Ayurveda is a traditional ancestral system of medicine originating in India, which defines "Ayuh" as the intelligent coordination of the soul, mind, senses, and body, with the totality of nature and the cosmos. For Ayurveda (knowledge of life), we are constituted by the combination of three elements or "Doshas": vata (air and space), pitta (fire and water), and kapha (earth and water). The imbalance between these elements is what makes us sick and is what Ayurvedic medicine tries to harmonize.
It is this necessary balance between the well-being of body and soul with the natural environment that you feel when you arrive at Santani, a word that, unsurprisingly, means "in harmony with", and is the name of a luxury resort located in the mountains of Sri Lanka. There, sustainability meets a healthy and holistic living-based concept surrounding Ayurveda, yoga, nutrition, and relaxation.
At Santani, even the architecture of the bungalows and common areas has been carefully thought out to blend in with the surroundings, with minimalist shapes and sustainable materials. Sleeping rocked by the cool breeze that sneaks through the natural ventilation channels in the room's ceiling and by the repetitive lullaby of the frogs that inhabit the area is a unique experience only surpassed by watching the sun rise over the low clouds that cover the mountain jungle. In Santani, all this makes you feel not only connected to, but part of that nature that is in all of us and that we often forget or leave aside in our frenetic Western life.
Just 32 kilometers from the ancient holy city of Kandy, Santani embodies the legendary beauty of Sri Lanka in its lush vegetation, gently rolling landscapes, and rushing rivers. The setting is ideal for hiking and being guided by silence, inner peace, and introspection of the Buddhist religion.
At Santani ,an in-house doctor specialized in Ayurvedic medicine will talk with you upon arrival to define what kind of treatments and personalized activities you need in order to achieve that balance between body and soul. Wellness treatments, spa, yoga classes, Ayurvedic detox, nutrition, and excursions are only some of the options you can find in your tailor-made plan.
Nutrition deserves a separate chapter in your visit to Santani, as the aim is to nourish the soul while nourishing your body. What they call wellness gourmet cuisine includes healthy, natural dishes made from low-carb ketogenic foods. Santani does not use processed or refined foods, and the keto diet excludes starchy foods such as rice, bread, or pasta.
The modern Santani approach to the traditional Ayurvedic diet of Sri Lanka comprises fresh foods that represent the six Ayurvedic tastes: sweet, salty, sour, pungent, spicy, bitter, and astringent. This type of food ensures that all the major nutrients are included and prioritized in order to balance the doshas of your Ayurvedic body, boosting your energy and vitality, and calming your mind, without straining the metabolism.
Finally, you can opt for a detox diet based on juices and smoothies made with raw foods in order to eliminate caffeine, alcohol, salt, sugar, and processed foods and cleanse the liver, intestinal tract, kidneys, lungs, and skin by eliminating toxins in the body.
Traveling to Santani is a journey to your well-being and harmony, in one of the most beautiful natural settings in Sri Lanka.
