Wellness
A Sneak Preview of Six Senses Laamu’s Visiting Practitioners Programme 2016
Maldives.net.mv – For many years, visiting practitioners have played an integral part in the wellness offerings at Six Senses Laamu and their talent and expertise have benefited guests and hosts alike. And as guests continue the search for that perfect antidote to their busy lives, the demand for visiting practitioners and their specialist therapies has grown in an equal measure.
In the year ahead, the resort has brought together a selection of the most popular and long-standing experts, who have worked with Six Senses for many years as well as some new superstars whose exceptional reputation and client feedback have earned them a place on the list.
Dr. Gopal Govindasamy is a visiting ayurvedic and naturopathic doctor, who believes that your face and hair is a mirror of your health. It is a map of your internal organs and how they are doing health-wise. For example, the nose represents our heart and cheeks correlate to ours lungs. The lines running down from our nose to our lips represent the colon, while our chin represents the reproductive system. Every line and spot, scar, wrinkle and blemish means something. This style of diagnosis has been used for thousands of years in the ayurvedic and Chinese traditions and Dr. Gopal uses it to recommend the most suitable treatments during your stay. His specialties include Chinese acupuncture and moxibustion, Indian head massage and naturopathy which will be available from January 1 to 20, April 20 to May 31, and October 1 to 31, 2016.
There is no doubt that stress is a part of our lives and if not managed correctly, it can have adverse effects on our health. Visiting Practitioner Toby Maguire specializes in stress management and assists guests in finding ways to manage and release it. He draws from nearly 20 years of practicing eastern medicine to enable healing of the body and mind, addressing physical pain and psychological blockages. Toby’s expertise includes acupuncture, Chinese abdominal massage, pain relief massage, reiki, hypnotherapy, qi gong and meditation which will be available from January 20 to March 15, 2016.
Khun Noom has practiced different modalities of healing for over a decade. She is a yoga instructor and meditation leader, an artist in cupping techniques and a specialist in foot reflexology, Thai massage and manual lymphatic drainage. She utilizes the healing qualities of crystals and singing bowls to help guests heal various ailments of the body, mind and spirit, and to bring them into a deep state of awareness and balance. Khun Noom will be offering crystal sound healing, chakra balancing and foot reflexology with crystals from March 15 to April 30, 2016.
Claude Simard has used a psycho-energetic approach to help guests rediscover their inner child for over 20 years. The inner child is widely recognized in psychology as a sensitive and spontaneous part of ourselves, which is usually under the control of the waking conscious mind. During his psycho-energetic massage treatment, Claude guides guests to reconnect with a deep part of themselves and thus reclaim their ability to develop more trust in their own feelings. This can help in all areas of life, from business decisions to creating a fulfilling love relationship with one’s partner. In addition, Claude specializes in deep tissue fusion massage, and shiatsu and acupressure massage. Claude’s partner Jill Banwell discovered healing arts more than 13 years ago and her journey has taken her into the fields of therapeutic tarot reading, reiki, color and crystal healing, yoga, massage and meditation. She has worked all over the world, taking pleasure in gently guiding her clients to experience a deeper, more harmonious life. Claude and Jill will be at the resort from July 1 to August 31, 2016.
Khun Sommai has visited many Six Senses spas over the years and is a passionate holistic therapist. His expertise includes Tibetan singing bowls healing, chakra balancing with crystals, as well as qi gong and yoga. He will be available from November 1, 2016 to January 6, 2017.
Set on the beach, Six Senses Spa Laamu offers four uniquely designed couple treatment nests, four secluded couple treatment champas plus one Ayurvedic treatment and one Thai massage champa, all within the island’s natural vegetation. Highly skilled Six Senses Spa therapists use natural products to provide a comprehensive range of award-winning signature treatments plus rejuvenation and wellness specialties of the region. Visiting practitioners offer our guests lifestyle consultations and specialized holistic treatments.
In recognition of World Sleep Day, ELE|NA highlights SleepSync, one of its Six Pillars of Vitality dedicated to restoration and circadian rhythm alignment, through the SleepSync Ritual, a deeply calming spa experience designed to guide guests toward profound, uninterrupted sleep. The ritual is implemented across all ELE|NA locations in both the Maldives and India, ensuring guests can reconnect with restorative sleep wherever they experience the brand.
In today’s always-connected world, restful sleep has become increasingly elusive. Within this ritual, the body is gently led from stimulation into stillness, releasing the tensions of the day, calming the nervous system and preparing the mind and body for restorative rest.
ELE|NA believes that sleep is not simply the absence of wakefulness, but an essential pillar of holistic wellbeing – where restoration, emotional balance and cellular renewal take place.
Supporting the Body’s Natural Sleep Rhythm
Sleep begins long before the moment the head meets the pillow. It is a gradual transition where the body releases the day and prepares for stillness.
