Canareef Resort Maldives is expanding its wellness programme with a broader range of yoga, meditation and holistic experiences led by Karan Kumar, Yoga Professional and Holistic Healer.

Based at Canareef as an in-house Wellness Practitioner, Karan brings extensive experience inyoga, meditation, Reiki and energy healing, with a professional career spanning wellness centres and resorts in India and the Maldives.

His approach combines traditional yogic practices with contemporary wellness experiences, allowing guests to participate in structured group sessions or choose personalised one-to-one experiences according to their individual preferences.

A strong foundation in yoga and wellness

Karan holds a Master’s Degree in Yogic Science & Healing from Uttarakhand Sanskrit University, Haridwar, and a Post Graduate Diploma in Yoga Therapies from Kaivalyadhama Yoga Ashram, Lonavla. His training also includes a Yoga Instructor Certificate from Swami Vivekananda Yoga Anusandhana Samsthana (SVAYASA) and a Teacher Training Course through Sivananda Yoga Vedanta Dhanwantari Ashram in Kerala. He has also completed a 10-day Vipassana self-observation meditation course.

His professional experience includes teaching and facilitating wellness programmes across both India and the Maldives. In the Maldives, he has worked with Soneva Jaani, The Standard Maldives, SO/ Maldives, Kuredhivaru Resort and Spa and ERI Maldives, gaining experience across yoga instruction, spa and wellness operations, meditation, sound healing, Reiki and energy-based practices.

At The Standard Maldives, where he served as Spa Supervisor and Wellness Coordinator, Karan conducted yoga, sound healing and meditation sessions while also developing personalised wellness plans and overseeing spa operations. His subsequent roles at SO/ Maldives and ERI Maldives further expanded his experience in personalised holistic treatments, Reiki, guided meditation and energy healing.

Wellness from sunrise to sunset

At Canareef, guests can discover wellness experiences throughout their stay, with both group and private sessions available.

The programme includes Sunrise Yoga and Sunset Yoga, allowing guests to begin or end their day with movement, breath and mindfulness in the natural surroundings of the island.

Guests can also participate in Hatha, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Yin and Restorative Yoga, alongside Sun Salutations and dedicated breathwork sessions. Private one-to-one sessions provide a more personalised approach, with practices adapted to the guest’s experience, preferences and individual wellness goals.

Breathwork and Pranayama form an important part of the programme, introducing guests to traditional breathing practices designed to encourage awareness, relaxation and a greater connection between movement and breath.

For those looking beyond conventional yoga, Canareef’s wellness programme also includes guided meditation, sound meditation, sound baths, Tibetan singing bowl experiences, Reiki, energy healing and chakra healing.

These experiences complement the resort’s spa and wellness facilities while giving guests a choice of different ways to relax and reconnect during their holiday. Karan’s professional training includes yoga therapy, meditation, Reiki, energy healing, sound bath and Tibetan singing bowl healing, chakra balancing and Yoga Nidra.

A new full moon experience

One of the newest additions to the Canareef wellness calendar is a monthly Full Moon Meditation, held at the resort’s Yoga Shala beneath the full moon.

Each month’s session is given a different name inspired by the lunar cycle, creating a changing theme for guests to experience throughout the year.

The previous session was themed around the Sturgeon Moon, while this month’s programme is dedicated to the Harvest Moon.

The sessions are designed to create a dedicated period for meditation and reflection, using the natural setting of the Yoga Shala and the full moon as part of the experience.

The monthly programme also offers returning guests something new to discover, creating a regular wellness ritual that changes from month to month.

Wellness designed around the guest

Karan’s experience across yoga, holistic healing and resort wellness allows Canareef to offer a flexible programme rather than a single approach to wellness.

For guests who simply want to add some movement to their holiday, a sunrise or sunset yoga class provides an accessible introduction. Those looking for deeper relaxation can explore meditation, breathwork or sound-based experiences, while private sessions allow guests to spend more time working individually with Karan.

His background in yoga therapy and anatomy, combined with his experience in personalised wellness programmes, also supports an approach where sessions can be adapted to different levels of experience and individual requirements.

Beyond his daily wellness sessions, Karan has also been involved in organising and delivering larger wellness initiatives, including World Wellness Day and International Day of Yoga programmes at SO/ Maldives, World Wellness Weekend activities, and wellness collaborations with Puma Middle East and Seva Dubai during his time at The Standard Maldives. Rather than requiring guests to follow a fixed wellness itinerary, Canareef’s programme allows each traveller to create their own balance of relaxation, movement and mindfulness during their stay.

