The Contour of Luxury Fall/Winter 2018 | Page 278

AD Sen Wellness Sanctuary, located in Sri Lanka, is the product of your dream. It has been noted that at a young age, as you set out for London leaving your homeland of Sri Lanka, you had a dream to one day return to your home country and build a sanctuary that created a space for growth for all those who visit. Will you share a bird’s eye view of how Sen Wellness Sanctuary evolved from a dream into its reality? SWS W hen I initially started treating patients I was fortunate to find a client base that was International and diverse. I grew confident in my ability to treat people successfully and set up my own practice at Harley Street in London’s West End. The clinic was a positive experience and through word of mouth my patient list grew and I was gifted peoples trust and respect. Working with patients on an appointment basis I became aware of the limitations of one to one sessions with time constraints and this led to me developing our International signature retreats, that are now in their 10th year. The International retreat programme was successful and the therapeutic benefits experienced by participants encouraged us to continue them. I felt ready to create a permanent home for the authentic retreats we had developed a reputation for. I knew I wanted to share Sri Lanka’s beauty and deep connection to nature with my clients and so the idea of the Sanctuary was formed. For me the surroundings of the Sanctuary had to encompass this connection. We are very fortunate to be located on the unspoiled, Rekawa Nature Reserve, and next to the ocean. The sublime rhythm of nature that envelops the Sanctuary is the perfect antidote to urban living. With the support of my Sri Lankan based family, brother and the local community the project began. The Sanctuary continues to be an evolving project. We are growing alongside our natural setting to create a nurturing space, that serves our guests wellbeing wishes. AD Sen Wellness Sanctuary is highly touted for its life-enhancing retreats. The Sanctuary programs are an integrative system of healing that blends advanced scientific principles of the west and ancient wisdom of the east. Will you elaborate a bit more on this integrative system approach and the benefits? SWS To treat illness and diseases that can occur from the complexities of the modern lifestyle, contemporary medicine must have an integrated approach. Having an established scientific background when assessing a patient’s symptoms and making a diagnosis, alongside a holistic understanding of the process that brought about the patient’s symptoms or illness is integral to my work. At The Sanctuary our doctors will incorporate methods from different modalities throughout the programs. These will include physical treatments, such as Ayuverdic methods using oil and herbal applications, cleansing methods, acupuncture and Osteopathy, as well as for mental and spiritual wellbeing; yoga, meditation and sound healing. The blend of Western and Eastern medicine can create a personalised support to our patient’s wellbeing journey. At the Sanctuary we have created a space that allows our guests to harmonise with a natural rhythm. The diet, treatments and yoga as well as rest time are all vital parts of the day.