There are moments in life when you believe you’ve made it through the worst; that the healing is complete and the pain is behind you.
I genuinely thought that I had reached that place around October 2024, but deep down, there was still a sense of something missing or a sense of incompleteness. So much so, that I booked on to a last minute retreat to Sri Lanka which was organised by one of my friends.
Now, what prompted me to book this so last minute, is that I had come to the sudden realisation that I was just watching my life go by and not actually living it. I had craved for a slower paced lifestyle because it was just what I needed with being chronically ill, however, I had reached a point where I was falling into a routine of doing things because i had to, not because I wanted to.
I decided to give myself a goal for the retreat, which was to reconnect with what kind of life I would be happy living, for the next 6 months to a year. I tend to overthink things and really just wanted to focus on how to get myself on a path where I’d truly be living and not just surviving.
So, come with me on this journey that consisted of sharing a villa in Ahangama with 12 amazing women (3 of which I already knew) and how it has shaped my mindset to date.
With Sri Lanka only being 4 hours away from Dubai, this was a bit of a no-brainer!
Even though the trip was only 7 days long, I still packed enough for a family of 4 (as I always do), because you never know what outfits you might need! And since, we were travelling in November which is the shoulder season (between peak season and monsoon season) therain was to be expected every now and then.
Flights were pretty cheap and easy to sort out – I flew with FlyDubai which is a budget airline (part of Emirates). It was a really uneventful flight; I slept through most of the journey. The villa itself was a 2 hour and 30 minute drive from Colombo airport but was well worth it! We did stop over to grab some snacks and water as we arrived quite late but waking up to this view in the morning meant the long travel day was completely worth it!
Nirbana Villa
The villa is built around a massive lake and has a beautiful pool which every room overlooks. There was also a yoga shala, a large garden with a volleyball net, outdoor dining space, outdoor living space and they also put on several activities throughout the day. Best of all however, is that the place comes with *drum roll please*… a private chef!! Chef Jerome made the most amazing meals for us – so good that I have very few pictures/ videos of the food as I inhaled every last bite of it all. I have however, included a little clip of some of the food from one of our dinners below:
Fried Rice, Jerk Chicken, Prawn Crackers, Hummus, Falafel and Flat bread
Chef Jerome not only cooked for us everyday, but also taught us how to make traditional Sri Lankan food – if you’re curious and want to know how the cooking class went, click here! The flavours were absolutely unreal!
Aside from indulging in plenty of delicious food (both inside and outside the villa), we filled our days with a mix of meaningful but fun activities. From soulful coaching sessions to sun-soaked beach days, grounding yoga flows to intense (and freezing!) ice baths, and of course, a few fun nights out, every moment added a unique layer to the experience. Each of these experiences, whether grounding, soul-stirring, or just plain fun, became the heartbeat of our time together, and I’d love to walk you through the moments that made it all so meaningful.
Wellness
There’s something really sacred about women holding space for one another—a quiet strength in shared silence, in glances of acknowledgement and in the unspoken energy that passes between us. Our first full day at the villa began with a group coaching session where we were able to pause, reflect and explore on the pressures that quietly shapes our day to day lives. Sitting in that shared space, you could feel the shift in energy as the session went on; we all went from being beautiful strangers to being surprisingly connected. We explored our intentions for the trip, celebrated quiet personal wins, acknowledged the weight of our losses, and gently uncovered the blocks standing between us and the life we desire. Some of it shared aloud, bravely offering pieces of ourselves to the circle. Some scribbled privately in notebooks, and other parts left unspoken—simply felt or processed in the silence of our thoughts. That session laid the foundation for a connection rooted in understanding, vulnerability, and a powerful sense of being seen.
We had many sessions throughout the week; some were focused on intention setting and goal visualisation, whilst others were more around connecting to our inner child and female energy. A great example of this is a session we did on female archetypes; this is essentially recurring patterns of female personality and behaviour found in mythology, literature and psychology. They represent different ways a woman can express herself and be seen in the world. I explored which ones resonate most with me right now, and it was so eye-opening to see how they shape the way I approach work, relationships, and personal growth. What stood out most is that we’re never defined by just one archetype—we shift and carry a blend of them depending on our surroundings e.g. work vs home and as move through different life stages.
This coaching session was especially useful for me because I am very hyper-independent – I’m the kind of girl who feels like she has to handle everything on her own and stay tough no matter what. Through exploring the archetypes, I realised that I spend a lot of time in my masculine energy – always wanting to be in control, pushing for productivity over rest, and relying heavily on myself. While those traits have supported me in many ways, I also recognised that they developed out of necessity. These days I’m choosing to lean into my feminine energy and reminding myself that it’s safe to just be, not always do.
We actually had a dance class during our time at the villa where we were invited to embody the archetypes we connected with. Moving in that way felt so empowering, and it really brought the learning full circle—shifting it from just understanding the archetypes in theory to actually experiencing them in our bodies.
Outside of the insightful coaching sessions, we also had a breathwork, yoga, and ice bath experience that turned out to be one of the most memorable parts of the retreat. I say “memorable” because it was my very first ice bath and I was absolutely NOT prepared for how intense (and painful!) it would feel.
We began the morning with breath work that was designed to not only ground us but also quiet the constant stream of thoughts in our heads, gently training our focus for what was coming next. From there, we moved into a 45 minute slow flow yoga session at the villa’s shala—a light, airy space that allowed us to show up in total comfort. The yoga session was our transition out of stillness, helping us warm up our bodies and feel connected as a group to face what was coming next – the dreaded ice bath.
