OUR LOVE LETTER TO SRI LANKA
We are Arise: a community space nestled in the heart of the Hiriketiya jungle, overlooking a quiet village temple. Our purpose is to offer a gathering place for everyone: a space to reflect, imagine, dream, grow, empower, and connect, either in solitude or in community.
Arise is our love letter to Sri Lanka. A country that welcomed us, taught us many important life lessons, and encouraged us to chase our dreams. Creating a safe, nurturing, and inspiring space for you is one of the many reasons Arise came to life. Here, we invite you to pause, breathe, and explore where you’ve been, where you’re going, and what inspires you. We hope Arise becomes a doorway to growth, creativity, and meaningful connection.
Just a 5-minute walk from Hiriketiya Beach, our community space is home to a Shala. It is consciously built among the trees with a view of the village temple. We designed it as a peaceful sanctuary for your yoga practice, as well as for special workshops and events that bring people together. We believe the Shala is a sacred place. One where you can find peace in every breath and serenity in every pose. Surrounded by the sounds of nature and guided by incredible teachers, you’ll leave with a rested soul and a happy heart.
MEET THE FOUNDERS
Charlie
Charlie came to Sri Lanka in January 2019 to volunteer in the mental health sector running workshops in both residential care settings and psychiatric hospitals near Colombo. She lived in a village 40 min away from the capital with a family that treated her like she was their own.
One weekend, she visited Hiriketiya for the first time and fell in love with the area and in love with someone. After this experience, Charlie knew she wanted to live here.
She trained to be a yoga teacher in 2020 and since then have been offering classes across the Bay for over 4 years.
Charlie lives happily in the village with her husband, Amma and their 3 rescued dogs.
Emma
After working in (corporate) events and in crisis management during the COVID-19 pandemic in the Netherlands, Emma felt it was time for a change. Having lived and travelled across the US and in Canada before, she decided to head east and explore Asia. She ended up in Sri Lanka in Hiriketiya in April 2022. The rest of her travel plans slowly faded: she simply never left Hiriketiya.
Emma instantly fell in love with the slower pace, the small-town charm, Sri Lanka’s (occasionally questionable) creativity, and its breathtaking nature. It wasn’t a move she ever expected. Her parents reminded her at the time of a younger version of herself who used to insist she had no interest in Asia whatsoever.
Yet life had other plans. Following her intuition and allowing things to unfold, Emma has now found her happy place in Sri Lanka with her two dogs and her Sri Lankan partner. Without a plan, the unexpected turns lead her exactly where she was meant to be.
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