & a Room of Your Own: Six days of dosha-based cuisine in the estate dining room, and a private single room for every guest, tucked among the trees.
- An Intimate Circle of Ten: Limited to ten guests and guided in Chinese and English — time in practice together, and time entirely alone.
Your Itinerary
Dive deep into the experience. We have crafted a schedule that maximizes your time with the instructor while respecting your body’s need for rest. Browse the daily agenda to see how we will combine workshops, movement, and leisure into a seamless experience.
Morning — Awaken:Qi Breathwork — breath, rhythm and abdominal engagement to open the energy channels, tone the core and raise Qi — followed by yoga and meditation.
Late Morning — Heal:A one-hour Ayurvedic oil treatment, prepared to your personal prescription after the doctor’s consultation.
Afternoon — Ground:Forest walking meditation along jungle trails — birdsong, mountain air, one step at a time.
Evening — Release:Somatic Dance — intuitive, unstructured movement in the open-air Sati Hall. No steps to learn, nothing to perform.
Night — Rest:A singing bowl sound bath. Lying down, wrapped in resonance, the day is gently laid to rest.
Kandy Cultural Day — Temple, Dance & Fire:Prayer and blessing at the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic, dressed in traditional Kandyan sarees; an evening of drumming and traditional Kandyan dance; and a torch-lit fire procession under the Kandy sky.
Departure — Pinnawala:On the way out, a farewell stop at the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage to watch the herd bathe in the river and the young ones play.
Note: This schedule is subject to flow and may adjust slightly to match the group’s energy and weather conditions.
What is included
- Six nights in a private single room at the four-star Yasmin Hill resort in the hills above Kandy.
- Six days of dosha-based Ayurvedic cuisine served in the estate dining room.
- A private constitution (dosha) consultation with the resident Ayurvedic doctor.
- A 60-minute personalised Ayurvedic oil treatment every day, with oils prepared to your prescription.
- The complete daily program with Lynn and Cecilia — Qi Breathwork, yoga, meditation, forest walking meditation, Somatic Dance and sound healing.
- Kandy Cultural Day — the Temple of the Sacred Tooth Relic in traditional sarees, a Kandyan dance evening and a fire ceremony.
- A farewell visit to the Pinnawala Elephant Orphanage on departure.
What is not included
- International flights.
- Travel insurance.
- Additional Ayurvedic treatments and longevity therapies beyond the daily program.
Amplify Your Results
Your retreat heals the mind; let Ayurveda repair the body. While the group program focuses on mental and spiritual alignment, we highly recommend supporting your physical vessel with targeted therapies. Whether you need deep muscle recovery after practice or a lymphatic flush to accelerate detox, our full menu is available to enhance your retreat experience.
45 Minutes
Oil Pools & Packs (Basti/Pichu)
Shiro Pichu (Cranial Oil Patch)
Follicular Saturation & Stress Patch
45 Minutes
Oil Pools & Packs (Basti/Pichu)
Shirovasti (Cranial Oil Pool)
The Crown Soak & Deep CNS Sedation
45 Minutes
Oil Pools & Packs (Basti/Pichu)
Akshitarpana (Eye Rejuvenation)
Ocular Lipid Immersion & Vision Restore
75 minutes
Oil Therapies (Snehana)
Sarvangadhara (Full Body Oil Flow)
Liquid Nerve Insulation & Lipid Restore
60 Minutes
Oil Therapies (Snehana)
Synchronized Abhyanga (Four-Hand Massage)
Bilateral Neural Synchronization
Environment as Medicine
Nestled in the tropical highlands of the ancient Kandyan Kingdom, Yasmin Hill is more than a resort—it is a hidden enclave of silence. Perched on a lush hillside in Moragolla, our sanctuary overlooks a valley of untouched emerald green.
Here, the air is oxygen-rich, the sounds are purely natural, and the horizon is endless. We are far enough from the city to ensure absolute tranquility, yet rooted deeply in the spiritual heart of Sri Lanka. This is a landscape that invites your nervous system to finally exhale.
Accommodation Designed for Deep Rest
Choose from our Superior, Deluxe, or spacious Suite accommodations, each designed to blur the line between indoor comfort and outdoor serenity. Ground-floor rooms open onto private terraces, while first-floor sanctuaries feature breezy balconies—both furnished with designer seating for your relaxation.
To support your natural circadian rhythm, our rooms utilize bio-climatic natural ventilation instead of artificial air-conditioning, ensuring fresh, oxygen-rich air and pleasant temperatures for restorative sleep.
Amenities: High-speed WiFi, personal safe, minibar, and organic Ayurvedic toiletries. Enjoy complimentary herbal tea and coffee stations in every room.
Note: For a complete digital detox, our Sattva, Rajas, and Tamas rooms are intentionally TV-free.
Check-in Time14:00
Check-out Time11:00
How to Get to Yasmin Hill
By Air & Private Transfer: The most convenient option. Yasmin Hill is a 3–3.5 hour drive from Colombo International Airport.
- Concierge Tip: Send us your flight number, and our driver will await your arrival for a seamless door-to-door transfer.
By Train: An adventurous alternative. Take the scenic train from Colombo to the historic city of Kandy (2.5–3 hours). From there, it is a short 30-minute ride by taxi or tuk-tuk to the resort.
Location & Arrival: We are hidden in the hills of Thalathuoya (search “Yasmin Hill Longevity Oasis” in your GPS). As you ascend the winding mountain roads, prepare for stunning vistas. A warm welcome and full luggage assistance await you at the top.
Reservations
Reservations for this retreat are handled directly by the organiser, AWAY, outside this website. The retreat is guided in Chinese and English.
- Capacity: 10 rooms available, each a private single room.
For prices and reservations, please contact Cecilia at ceciliacheniam@gmail.com or via Instagram @cccfit_0309.
