Spa
Six Senses Spa Laamu welcomes visiting wellness practitioner Doreen Vivian Bakstad
Maldives.net.mv – Visiting wellness practitioner, Doreen Vivian Bakstad will visit Six Senses Spa Laamu, in the Maldives, for a six-week engagement from 16 January through 2 March 2014.
With more than 30 years in the wellness profession, Doreen has trained in a multitude of therapies for the body (soma) and mind (psyche); most notably Swedish massage, Jin Shin Do® Acupressure – “The Way of the Compassionate Spirit,” Hakomi Body – Centered Psychotherapy, Acutonics®, Watsu®, Tai Qi, Qigong and Laughter Yoga.
She incorporates a unique combination of therapies and is gifted at facilitating deep relaxation of both emotional and physical tensions and stress. Her training in psychotherapy and counselling allows her to help others to move out of the analytical mind into the “bodymind,” thus creating a greater self-awareness and understanding, along with renewed vitality.
With open-heartedness and delightful humour, Doreen awakens a remembering in her clients and students of the fullness of who they truly are. During her visit at Six Senses Laamu she will be focusing on Acupressure Massage/Acutonics – a unique, pressure point, oil massage, incorporating tuning forks for blissful relaxation.
Doreen is originally from Canada, but she has made the world her home since 1976, through travelling, seeking to develop her techniques and her therapy practice. Recently, she spent more than 2 years in India and Cambodia performing humanitarian service. She was then given the opportunity on multiple occasions to teach acupressure for which she has developed her own technique along with mindfulness meditation, qigong, aqua-exercise classes and yoga.
Jin Shin Do® Acupressure Classes will be held for individuals, couples and small groups. Guests can learn how to utilise acupressure points in specific combinations for releasing tensions, relaxing muscles and opening energy flows. Classes may be tailored to individual preferences. Each class includes Hara Breathing – a Taoist practice for cultivating excellent health. Options include, but are not limited to: Shoulder/Neck Release; Headache Relief; Back Tension Release; Acupressure for Women; Potent Points for General Balancing; Fundamentals of Self-Acupressure for Wellbeing.
Complimentary Guest Classes in Pal Dan Gum, The Eight Silken Movements, will also be offered as will Laughter Yoga or Laughter Exercise. It is easy to learn, easy to practice and suitable for all ages of twelve or over. What began in a Mumbai park in 1995 with five people, has become a world-wide movement, with over 8,000 laughter clubs in more than 65 countries around the world. Find out for yourself why laughter is the best medicine.
Featured
InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort marks Mental Health Day with Tai Chi for inner peace

As the seasons change, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort invites guests to slow down and reconnect with themselves through a tranquil wellness retreat. In observance of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, the resort will host an exclusive ‘Tai Chi for Internal Peace’ session led by visiting practitioner Thana Jindashotinun, followed by complimentary one-on-one consultations. Guests can also opt for the AVI Wellness Journey, a holistic programme featuring breathwork, meditation, yoga, and spa rituals inspired by the island’s serene natural surroundings.
Located on the southernmost tip of Raa Atoll, on the edge of a UNESCO World Biosphere Reserve, the InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort provides an ideal setting to reset both mind and body. As the first and only all-Club InterContinental property in the Maldives, the resort combines five-star island luxury with exclusive Club InterContinental benefits. Guests can customise their stay across 81 villas and residences, seven restaurants and bars, and The Retreat, an adults-only enclave dedicated to relaxation. The resort’s AVI Spa offers an overwater sanctuary specialising in signature treatments and therapies.
Harmony healer Thana Jindashotinun will guide guests on their wellness journey from October to 30 November. Having begun practising Tai Chi at the age of eight to manage asthma, Thana has dedicated his life to mastering the art. Combining a background in psychology, anatomy, and Oriental medicine, his sessions integrate a range of disciplines, including Qi Gong, Meridian breathwork, yoga, postural assessment, and acupressure.
Guests will have the opportunity to join Thana’s signature class, ‘Tai Chi for Internal Peace’, on 10 October at 18:00 hrs at Lighthouse Beach. The class focuses on calming the nervous system through gentle movement and mindful breathing, aiming to ease anxiety, improve sleep, and restore inner balance. Following the session, participants will receive a complimentary 15-minute consultation to explore personalised wellness guidance.