Within ELE|NA’s SleepSync Rituals, this transition is approached with intention and calm. As evening settles, the body begins its quiet descent into rest with the following:
- Reduce blue light exposure before sleep
- Dim lighting to signal the body’s nighttime rhythm
- Create calm through mindful transitions away from daily activity
- Release thoughts through journaling
- Hydrate and support the body’s nighttime recovery
These small rituals help guide the body from stimulation to restoration.
Reclaiming the Night
World Sleep Day serves as an important reminder that quality sleep is not a luxury, but a foundation of health and longevity. When supported with mindful rituals and intentional slowing down, the night becomes a space for true renewal.
Through SleepSync Rituals, ELE|NA continues its commitment to nurturing holistic wellbeing, guiding individuals back to the natural rhythms that allow the body to rest, restore and awaken with clarity and vitality.
On a day dedicated to celebrating progress, equality and empowerment, ELE|NA is shining a spotlight on one of the most overlooked aspects of women’s health: perimenopause and menopause.
Earlier this year, ELE|NA hosted Wellness on Deck in Dubai, an intimate gathering that brought together influential voices across women’s health, media and hospitality to reframe the menopause narrative from silence to strength.
Held aboard a private yacht in Dubai Marina, the event created space for honest dialogue, expert insight and meaningful connection among women navigating hormonal transitions at different stages of life.
Among the distinguished guests were internationally renowned therapist Marisa Peer, menopause specialist Dr Fiona Rennie, and journalist and filmmaker Punam Verma, creator of Men on Pause, alongside prominent women from the regional media and hospitality industries. Their presence underscored a powerful message. Women’s health conversations must evolve to reflect the realities of every life stage and circumstance.
While International Women’s Day celebrates achievement, it also calls attention to gaps that still exist. One of those gaps is menopause education.
Perimenopause and menopause do not occur only at one defined age. They may arise naturally over time, earlier than expected, or as a result of medical treatments or surgical procedures. Yet despite how common these experiences are, education and structured support remain limited.
By aligning this announcement with International Women’s Day, ELE|NA reinforces a simple belief. Empowerment includes informed health. True equality includes understanding the female body across all stages and situations.
Wellness on Deck introduced ELE|NA’s upcoming retreat, The Art of Graceful Change, taking place from June 4 to 8, 2026 at OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi in the Maldives.
The programme focuses on:
- Hormonal literacy and metabolic health
- Sleep restoration and nervous system regulation
- Strength and mobility for longevity
- Gut health and sustainable nourishment
- Emotional resilience and identity evolution
- Confidence, vitality and leadership through change
Set within a calm island environment, the retreat offers more than relaxation. It provides education, practical tools and a supportive community that empowers women to return home informed and confident in their changing physiology.
Perimenopause and menopause are not limited to one age bracket or life phase. They are biological transitions that can occur under varied circumstances. When supported with knowledge and intention, they can mark the beginning of a more powerful and aligned chapter.
As International Women’s Day calls for continued progress, ELE|NA invites women to extend the celebration beyond achievement and into self-understanding.
Retreat Details:
- The Art of Graceful Change
- June 4 to 8, 2026
- OBLU XPERIENCE Ailafushi, Maldives
Limited places available. For retreat information and bookings, please visit ele-na.com/menopause-retreat.
This June, Niva Dhigali Maldives invites guests to experience wellbeing at its own pace. As part of Wellness Week with Gemma Merna, this private island becomes a space for calm, connection and renewal, with five days shaped to restore the body and mind in a setting that feels open, natural and alive.
Gemma Merna is a Master Intuitive Psychology Coach, hypnotherapist, yoga and Pilates teacher, sound healer, and founder of Mind and Wellness. She blends science-backed practices with intuition, movement, and mindfulness to guide guests in reconnecting with themselves, cultivating clarity, confidence, and calm in a deeply restorative way.
For this Maldives retreat, Gemma has curated a five-day programme combining mindful movement, meditation, sound healing, and reflective workshops. Guests can expect a nurturing yet empowering journey, supported by the island’s natural rhythm of light, sea and open space.
Each day begins framed by gentle ocean breeze and sunrise light, with revitalising yoga flows designed to awaken the body and calm the mind. Guided workshops explore simple tools for releasing tension and inviting ease, from Gua-Sha self-care techniques to sessions that encourage inner strength and mental clarity. Movement finds its own pace with Pilates sessions that balance breath and body, while sunset yoga flows and restorative soundbaths invite quiet reflection as day turns to evening.
Surrounded by the tranquil beauty of the Raa Atoll, Niva Dhigali offers a setting made for presence and renewal. Days are unhurried, horizons stretch endlessly, and the sea is a quiet companion to every moment. Whether practising on the jetty at sunrise or resting under palms after a soundbath on Haali Beach, each day unfolds with ease, allowing guests to reconnect with their body, mind and surroundings.
Pause. Breathe. Enjoy the simple rhythms of the island, carrying the feeling of this week with you long after departure.
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