Ayubhowan!
I’m Mahesh known to many as Sala.
An artist whose canvas is the body.
A yogi whose practice is life.
Presence is my medicine.
Salasbananas is a portal for self-inquiry, inviting creatives, changemakers and queer bodies to bring their dreams into being through embodied practice.
This is an invitation to reconnect with our bodies, explore ancient wisdom, cultivate meaningful relationships and celebrate this human experience through the artful practice of soul-centered living.
Practice with me
Yoga, meditation, breath and ritual are ways to meet yourself. Join me for group practice at the Queer Temple in Talpe. I’m also available for private sessions and to guide practices for retreats on Sri Lanka’s south coast.
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SADHANA WITH SALA
A traditional yoga practice
Monday · Wednesday · Friday · 8:30 AM
Salasbananas the queer temple · ThalpeThree distinct transmissions of yoga
Soul Sadhana, Hatha Flow - Yin & Yang
curated for changemakers, visionaries and queer bodies.
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SOUL SADHANA
Devotion & deep inner inquiry
Relieve the mind at the altar of the body. Movement, breath, mantra and meditation meet storytelling and wisdom, inviting you to listen within.
Mondays · 8:30 AM
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HATHA FLOW
Steadiness, strength & inner awareness
For those seeking grounding and a deeper connection with their body. Explore postures, breath, mantra and meditation, guided by stories and wisdom, with time to feel and understand.
Wednesdays · 8:30 AM
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YIN & YANG
Movement, stillness & the space between
For busy minds and bodies seeking the sweet spot between movement and rest. An energising flow followed by slow, supported holds—a practice to meet your strength and softness.
Fridays · 8:30 AM
Salasbananas the queer temple · Thalpe
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![Lit oil lamp, marigolds and a terracotta figure on the Creative Puja altar]()
THE CREATIVE RETURN
A ritual for artists, makers, dreamers and visionaries to return to themselves and consciously nourish their creative life force.
Thursday, 19 November 2026,
4:30–7:00 PM
📍 Salasbananas the Queer Temple, Thalpe
🎟 LKR 6,000 per person
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![Pahatha Rata Natum workshop with Iresha, Saturday 7 November at Bo Ahangama]()
PAHATHA RATA NATUM
Traditional Sri Lankan low-country dance with Iresha, founder of Sandaranga Dance Academy, Dikkumbura.
A fun, sweaty introduction to the Matara tradition. Beginners welcome.
Saturday 7 November · 3.30–5.30 PM
Bo, Ahangama · LKR 1,500 per person
Subsidised introductory pilot class.
Join our WhatsApp community for class details and future dates.
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SAMUDRA MANTHAN SADHANA
A morning sadhana inspired by the ancient story of Samudra Manthan, the churning of the cosmic ocean.
Sunday 8 November · 7:30 AM
Arise · Hiriketiya
LKR 3,500Part of Arise Weekends with Sala.
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INTRODUCTION TO AYURVEDA
A two-hour introduction to Ayurveda, its origins, foundational principles. looking at Ayurveda not simply as a system for treating imbalance, but as a way of understanding how we live in relationship with ourselves, nature and the rhythms around us.
Sunday 8 November · 12:00 PM
Arise · Hiriketiya
LKR 6,000Part of Arise Weekends with Sala.
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SENSUALITY VS SEXUALITY
by Ruuh
How do cultures shape our understanding of sensuality, sexuality and what it means to own our bodies?
First Tuesday of each month ·
4–6 PM
Salasbananas · Talpe
LKR 4,000Part of The Island Within & Without.
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PATRIARCHAL VS MATRIARCHAL SOCIETY
by Ruuh
An inquiry into women’s strength, femininity and the expectations we inherit about gender, power and belonging in society.
Second Tuesday of each month
4–6 PM
Salasbananas · Talpe
LKR 4,000Part of The Island Within & Without.
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I AM THIS & THAT
by Ruuh
Inspired by the ocean, waves and moonlight, we explore identity, contradiction and making room for all that we are.