Throughout his residency, Thana will also offer a variety of therapeutic experiences such as Yin Yang Bodywork, the EnerQi Massage for restoring inner harmony, and energy-focused treatments designed to promote deep relaxation and improved circulation. His Energy Detox Treatment is particularly aimed at revitalising the body’s natural rhythms and promoting a sense of renewal.
Complementing Thana’s offerings, guests can join regular wellness sessions with resident experts Zhazira Kurmangalina and Mett, including guided yoga, aerial yoga, meditation, and mat Pilates. For those seeking more active pursuits, the resort offers high-energy bootcamps, circuit training, and private personal training sessions.
The resort’s wellness philosophy extends to guests of all ages, with dedicated activities for teenagers such as Peace of Mind meditation and posture yoga at the Yoga Pavilion. Younger guests can take part in Muay Thai boxing, creative crafts, and Boduberu drumming workshops, while the Young Spa Ritual offers facials, massages, and body scrubs tailored for teens.
Visitors are encouraged to celebrate wellness throughout the season by participating in the resort’s holistic programmes and exclusive sessions with Thana Jindashotinun. From complimentary Tai Chi and meditation classes to bespoke therapies at AVI Spa, the resort presents an ideal opportunity to rejuvenate the mind, body, and spirit.
For a complete restorative experience, the AVI Wellness Journey offers guests a curated itinerary based on individual goals, including private yoga, meditation, and fitness sessions, spa treatments, and thermal suite access. The package also includes complimentary breakfast and dinner, use of non-motorised water sports, and Club InterContinental benefits such as afternoon tea and evening aperitifs. Extended stays come with added privileges—30% savings on seaplane transfers and meal plans for stays of four nights or more, and USD 50 daily resort credit for stays of seven nights or longer.
This October, InterContinental Maldives Maamunagau Resort reaffirms its commitment to wellbeing, inviting guests to embrace stillness, mindfulness, and renewal in one of the Maldives’ most serene settings.
Featured
Ifuru Island Maldives hosts visiting practitioner Devendra Pokhriyal at Xanadu Spa

Xanadu Spa at Ifuru Island Maldives has announced the arrival of Devendra Pokhriyal, a highly regarded wellness practitioner from the Himalayan foothills of India, who will serve as a Visiting Practitioner from 23 October 2025 to 7 January 2026. Guests will have the exclusive opportunity to experience his renowned healing therapies during this four-month residency.
Hailing from the birthplace of yoga and Ayurveda, Devendra brings extensive expertise across a diverse range of holistic disciplines, including Ayurvedic consultations, detox programmes, myofascial release, dry needling, marma therapy, and energy healing. His therapies are recognised for their ability to relieve pain, enhance mobility, and restore harmony to the body, mind, and spirit.
“We are excited to welcome Devendra as a Visiting Practitioner at Xanadu Spa,” said Marcel Sawyer, General Manager of Ifuru Island Maldives. “His authentic Himalayan knowledge and holistic approach will enrich our guests’ wellness journeys and add a distinctive dimension to their time on the island.”
During his residency, Devendra will offer a curated menu of treatments, including:
- Ayurvedic Consultations – personalised wellness guidance based on Ayurvedic principles.
- Marma Healing Therapy – revitalising energy flow and vitality through ancient Ayurvedic techniques.
- Remedial Massage – a bespoke full-body experience combining deep-tissue techniques, Thai stretching, and wooden tapping along meridian lines.
- Detox and Healing Therapies – including slimming detox massages, myofascial release, and nasya sinus cleansing.
Known for his compassionate and intuitive approach, Devendra has guided guests across the world toward relaxation, recovery, and transformation. His limited-time residency at Xanadu Spa presents a rare opportunity for guests of Ifuru Island to immerse themselves in authentic Himalayan-inspired wellness in the heart of the Maldives.
News
Kuramathi Maldives refreshes spa menu with enhanced treatments

Kuramathi Spa has introduced a refreshed menu blending ancient Maldivian healing traditions – Dhivehi Beys – with global wellness practices and premium European products. The treatments honour the island’s natural essence and sustainability ethos, offering a tranquil space for relaxation and transformation.
