Wellness
Wellness and Health – New Definition of Luxury and Lifestyle

Maldives.net.mv – Vaibhav Garg, Cluster Director of Talent & Culture – AccorHotels, Maldives represented Maldives and AccorHotels at the Cornell University during a recent International Symposium: Hospitality, Health & Design (October 9 – 11, Ithaca, New York) with over 90 speakers, and 4 high profile keynote panels on hospitality, healthcare, senior living, and design and with over 200 delegates, global industry and academy leaders, executives, top researchers, and fellow participants. Vaibhav shared his research paper on the subject “Wellness & Health – new definition of luxury and lifestyle”
Speaking at the session, Vaibhav emphasized that Wellness is the state of optimal well-being and starts with self care. It’s not simply the absence of illness, but an improved quality of life resulting from enhanced physical, social, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental health. In the area of health and wellness awareness; it all comes down to a giant contemporary demand for advancements in pro-active health. There are many reasons why the wellness industry is, and will continue to expand. What is killing us today are life style diseases. The major causes of early deaths have shifted from infectious diseases to chronic lifestyle-related conditions. 70% of which are preventable through eating right, exercise, supplementation and effective stress management.
“When it’s about bragging on social media on wellness, health and lifestyle that’s the new luxury statement and that’s what I spoke at Cornell University. There has been a major shift in the way we look at our lives and in “unconventional” way. It’s about personal satisfaction more than just a brag. Today there are many social media and fitness tracking applications that are emerging with a thrust into our lives advocating new gen lifestyle flair. People are following these new trends greatly and widely across age groups and evolved and matured mindsets. My presentation at Cornell University took a look at Gen Z trends as well as global market trends in health + wellness and its implications on the hospitality industry. Wellness at AccorHotels and other industry case studies were also showcased during this event”, briefed Vaibhav.

So when it comes to selfie posts and personal photographs (self posing or check ins) It’s usually a confluence of health, body image, peer affirmation and self-actualization. As millennials craft their social media persona, body image becomes a primary concern. 73% of millennials exercise to enhance their physical appearance. People who posts status updates about their diet and exercise routine or travel diaries appears to be more Narcissistic and they use Facebook and other fitness social networks like H, Pump Up, Instagram and Burn This to share their workout selfies, to broadcast the effort they put into their physical appearance. In my personal view, It’s not simply overexposure but a new way towards an improved quality of life resulting from enhanced physical, social, mental, emotional, spiritual and environmental health.
In his presentation remarks, he emphasized that there is an absolute revolution going on involving the “consumerization of fitness and wellness, the very nature of the future fitness opportunity is changing and in hospitality industry wellness needs to be accessible and integrated with the guest experience in the hotel in the most natural way. “At Accor, we believe that our guests need to have “wellness options” to choose from and our wellness strategy is redefined with 4 pillars of health and well-being.” added Vaibhav.
Vaibhav has been representing Maldives and his respective organizations at Cornell University since 2012 while showcasing his research case studies and new trends in the area of hospitality, hotel operations, human resources and service excellence. “It was an incredible honor to represent Maldives and AccorHotels at Cornell University, New York, this October 2016 where academicians, fellow industry professionals and practitioners from across a broad spectrum of the wellness, health, hospitality and design industry gathered for an immersive learning experience into the cultural factors and trends transforming the hospitality, health & design in marketplace.” concludes Vaibhav Garg.
News
Niva Dhigali Maldives to host wellness week with Gemma Merna this June
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.
Fitness
OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru launches expanded wellness programming for 2026
As wellness continues to shape how travellers plan and prioritise their journeys in 2026, OUTRIGGER Resorts & Hotels is redefining the restorative island escape with the launch of expanded, immersive wellness programming at OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort.
Set on a private island in the South Ari Atoll, the boutique resort reflects OUTRIGGER’s lifestyle-led approach to hospitality at a time when travellers are seeking a more restorative 2026. Anchored by Navasana Spa as a central wellness hub, the enhanced offerings invite guests to embrace a “new year, new me” mindset through movement, mindfulness and island-inspired rituals.
