Ayuwanna: Sacred Healing in the Heart of Colombo
Ayuwanna, an urban Ayurveda centre established in 2018 by Barberyn in Colombo, was created with the vision of bringing authentic Ayurveda into the city. Earlier this year, Ayuwanna entered a new chapter by relocating to a carefully renovated 150-year-old building, where heritage and healing come together in harmony. The space offers specialist consultations, Ayurveda treatments, workshops, and community events. Ayuwanna is carried forward by the third generation of Barberyn under the guidance of the second, ensuring continuity of wisdom while embracing renewal.
The Sacred Healing Workshop was the first major event to take place in the new home of Ayuwanna. The opening evening began with a Dhanawantari Pooja, a ceremony invoking blessings from Dhanawantari, the God of Ayurveda. The program continued with a film screening in the garden and Ayurveda exhibits displaying traditional healing tools, medicinal ingredients, and Barberyn’s own line of Ayurveda products.
The sessions that followed over the weekend was guided by a group of experienced Ayurveda specialists, mindfulness practitioners, healers, artists and a botanist. Presentations explored the principles of Ayurveda, the healing power of plants, and the importance of aligning one’s daily rhythm with nature for lasting wellbeing. The afternoons allowed for direct experience through practices that combined healing, creativity, and reflection. Participants discovered the subtle power of mudras (hand gestures), engaged in mindful drawing inspired by nature, and concluded with an evening of kirtan where voices joined in mantra and live music, creating a shared sense of joy and connection.
The final day placed special emphasis on mental and emotional wellbeing. The sessions addressed approaches to managing stress, cultivating mindfulness, and nurturing women’s health through Ayurveda’s holistic perspective.
Together, these experiences at Ayuwanna offered more than knowledge, they created a space for reflection, learning, and renewal.