Self-Compassion Meditation Retreat in Sri Lanka

March 18-24, 2025

“Incredibly heartfelt, practical, and unlike any retreat I’ve experienced before. Your gentle path to self-love and compassion is truly transformative.” –Dr. Catherine Hondorp

At a beautiful, inspired setting in the hills above Kandy, this self-compassion meditation retreat re-connects you with kindness while nourishing your body, mind and spirit. Whether you suffer from anxiety or burnout, low self-esteem, or feeling unworthy of love, the guided self-compassion meditations and retreat environment can dismantle these patterns and help you make a fresh start.

Awaken your heart with meditations that evoke loving-kindness and compassion
Receive tools for developing well-being and resilience
Be kinder with your dear body
Cultivate appreciation and gratitude
Learn a nourishing method for “heart-to-heart” communication

The retreat also includes visits to two ancient Buddhist temples, (including a World Heritage site) which you may opt out of.

Along with the retreat sessions, you’ll have time to enjoy wellness and Ayurvedic spa treatments, a rooftop swimming pool and jacuzzi, sweeping vistas with mountain views, biking, mini-golf, and delicious meals cooked with love. The hotel has an elevator, and Wifi and air conditioning in each room. Transport direct from the airport can be arranged.

Start & end times:

March 18: 9am – March 24th: 6.30pm, 2025.

Following international travel, everyone is strongly encouraged to arrive two days before the retreat starts – arriving March 16th – so there will be 10 hotel nights in total.

Retreat cost: US$ 635

Write Christine for more information and to register: clearbluesky1@zoho.com

Hotel prices *

Double room: US$75 per night per person, with full board (3 meals a day, tea and snacks during the retreat; including all taxes and surcharges) *.

Single room: US$110 per night with full board, inclusive *.

Included in the hotel price

3 meals a day, tea and snacks at breaks

Swimming pool, jacuzzi, steam room and sauna

Access to Spa treatments: Wellness and Ayurvedic

Fitness center, mini-golf and free use of bikes

Open-air terrace with sweeping mountain views

Walks through a tea plantation and spice garden

Elevator, air conditioning and free WiFi

Meals fulfilling various needs: e.g. vegetarian, Ayurvedic, gluten-free.

Exceptional experiences and an amazing atmosphere.

The attentive and caring staff are happy to look after all your needs.

*** NOTE – *The hotel price & retreat costs do not include:***

Flight tickets, travel health insurance, a visa for Sri Lanka, shared transport costs for temple visits, or transportation to and from the airport. The hotel is happy to arrange paid airport pickup and drop-off when you inform them of your arrival and departure dates.

Self-compassion Meditation Retreat Schedule

(subject to change, depending on extracurricular outings)

8 – 9am Breakfast

9 – 10.30 Session

10.30 – 11 Break

11 – 12.30 Session

1 – 4pm Lunch & break

4 – 5.20 Session

5.20 – 5.40 Break

5.40 – 6.40 Session

7 – 8pm Dinner

Meditation retreat sessions include:

Tools for building well-being and resilience
Cultivating appreciation and gratitude
Constructive ways of relating with one’s inner critic
Identifying and dismantling the barriers to having compassion for oneself
An emergency on-the-spot method of self-compassion
Research findings on the benefits of meditating on love
Communication skills for authentic “heart-to-heart” listening
Guided meditations that evoke kindness and compassion for oneself and others
Gentle beginner’s movement, including Qi Gong or yoga.

The retreat is designed to support people who are new to meditation. The meditations are guided, so you can relax while listening and follow the flow.

The retreat also includes visits to two ancient Buddhist temples in the area, (including a World Heritage site) which you may opt out of.

For more details write: clearbluesky1@zoho.com

“I want to express my deep appreciation for sharing this retreat experience with you, Christine. It was incredibly heartfelt, practical, and unlike any retreat I’ve experienced before. I was pleasantly surprised by the profound sensations in my body and heart throughout. Thank you, Christine, for your trauma-informed and open-hearted approach to healing both the body and emotions. Your gentle path to self-love and compassion is truly transformative.” –Dr. Catherine Hondorp

Testimonials

“The balance achieved between talks, guided meditations, and embodied practices such as Qi gong was truly transformative. Integrating these three aspects deeply supported the experiences with body, mind, and emotions. The thoughtful design and pacing of the day, coupled with constant reminders, facilitated the internalization of key insights, such as recognizing the body as one’s world and most intimate friend, and the importance of setting down my burdens.

“With each break, I was reminded of my finite nature of time on Earth, motivating me to take action on emotional unfinished business and to embody gratitude. I’ve come to understand that experiencing joy opens a door to the wounded heart, where hurts can be held with warmth and love, which allows the room behind the door to expand into infinity.”

– Ryumon, Zen Priest and somatic wellness guide.

“This retreat was a harmonious blend of traditional Buddhist teachings, the ancient practice of council for heartfelt communication, and modern approaches to connecting with our bodies. Incorporating elements like dance, Qi Gong, and somatic movement. The visits to Buddhist holy sites added depth to the experience.

“The guided meditation practices, particularly the affirmation ‘This dear body deserves my love,’ have been transformative in uncovering hidden beliefs. The simplicity and immediate applicability of the phrase ‘not judging is kindness’ resonates deeply. In particular, the explanation of the Handshake practice, with its connection to the three levels of love—essence love, expression love, and nondual love—guides us step by step from inner reflection to outer expression, culminating in the experience of unconditional love.” –Clara

“I want to share the profound impact of my recent experiences. The morning sessions provided invaluable insights, while the afternoon “listening from the heart” groups offered clarity. Guided practices, especially focusing on breathing into difficult emotions, were transformative, instilling a sense of relaxation and openness. Physical movement exercises were essential, and prevented mental stagnation.

“Daily self-compassion practices have been instrumental in my pursuit of freedom from attachment. I’ve noticed a shift towards embracing vulnerability with open awareness and kindness, even amidst life’s challenges. I’m grateful for these gifts and look forward to continued growth.” –C.B.

You’re welcome to join Christine’s free Open Sunday Self-Compassion meditations.

Write here to get the zoom link for the online sessions: clearbluesky1@zoho.com.

About Christine Longaker

My passion is to support people in re-connecting with their inner essence, the deep kindness and sense of ease with which they were born.

My first book, Facing Death and Finding Hope, was published by Doubleday in 1997, and is translated into 8 languages. I spent forty years training medical professionals in emotional and spiritual care for illness and dying, as well as self-care and preventing burnout.

Ten years ago, after a prolonged period of deep crises, I discovered that the core of our struggles is not feeling worthy of love, and not knowing how to come home to our true essence, which is free of suffering.

Since 2014 I’ve been researching and writing on self-compassion, resilience, forgiveness and easing grief. I offer free online guided meditations every Sunday, and a self-compassion retreat in Sri Lanka each winter. My forthcoming book on self-compassion is drawn from years of personal research and teaching.

Self-Compassion Meditation Retreat in Sri Lanka