“OUTRIGGER is about creating space for guests to slow down and feel grounded in their surroundings,” said John Allanson, General Manager of OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru Resort. “Here in the Maldives, the natural rhythm of island life guides the experience, and our expanded wellness offerings allow guests to engage with that rhythm in a way that feels personal and intentional.”
At OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru, wellness extends beyond the spa and into the fabric of the resort experience. Navasana Spa now offers a curated mix of dynamic fitness and mindful practices designed to support both energy and restoration.
A dedicated fitness and yoga studio hosts aerial yoga, sunrise yoga with panoramic island views, bungee fit, rebound training and TRX suspension, alongside chakra healing, sound healing and full moon meditation sessions held in calming oceanfront settings. Hammocks, mats and sound bowls create a space that encourages both movement and introspection.
Wellness-forward dining highlights fresh tropical fruits and island-sourced ingredients, with flexible menus designed to accommodate a range of dietary preferences and wellness goals.
A new highlight of the resort’s wellness expansion is The Alchemy Bar, an interactive space that invites guests to engage directly in self-care rituals. Workshops include coconut oil cooking, herbal poultice making, candle crafting and organic soap creation, offering a tactile, memorable layer to the wellness experience.
Guests can also explore a curated selection of herbal teas, bath and sleep kits and aromatic candles, allowing wellness practices to extend beyond the stay.
For guests seeking a more structured approach, OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru introduces two multi-night wellness programmes, available in three-, five- or seven-night formats.
- Holistic Fitness Package: Designed for guests focused on motivation and movement, this programme blends personalised fitness sessions with Pilates-based exercises and flexibility training, tailored to individual goals and preferences.
- Healing Retreat Package: Beginning with a wellness consultation and screening, this programme emphasises gentle, supportive practices including daily yoga, therapeutic sound healing and targeted treatments that encourage emotional balance and deep relaxation.
With just 81 modern and sleek villas, OUTRIGGER Maldives Maafushivaru offers the privacy and calm ideal for wellness-focused travel. The island’s lush interior, turquoise lagoon and thriving house reef provide a natural backdrop for sunrise meditation, aerial yoga or quiet moments of quiet reflection. Guests can further enhance their stay through PADI-certified diving, silent sunset cruises and reef exploration, all aligned with the resort’s restorative ethos.
Featured
Yoko Kawaguchi to lead holistic wellness residency at Vakkaru Maldives
Vakkaru Maldives has announced the residency of acclaimed holistic practitioner Yoko Kawaguchi at Merana Spa, taking place from 17 March to 30 April 2026. The residency forms part of the resort’s ongoing focus on wellness, restoration and mindful living.
Grounded in Japanese healing traditions, Kawaguchi’s therapeutic philosophy centres on personalised care designed to calm the nervous system, release emotional tension and support the body’s natural restorative functions. Her integrative approach combines auriculotherapy (ear reflexology), aromatherapy, Reiki energy healing and targeted massage techniques to create treatments tailored to individual needs.
Guests may select from a range of core therapies offered during the residency. Highlights include the Tranquil Mind Ritual, which blends scalp massage, ear reflexology and energy work to ease tension and encourage emotional clarity. The Aroma Reiki Healing Touch treatment combines aromatherapy back massage with carefully selected essential oils and Usui Reiki to address both physical and emotional blockages. Auriculotherapy sessions focus on stimulating reflex points in the ears to support hormonal balance, immunity, nervous system regulation and overall wellbeing, with optional ear seeds available to extend the benefits beyond the treatment.
Alongside individual sessions, Kawaguchi will offer complimentary consultations and a programme of group wellness experiences. These include guided Reiki self-healing meditation and ear stretching massage sessions designed to promote relaxation and mental clarity, providing guests with simple techniques to support their wellbeing during and after their stay.
Hosted within the serene surroundings of Merana Spa, the residency offers guests an opportunity to pause, reset and engage in a deeper wellness journey, aligned with Vakkaru Maldives’ philosophy of understated luxury and holistic balance.
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