SURF & BREATH
SURF & TSA LUNG IMMERSION
East Coconut Plantation · Arugam Bay, Sri Lanka
7–13 August 2027
7 days · Small group · Booking open
Seven days on a remote stretch of Sri Lanka’s east coast, combining surfing with the complete five-day Tsa Lung Immersion course. Two surf sessions a day, at dawn and at sunset. Tsa Lung in between, in the shade, at its own time.
Price: €1,650 per person in a twin cabin · Early bird €1,490 until 1 March 2027
THE COURSE
The Complete Immersion Course, Plus the Ocean
The Tsa Lung content of Surf & Breath is the same as the five-day Immersion Retreat: about 25 hours of instruction and guided practice, spread across seven days so that dawn and sunset stay free for the water. I lead it as a certified Gentle Tsa Lung and Intense Tsa Lung teacher in the lineage of Tulku Lobsang Rinpoche. See my profile in the official teacher directory →
- preparatory breathing and movement
- practices for balancing the breath and working with the channels
- vase breathing and breath retention
- movement sequences coordinated with breathing and attention
- visualisation practices
- periods of rest and calm-abiding meditation
- guidance for continuing the practice independently
Surfing
Surf lessons are led by experienced local ISA-certified instructors. Sessions last about an hour and a half, at dawn and at sunset, when the light is soft and the wind is lightest. Five lessons with the instructors and surfboard rental for five days are included, so the second session of the day is free surfing on the same boards. No surfing experience is needed: the bays around the plantation are ideal for learning. If you already surf, the instructors will work with you at your level.
How the Two Fit Together
Tsa Lung and surfing are never mixed. Breath retention is not practised immediately before or during time in the water, and the practice sessions have their own place in the day. What you train on the mat, such as a quiet breath, attention to the phases of breathing and stability while the body is working, simply comes with you into the water. Nothing needs to be forced.
TYPICAL SCHEDULE
Day 1 · Arrival & Preparing Body, Breath & Mind
Posture and adaptations · Self-massage · Nine Breaths Exercise · Checking and balancing the breath · Vajra Breath · Shamatha meditation
Arrival by early afternoon. A first quiet session of about two hours before sunset, then a walk to the ocean to see the surf spot. No surfing on the first day.
Day 2 · Foundations & Channels
Preliminary channel practices (with a short, simplified breath retention) · Introduction to Tongra, the empty red body · Central channel · Preliminary wind practices · Shamatha
First surf sessions at dawn and at sunset.
Day 3 · Channels & Visualisation
Three channels · Four chakras · Dülta Chen · Gangwa Chen · Shamatha
Visualisation is developed progressively rather than trying to hold the complete inner structure immediately.
Day 4 · Holding the Wind
Bumpa Chen (Vase Breathing) · Rengpa Chen · Three Clearing Obstacles practices · Holding the Wind without Number: awareness of the phases of breath, white, red and blue light, OM AH HUNG · Shamatha
Breath retention develops gradually. There is no objective to achieve a maximum holding time.
Day 5 · Trül Khor I
Khu Tsur Gyab Dung · Pü Ken Pü Kyang · Tö Me Bar Sum · Nölden Lü Chu · Senge Nam Dröl · Shamatha
Day 6 · Trül Khor II & Concluding Practices
Gyatso Tsub Trug · Pang Ne Ri Phül · Nam Chag Par Dzin · Senge Nam Dröl · Concluding Tsa Lung exercises · Integration of movement, breath and visualisation · Shamatha
Day 7 · Integration & Departure
Complete guided Tsa Lung practice · Individual technique corrections · Refining breath retention and visualisation · Working with your own rhythm · Questions and discussion · Creating a personal practice for the following month
A final morning session of about two hours with no new material, then lunch and departure. The focus is on making the complete practice coherent, familiar and sustainable after the journey.