I knew it would take mental strength to sit in an ice bath for three minutes, but part of me thought it might be easier than it was. The second I stepped in, the cold hit me like tiny needles, shocking my body and stirring emotions I didn’t even know I was still carrying. It was tough, both physically and emotionally, with some of us even cried as the release came through. What really got us through wasn’t just willpower, but the support we gave each other – little words of encouragement in the moment, followed by big hugs when we got out. That love and connection made all the difference. The experience reminded me that sometimes healing feels uncomfortable at first, but it can lead to so much peace on the other side. It also showed me how powerful it is to move through challenges together, instead of alone.
The full moon ceremony was another unique and beautiful moment of the trip. We gathered around the fire in the candlelit garden by the lake and were invited to write down the things holding us back from the life we want. One by one, we stepped forward in silence and placed our papers into the flames, watching them burn. It felt both symbolic and deeply liberating – as if we were clearing space for something new to enter.
As you can see, wellness was truly at the heart of this trip – with moments that were carefully planned and others that unfolded naturally. One of the most beautiful unplanned experiences happened during a big rainstorm that swept over the villa. Instead of hiding away, we randomly jumped into the pool, where we laughed, played, and held one another as the rain poured down. It was such a grounding moment – embracing nature, being fully present, and simply letting ourselves be. More than anything, it reminded me of the power of connection with others and how nourishing it feels to share moments like these together.
Adventure
Sri Lanka is one of those places where every day feels like a little chapter in your travel diary – in just one week, we somehow managed to do a lot! Here are some of the things we got up to.
Safari
Our very first adventure started off with a very early morning drive from Ahangama to Udawalawe National Park – a hefty 3 hour drive which doesn’t sound ideal in the morning but watching the world wake up as we made our way inland felt like part of the adventure. Before we even got to the park, we saw a herd of buffalos on their morning stroll to the water which built up all the excitement for my very first safari.
Once we hopped into the jeep and drove through the park gates, it didn’t take long before we spotted our first elephants. Seeing them so close, just wandering through the long grass was incredible. You always here about how big elephants are but having one so close in proximity to you really puts things into perspective – they are massive! At one point, one walked right past us to the jeep just behind us and had a staring match with one of the ladies in the jeep. I wonder how many people can say that they were in a staring match with an elephant (And lost)!
At one point we saw a mumma elephant and baby walking side by side – it was such a beautiful sight, to see the herds communicating and engaging in their natural habitat.
The whole place was really buzzing with life – from monkeys swinging in the trees and trying to grab whatever food was available on the jeeps, to peacocks showing off their feathers and lizards roaming climbing trees. Having a guided tour makes such a big difference as our guide was able to spot unique birds in such a quick manner – we had to really squint sometimes to even see what our guide saw. He was incredibly knowledgable and we would have missed half of the animals if it weren’t from him.
What made it extra special was the quietness of the morning; just us, the sounds of nature, and the kind of calm that makes you forget about everything else. Honestly, waking up at 4am felt like nothing compared to the magic of that morning.
From a safari to a surf class, to beach clubs and exploring different towns; there is so much to do and there is something for everyone. Let me take you through some of my favorite moments.
Surf class pushed me outside my comfort zone in the best way. I can’t swim, so stepping into the ocean felt bigger than just learning to ride a wave. The instructors were incredible; taking us to a shallow beach with gentle waves so we felt completely supported. What I took home wasn’t just a new skill, but a renewed sense of self-trust.
And after mornings of chasing waves and cheering each other on, we eased into slower beach days, letting the ocean hold us in a different way. We managed to squeeze in a few beach clubs and beach days. Angel, Kai beach club, Secret Beach and Paradise Cove are all great places – each with its own vibe but all ending with sandy feet and salty hair.
Other moments were totally unexpected. From a psychedelic night at Ying Yang to seeing cheeky monkeys swing overhead in the garden or spotting a komodo wandering whilst playing volleyball. Sri Lanka really has something for everyone.
We also managed to explore Galle which was a lovely change to the week. We were able to visit beautiful temples, wander fort walls, explore lighthouses and get lost in the prettiest little streets whilst holding an ice cream.
One of my favourite memories though? Dancing in the rain with my friend in a pool, music playing in the background – the kind of moment you couldn’t plan even if you tried.
The Wrap Up
For the first time in a long time, I felt safe – like I had full permission to live, to feel joy, to just be. That trip marked the beginning of a beautiful transformation for me – I promised myself to not live life half heartedly but to live life to the best of my ability every day. I had the power to make decisions about how my day goes – if I want to have a slow day, so be it!Healing was found in unexpected ways: dancing in a pool during a rainstorm with strangers who became friends, sharing unfiltered thoughts and experiences whilst praticising yoga on the warm sun or even experiencing a sound bath experience during a full moon and experiencing the rawest versions of ourselves through ice baths – these were all moments that were messy, magical and made me think I am exactly where I need to be.
But beyond the feelings it stirred, Sri Lanka gave me space to simply do – to be present in each moment and experience emotion release and groundbreaking experiences. From the places I explored to the rituals I took part in – every detail played a part in piecing me back together and for that I will forever be thankful.
If there’s one thing this trip taught me, it’s that healing isn’t a destination. It’s a practice. And sometimes, the bravest thing we can do is step out of routine and into spaces that remind us who we are becoming.