Yelobirdnest, Asia Pacific Yoga Retreat.
Focus on inner self in Dambulla,
Sri Lanka.

Welcome and thank you for visiting this web site.

Our proposals stem from a fresh encounter between Anthonyio Bandara, the spirited owner of Hideaway Garage Hotel in Dambulla at the heart of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle, and Katalin Kolosy, a European lady with a passion for yoga, meditation, qigong, and taiji practice.

You will stay in a quiet jungle-type environment close to a pretty lake, a few minutes away from Dambulla’s city centre. 

The studio is located in the garden of the hotel, with all facilities within reach, bedrooms, restaurant, pool.

Timeline

There are two types of practice cycles: qigong and yoga.

  • Qigong

The practice cycle starts on a Friday with a welcome dinner for all participants. 

The duration of the class cycle is five days, from Saturday to Wednesday included.

Practice is held daily with different time slots depending on weather and instructors’ options, minimum four hours a day, usually early morning before breakfast and before sunset, in order to avoid big heat.

Access to the studio is available for personal practice too.

Qigong classes are open to travelers staying less than five days.

Small excursions are included in the package: Sigiryia’s ancient sky city, Dambulla’s cave temple, Pidurangala rock, traditional dances, local spice and herbal garden and ayurvedic massage!

  • Yoga basics

For young and adult beginners who would like to know more about yoga as a way of life (not just a gym practice…), the cycle starts on Friday late afternoon and closes at sunset on the Sunday. This introductory weekend to yoga practice starts with an evening dinner talk on yoga’s history. On Saturday and Sunday, we meet at the practice hall for a 1,5 hours morning and evening session, where we will smoothly be guiding you through basic postures, the art of breathing, relaxation and some meditation exercises. 

Yoga classes are also open five times a day for travelers staying at the hotel for one night.

Access to the pool is free. 

Some excursions are also included: Dambulla’s cave temple, Pidurangala rock, local spice and herbal garden!

Instruction and studio (‘shala’ in Sanskrit)

Yelobirdnest delivers high level quality class in English and/or in French.

The ‘shala’ is an octagonal shape built along the ‘yurt’ tradition. Ten to twelve persons can have comfortable space to practice together. A palm leaf roof and a wooden balustrade let open air to circulate freely, optimizing energy flows. Yoga mats and meditation cushions are supplied.

Qigong classes are open to all – beginners and advanced practitioners. Movements are mainly focusing on the ‘wild crane flying’ form.

The ‘yoga basics’ weekends deliver initial practice and introductory principles of the Yin and Sivananda yoga traditions. They are made for children, young and adult persons that never tried yoga before. Individual or group classes can also be organized for travelers.

Accommodation and food

Two spacious rooms are available in Hideaway Garage Hotel, each hosting three persons. Each room has one large double bed (160 cm) and one single bed (120 cm), an individual entrance, private bathroom, balcony, tea and coffee kettle, hair dryer and towels. All beds are equipped with pure cotton bedsheets.

Two additional bedrooms are also available for couples or families as an extra option.

Laundry is available from Hideaway Garage staff as an extra cost.

Meals are carefully prepared in our kitchen with local knowhow. 

Vegan and gluten free meals also proposed upon request. 

Table water is carefully filtered; water bottles are available.

Breakfast is served in the ayurvedic and organic tradition: seeds, beans, fresh coconut, fruits, tea or coffee.

Lunch is usually made of rice with vegetable curry, eggs, fish or chicken, seasonal fruit.

Dinner is served with boiled vegetables, white rice, eggs or chicken.

Tours and travels

Anthonyio is a licensed driver. He will be most happy to organize discovery tours for you. He can give you special quotes and take you in his luxury van, a Toyota KDH, 8 seats, air conditioning, wherever you wish.
Some examples:
– One day national park journey
– One day old heritage city Anuradhapura
– One day archeological site Polonnawura
– One day to Pink mountain and Avukana Buddha statue

Airport transfer

Yelobirdnest offers airport pickup and drop service with English speaking chauffeur. Transfer time from airport to your bedroom is around 4-5 hours, depending on traffic.

Price

Two types of cycles are proposed (select your instructor and date below):

Focus on inner self

Yoga or Qigong
660 €
  • Deposit 300 €

Weekend ‘yoga basics’

Yin or Sivananda Yoga
300 €
  • Deposit 100 €

Qigong

Tariff of the ‘Qigong’ practice cycle includes the following:

  • Four hours class per day with international instructor
  • Full week accommodation – six nights starting Friday – including Ayurvedic breakfast and free access to pool
  • Lunch and dinner – five days
  • Transfer fees for extra activities: Sigiriya or Pidurangala, Dambulla Cave Temple, Traditional dances, Spice and Herbal Garden, Ayurvedic massage)

Total price per person: 660€.

Optional:

  • Transfer from Airport to Dambulla or vice versa: 90€
  • Air-conditioned room: €35 (1 person) €40 (2 people) €45 (3 people)
  • Laundry: 10 €
♦ Weekend ‘yoga basics’

(1) Tariff of one weekend ‘yoga basics’ includes the following:

  • Introductory talk during dinner on Friday night;
  • Three hours class per day with international instructor;
  • Full accommodation (two nights starting Friday) including Ayurvedic breakfast and free access to pool;
  • Lunch and dinner (two days);
  • Transfer fees for extra activities (Pidurangala, Dambulla Cave Temple, Spice and Herbal Garden).

Total price per person: 300 €

(2) Tariff per Class: 15 €
No need to sign up, just pay on the spot.

Choose your teacher and starting date!

Yoga with Katalin

Screenshot

Description

Your instructor: Katalin

“Practicing yoga since a teenager, I rediscovered the benefits of daily practice a few years ago  after a difficult personal ordeal. Keen student of the Swami Sivananda yoga school, I trained as a teacher for beginners’ classes in 2024 with the aim of proposing to visitors of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle a kind initiation to this art of living.”

Your instructor: Katalin

“Practicing yoga since a teenager, I rediscovered the benefits of daily practice a few years ago  after a difficult personal ordeal. Keen student of the Swami Sivananda yoga school, I trained as a teacher for beginners’ classes in 2024 with the aim of proposing to visitors of Sri Lanka’s cultural triangle a kind initiation to this art of living.”

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Qigong with JeanMo

Jean-Maurice MATTIO (JeanMo)

“Reeducate the body in order to reeducate the mind.” 

Qi gong teacher since 1985, he discovered this martial arts in 1981 in California and perfected his practice with various teachers in France.  He took a Qi gong course with Mr Chu in Paris and taught the “flight of the crane” sequence to numerous practitioners. JeanMo is also geobiologist and bioengineer (Yann Lipnick school). He lives in South West France and speaks French, Spanish and English.

JeanMo welcomes you at Yelobirdnest practice hall for Qi gong classes at the following dates: 

  • Saturday 1/02/2025 to Wednesday 5/02/2025 included 
  • Saturday 15/02/2025 to Wednesday 19/02/2025 included 
  • Saturday 22/02/2025 to Wednesday 26/02/2025 included 
  • Saturday 8/03/2025 to Wednesday 12/03/2025 included

Description

  • 1/02/2025 to 5/02/2025
  • 15/02/2025 to 19/02/2025
  • 22/02/2025 to 26/02/2025
  • 8/03/2025 to 12/03/2025
  • 1/02/2025 to 5/02/2025
  • 15/02/2025 to 19/02/2025
  • 22/02/2025 to 26/02/2025
  • 8/03/2025 to 12/03/2025

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