7-Day Yoga Immersion Retreat in Dharga Town, Sri Lanka

The retreat runs for seven days in Dharga Town, a small town on the Bentota river about 80km south of Colombo. Days follow a steady rhythm: an early morning session of asana practice, breakfast, then a block of study or workshop time before lunch. Afternoons are free — most people walk, read, swim, or take a tuk-tuk to Bentota beach — and there's a second, gentler practice in the late afternoon, often restorative or pranayama. Dinner is in the evening and the day winds down early. The exact shape of each day flexes with the group, but the pattern of two practices a day plus a study block holds through the week.

What you actually work on is alignment and sequencing. The teacher goes through poses in detail — where the weight sits, how the spine is organised, what to do with the breath — and then shows how those pieces are assembled into a class. You'll spend time looking at how a sequence builds toward a peak pose and how to modify for different bodies. There's also some of the less physical side of yoga: a little philosophy, a little anatomy, enough to understand why a teacher makes the choices they do. You get personal feedback most days, which is the main reason the group is kept small.

This is different from a typical yoga holiday because it is aimed at committed practitioners rather than beginners, and because it deliberately includes teaching concepts. It's also different from a teacher training because there's no assessment and no certificate. The teacher holds 200-hour and 500-hour certifications and has been teaching for over a decade, so the level of instruction is the same as you'd get on a TT — you're just not doing the coursework or the exam.

The venue is a small retreat property with only a few rooms, set in a garden with tropical planting. There's a dedicated practice space, either open-air or covered depending on weather. The nearest beach is at Bentota, a short ride away, and the area around Dharga Town is known for the river, the mangroves, and the Bentota lagoon. It's not a busy resort strip; it's quiet, and the pace outside the retreat is slow.

Meals are cooked on site for the group and the kitchen works around dietary needs — you tell them in advance and they confirm what they can do. Expect Sri Lankan food: rice and curry, dhal, coconut sambol, hoppers, fresh fruit, plus some Western options at breakfast. Nothing is fixed until you ask, so if you have specific requirements, raise them when you book.

What's included

- 7 days / 6 nights accommodation at the retreat property in Dharga Town - Two yoga practices most days (morning and late afternoon) - Daily study or workshop block on alignment, sequencing and teaching concepts - Meals as arranged for the group (breakfast, lunch and dinner on full days) - Personal feedback and adjustments from the lead instructor - Use of the on-site practice space

What's not included

- International and domestic flights - Airport transfers (can be arranged — ask the leader) - Travel insurance - Visa fees for Sri Lanka - Meals on arrival and departure days unless specified - Personal expenses, drinks, snacks and tips - Optional excursions, spa treatments and extras - Any upgrade to a different room type