Unwind & Align
with Shirin Akbar
RetreatsHatha and Vinyasa Yoga with Shirin Akbar
Shirin Akbar’s Unwind & Align yoga retreat brings together Hatha and Vinyasa Yoga with mindful movement, breathwork, and relaxation. Mornings build energy through flowing sequences, while evenings restore balance with meditation and restorative poses. Her approach is supportive and inclusive, designed to help you release stress, reconnect with your natural rhythm, and leave Ulpotha feeling centred and renewed.
This is your time to pause, breathe, and reconnect. Under the guidance of Shirin, the practices of yoga, pranayama, chanting, and meditation come together in a rhythm that balances rest with renewal. Gentle Hatha and Yin-inspired sessions soften the nervous system and bring you back to your natural pace, while more dynamic Hatha and Vinyasa practices spark energy, creativity, and confidence. Each day is an invitation to release tension, rediscover ease, and align body, mind, and spirit. You’ll leave feeling grounded yet energised, with simple tools to carry into daily life, meeting the world with clarity and calm.
Shirin Akbar
What's included:
Accommodation on a twin-sharing basis in comfortable beautifully designed huts open to the surrounding nature
Yoga classes twice daily (No yoga on Thursday afternoons and Sunday mornings)
A yoga-friendly breakfast and two sumptuous vegetarian meals, plus snacks, juices, and teas
Indulge in a free massage/week from one of our visiting therapists
Transport for 1 excursion (half or full day) per week to nearby cultural heritage sites (entrance fees not included)
A Typical day at Ulpotha:
07:00 - 07:30: Tea and fruit
07:30 - 09:00: Yoga
09:00-09:30: Breakfast
09:45-12:30: Massages/Ayurveda/ swimming/relaxing
12:30-13:30: Lunch
14:00-16:00: Massages/Ayurveda/swimming/relaxing
16:00 - 17:00: Tea and snacks
17:00 - 18:30Yoga/Meditation/Sunset walks
19:00 - 20:00: Dinner
Transport to and from Ulpotha and travel insurance is not included.
Ayurveda treatments are not included in the price, please see prices on our booking page.
Your Teachers & Therapists
Shirin Akbar
Yoga TeacherShirin discovered yoga fifteen years ago, just after her son was born. Until then she was a polo player living life at pace, but a few twists and turns nudged her towards a quieter way of being. The shift brought what she needed most—balance, ease and a steady kind of joy that has guided her ever since. Swiss and Pakistani by heritage, she has lived in England, Switzerland, Dubai, India and Pakistan, and has called Sri Lanka home since 2017. A solo parent, her daughter is in Colombo and her son lives with her while he studies. She speaks French, English, German, Urdu/Hindi and Sinhala. Her practice and teaching are rooted in classical training that includes Ayurveda. She studied at Yogadarshanam in Mysore with Yogacharya Santhosh Kumar and deepened her understanding of functional movement through Yoga Anatomy with Stu Girling. Ongoing self-practice and continued education—both contact and non-contact—keep her work evolving and grounded in lived experience. Shirin’s classes are inspired by Hatha and Vinyasa: creative, breath-centred and thoughtfully aligned, with plenty of options to modify so you can meet yourself where you are. She aims to instil confidence and quiet fearlessness, so that body and mind can move through life with acceptance and ease; you step off the mat feeling energised, nourished and relaxed. At Ulpotha, Shirin will guide explorations of asana, chakras, mudras, pranayama and meditation—an open invitation to tune in, switch off and follow your own path to wellness. What you’ll experience with Shirin: Breath-centred sequences that flow without rush Options and adjustments for every body Practical Ayurveda woven into practice A genuine welcome and an inclusive space
Sophie Liebert
Visiting TherapistFrench born Sophie has been living in Sri Lanka for the past 23 years. After studying medicine in Paris she switched to physiotherapy and started on a journey that led her to explore all aspects of wellness.
