Hela Sound Healing Session

Sri Lanka has some of Asia’s richest drumming traditions — the gatabera of the Kandyan dance, the yak bera of the southern low country, the davula of Sabaragamuwa and the twin thammattama. They are usually heard at full power in perahera processions and ceremonies. This session slows them down.

Traditional musicians play gentle, spacious rhythms while you sit or lie on a mat. A facilitator guides slow breathing in time with the drum, then lets the rhythm fade into a few minutes of silence. Afterwards the musicians show you the drums, how they are made and how the different strokes are played, and you can try a few beats yourself.

Good to know

• Arranged on request in Kandy or at your hotel, subject to musicians’ availability.
• Volume is kept soft; tell us if you are sensitive to sound.
• This is a cultural and relaxation experience; no medical effects are claimed.

Before you come, try the free Hela Sound Healing page for a rhythm chosen for your chart.