Third Tuesday of each month
4–6 PM
Salasbananas · Talpe
LKR 4,000Part of The Island Within & Without.
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SPIRITUALITY & INTEGRATION
by Ruuh
How do spiritual and material life meet? Explore releasing attachment while still wanting, creating and participating fully in life.
Fourth Tuesday of each month
4–6 PM
Salasbananas · Talpe
LKR 4,000Part of The Island Within & Without.
Retreats & Journeys
Explore retreats for practice, rest and connection in Sri Lanka. Visit our Retreats page for the full details and discount codes for up to 10% off selected partner retreats.
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![A group of people practicing yoga outdoors under a thatched roof, seated on yoga mats with their hands in prayer position.]()
Surf, Yoga & Wellness Retreat
Lotus Surf & Wellness, Ahangama. Find your courage in the waves, return to your breath in the jungle shala with me, and unwind with massage and nourishing food. Choose a 6- or 13-night stay.
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Yoga & Ayurveda Journeys
Personally curated journeys with yoga, breathwork and meditation alongside individual care from Ayurvedic doctors and therapists. Make space for nourishment, rest and inquiry, with my guidance throughout.
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Breathwork, Meditation and Yoga Retreat
Green Peace Inn, Weligama. An eight-day retreat by the ocean with breathwork, meditation, yoga, plant-based food and Ayurvedic treatments. Explore at your own pace, supported by practice, rest and community.
Guidance & Ceremony
I offer one-to-one guidance for queer people finding their own way, creatives and changemakers bringing something to life, and people marking a meaningful threshold through ceremony.
Queer Wellness
Space to explore identity, embodiment, and belonging at your own pace.
Explore Queer Wellness
Inner Alchemy
One-to-one guidance for periods of change, with practices you can bring into everyday life.
Explore Inner Alchemy
Soul Business Mentoring
Support for creatives and changemakers shaping a vision into work they can sustain.
Explore Soul Business Mentoring
Celebrant Services
Personal ceremonies for commitments, vow renewals, and rites of passage, shaped around the people and the moment.
Enquire About a CeremonyCommunity
I love creating places where people can find each other. A dance class, a lamp lit together or a conversation over tea can be the beginning of a friendship. These groups help us stay connected on Sri Lanka’s South Coast & boyond.
Please read and honour each group’s guidelines before joining.
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![Lit oil lamp, marigolds and a terracotta figure on the Creative Puja altar]()
Salasbananas Gathering Community
Stay in touch with what’s gathering at Salasbananas, the Queer Temple in Talpe. We share creative workshops, ritual, movement practices and invitations to gather.
Group guidelines. Make room for different experiences. Ask before sharing other people’s stories or photos, and keep promotions relevant and agreed with the admins.
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![Pahatha Rata Natum workshop with Iresha, Saturday 7 November at Bo Ahangama]()
Traditional Dance Community
Learn and practise Pahatha Rata Natum, Sri Lanka’s low-country dance, with Iresha. Join for workshop dates and practice updates from the Matara tradition. Beginners are welcome.
Group guidelines. Respect the teachers and lineage. Ask before filming or sharing images, and keep posts related to the dance community.
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![Sacred Queerness rainbow and two merfolk drawn in coloured pencil]()
Sacred Queerness Community
Hosted by queer community and exclusively for LGBTQIA+ people. Meet each other and hear about queer retreats, gatherings, spaces and community events on Sri Lanka’s South Coast.
Group guidelines. Honour names, pronouns and boundaries. Ask before sharing messages, photos or stories outside the group, and let each person decide what they share about themselves.
Salasbananas Yoga & Art Studio
A queer temple, art gallery and intimate event space in the paddy fields of Southern Sri Lanka, created for practice, expression, connection and belonging.
What people say
Curious? Let’s talk.
Have a question about a practice, retreat or working together? Send me a message, or book a free 30-minute discovery call.