A Typical Day (Days 2–6)
- 05:30 · Wake, water or tea, walk to the surf spot (15–20 minutes)
- 06:00–07:30 · Dawn surf session
- 08:00 · Back at the plantation: breakfast, shower, rest
- 09:30–12:45 · Main Tsa Lung session, with a short break
- 13:00 · Light lunch
- 14:00–16:00 · Quiet hours in the hottest part of the day: rest, sleep, read, do nothing
- 16:30 · Walk to the surf spot
- 16:45–18:15 · Sunset surf session
- 19:00 · Dinner
- 20:00–21:15 · Evening session: visualisation, Shamatha meditation, questions
About five hours of practice a day on Days 2–6, and about two hours on the arrival and departure days. Practices with breath retention are placed in the morning session, before lunch; the evening session is quiet. Surf times move slightly with the tide and the swell, and the instructors decide on the day.
ACCOMMODATION & MEALS
The plantation, cabins and meals
East Coconut Plantation is a large coconut plantation of more than a thousand palms, in a remote spot on the ocean about 25 km from Arugam Bay. The surrounding bays are quiet and well suited to learning to surf. The group stays in twin cabins on the plantation, two people to a cabin.
Three meals a day are provided. Breakfast follows the dawn surf, lunch is kept light, and dinner is served after the sunset session. Meals are mainly vegetarian, with plenty of fresh fruit; other dietary requirements are agreed in advance.
Alcohol is not included and is not used during the journey.
WHAT IS INCLUDED
Seven-day surf and Tsa Lung journey
- The complete five-day Tsa Lung Immersion course: approximately 25 hours of instruction and guided practice
- Five surf lessons with ISA-certified local instructors
- Surfboard rental for five days, including free surfing in the second daily session
- Six nights in a twin cabin at East Coconut Plantation
- Three meals a day, from dinner on the first day to lunch on the final day
- Group transfer between Colombo airport and the plantation: one vehicle each way, on the arrival and departure days
- Practice mats and cushions
NOT INCLUDED
- Flights to and from Sri Lanka
- Sri Lanka visa (ETA)
- Individual transfers outside the group transfer times
- Travel and medical insurance, including cover for surfing
- Personal clothing and equipment, including a rash guard and reef-safe sunscreen
- Additional accommodation before or after the journey
- Personal expenses
€1,650 per person in a twin cabin. Early-bird price €1,490 for bookings confirmed by 1 March 2027. Surf & Breath can be combined with Breeze & Breath, the Tsa Lung retreat that ends the day before at the same plantation; the night in between is included free of charge.
HEALTH & PARTICIPATION
No previous experience of Tsa Lung, yoga, meditation or surfing is required. You should be able to swim confidently in the sea.
The course includes physical movement, controlled breathing and breath retention. Each practice can be taught in its Gentle or Intense form, depending on your physical condition. It is not suitable during pregnancy. Retention is built up gradually; dizziness or numbness is a sign to practise more gently. Breath retention is never practised in the water or immediately before entering it.
Before booking, please inform me about high blood pressure, cardiovascular or respiratory conditions, epilepsy, glaucoma or retinal problems, recent surgery or injury, hernia, ear or sinus problems, or any other condition affected by breath retention, physical movement or time in the ocean.
ABOUT THE PRACTICE
Learn what Tsa Lung is, how the practice works and which other formats are available.
STAY INFORMED
Booking is open. Write to me to reserve a place, or leave your email for news and future dates.
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LOCATION & ACCESS
The plantation is on the ocean about 25 km from Arugam Bay, on the east coast of Sri Lanka.
A group transfer from Colombo airport is included: one vehicle each way, leaving at a time agreed with the group once flights are known. The drive to the east coast takes most of a day. I share the exact location and practical instructions after your booking is confirmed.
The surf spot is a 15–20 minute walk from the cabins along the shore. August is the middle of the east-coast surf season: the ocean is warm, and no wetsuit is needed.
GET IN TOUCH
Booking is open. Send me a message to reserve a place, or ask anything you would like to know before deciding.