Signature and Couples Treatments
Indulge in the Kuramathi Ultimate Revival, a detox therapy with a herbal scrub, heat wrap, and lymphatic massage, or the Kuramathi Ultimate Aromatherapy for deep relaxation. Couples can enjoy intimate options like the Harmony Retreat for Two, featuring a massage, facial, fragrant bath and bubbles, or the Shared Serenity, combining an aromatherapy massage and a luxurious bath infused with essential oils and salts.
Longevity Retreats
The spa offers rejuvenating multi-day retreats to rediscover balance and vitality. The 3-Day Triple Treats package includes a body scrub or wrap, a face and body ritual, and a massage for soothing renewal. The 5-Day Nirvana Peak package focuses on stress relief with Yoga Nidra, relaxation sessions, hand and foot pampering and a head-to-toe full body experience. The 7-Day Holistic Detox Getaway supports natural healing through detox treatments like muscle relaxation, chakra balancing, fitness sessions, and lymphatic facials. Each retreat promotes relaxation, healing, and improved health.
Ayurvedic Treatments
Ayurveda is rooted in ancient Indian healing practices that focus on achieving balance between the mind, body and spirit. These treatments use herbal oils and spices to relax the body, calm the mind, and rejuvenate the senses. Abhyanga combines rhythmic movements and nutrient-rich oils to detoxify and find harmony, leaving a lasting sense of relaxation. The exclusive Samatva treatment blends Abhyanga with Shirodhara, where warm oils flow over the forehead, offering deep relaxation and mental clarity by harmonising the body’s energy and opening the third eye. For a more immersive experience, the Healing Ayurveda Retreat provides a four-day holistic journey designed to detoxify, relieve stress, and achieve balance through a combination of therapies and mindful practices, leaving participants feeling utterly transformed.
Body Massages, Body Wraps And Exfoliation
The spa offers a carefully curated selection of massages designed to restore balance and vitality. Signature treatments include Thai Stretch massage, which combines pressure point therapy and deep stretching to enhance flexibility, and the Jet Lag Recovery treatment, perfect for easing travel fatigue. Guests can indulge in the Bali Bliss experience, inspired by Balinese traditions, or enjoy the soothing Mum’s to Be massage, tailored for expectant mothers. Other options, such as Deep Tissue Massage and Hot Stone Therapy, are ideal for relieving tension and promoting relaxation.
Body wraps provide a rejuvenating boost for skin and hair. The Coco Body Buffer exfoliates with natural ingredients like coconut and coffee, leaving skin smooth and glowing, while the Coco Hair Wrap deeply conditions hair using warm coconut oil. The Rose Body Indulgence combines exfoliation with rose-infused products for softer, nourished skin, and the Sun Soother Aloe & Cucumber treatment delivers instant hydration to sun-damaged skin. Each treatment is crafted to revitalise both body and spirit.
The Beauty Hub
Facials offer a luxurious experience designed to cleanse and hydrate the skin. The Aromatherapy Associates’ options include the Wellbeing Facial, which combines dual-layer masking with lifting and firming massage techniques to reinvigorate the skin. The True Glow Facial focuses on brightening and hydrating, leaving skin plump and luminous, while the Radiance Revival Facial uses specialised massage techniques to enhance tired skin, promoting a smooth, refreshed complexion.
For men, tailored Obsidian skincare rituals address specific needs such as deep cleansing, detoxification, and anti-aging. The Detoxifying Facial targets impurities with deep cleansing, exfoliation, and a detoxifying mask, combined with massage techniques to boost circulation and nourishment. The Anti-Aging Facial incorporates exfoliation, botanical masks, and sculpting massages to enhance elasticity and skin vitality.
Margaret Dabbs London
Margaret Dabbs offers luxurious nail, hand, and foot care to repair and revitalise. The Supreme Manicure and Pedicure using Margaret Dabbs’ PURE products, combines anti-aging treatments with nourishing masks and relaxing massages. The Anti-Aging Hand Therapy plumps and brightens skin with cleansing, a potent hand mask, and a revitalising massage. The Black Leg Masque Treatment soothes tired, swollen legs, stimulating circulation and relieving discomfort.
Wellbeing Classes
Kuramathi offers yoga and meditation to nurture mind, body, and spirit. Sunset Yoga on the beach blends poses and meditation for tranquility, while Power Yoga boosts stamina and flexibility. Vinyasa Yoga connects breath with movement for balance, and Meditation Breathwork sessions release stress through mindfulness.
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