With its spacious island environment in Addu Atoll, Canareef provides a setting where wellness can extend beyond the Yoga Shala – from a quiet moment overlooking the lagoon to a walk at sunset or simply taking time to slow down.

Through its expanded wellness programme and Karan’s holistic approach, Canareef continues to offer guests another way to experience the island: with time to move, breathe, relax and reconnect.

Huvafen Fushi, the Maldives resort renowned for its spirit of innovation and unconventional approach to luxury, has partnered with premium sleep wellness brand Heveya to introduce a new level of restorative wellbeing for guests staying in its most sought-after accommodation.

From September 2026, guests staying in Huvafen’s Beach House and Two-bedroom Ocean Pavilions will enjoy an elevated sleep experience with Heveya’s natural organic latex mattresses, pillows, duvets and bedding. At its heart is the Heveya’s Sleep Concierge, bringing a more personalised approach to rest by inviting guests to tailor key elements of their sleep environment around their individual preferences. Guests can select the pillow best suited to their sleep style, choose between goose down or organic bamboo duvet inserts, and opt for bedding in either organic French linen or organic bamboo cotton. Together, these considered choices create a bespoke bed composition designed to support deeper, more restorative sleep.

The partnership comes as sleep tourism continues to reshape the luxury travel landscape. According to the Global Wellness Institute’s 2026 Sleep Initiative Trends report, deep rest is one of the fastest-growing segments of the global wellness economy, as travelers increasingly seek destinations that help them recover from stress, jet lag and digital overload.

Luxury has always been about how a place makes you feel. Increasingly, that feeling begins with a great night’s sleep. At Huvafen Fushi, wellness has always extended beyond the spa, and this latest partnership brings that philosophy into some of the most important hours of every stay.

Heveya was founded on a simple belief: that exceptional sleep begins with exceptional natural materials. Crafted from organic natural latex harvested from the sap of the Hevea brasiliensis rubber tree, Heveya mattresses are made without chemicals, glues or coils, offering responsive support that gently contours to the body while maintaining exceptional durability. Their naturally breathable open-cell structure promotes continuous airflow, helping to regulate temperature throughout the night for a cooler, more comfortable sleep. Each mattress is finished with a removable organic bamboo cover which, uniquely, can be opened to reveal exactly what lies within. This transparency not only reflects Heveya’s commitment to natural, considered craftsmanship, but also offers a more hygienic sleep solution, allowing the mattress interior to be easily seen and cared for.

Complementing the mattresses are Heveya’s organic natural latex pillows, designed with additional ventilation channels to enhance breathability while providing consistent head and neck support through the night.

Recognising that no two people sleep the same way, the Sleep Concierge includes a personalised pillow consultation to help guests identify the support best suited to their individual sleep style. With six different pillow designs spanning from soft to extra firm and tailored to side, back and stomach sleepers, guests can find the option that feels most natural to them. Naturally resistant to dust mites, mould and bacteria, latex also promotes a cleaner, healthier sleep environment, while removable bamboo fibre covers provide an added layer of softness and ease of care.

Beyond the mattress and pillow, the Sleep Concierge allows guests to personalise the finer details of their sleep environment, from a choice of breathable bamboo cotton or organic flax linen bedding to lightweight bamboo fibre or ethically sourced goose down duvet inserts. Together, these considered choices create a bed tailored to individual preferences, reflecting Huvafen Fushi’s intuitive approach to personalised hospitality.

Sustainability sits at the heart of the partnership. As a certified B Corp. company, Heveya is committed to meeting high standards of social and environmental responsibility, with this ethos embedded throughout its operations. The brand sources latex from its own organic plantations, operates water recycling systems within its manufacturing processes and supports rainforest conservation by adopting an acre of rainforest for every mattress sold. This shared commitment to responsible practices, considered craftsmanship and thoughtful luxury makes the collaboration a natural fit for Huvafen Fushi’s evolving sustainability journey.

“Luxury at Huvafen has always meant something felt, not just seen,” said Noel Cameron, General Manager of Huvafen Fushi. “Partnering with Heveya lets us extend that philosophy to the most personal part of any stay, sleep. It’s a quiet addition, but it’s exactly the kind of thoughtful, purposeful detail our guests have come to expect from us.”

The Heveya sleep experience is now available exclusively in Huvafen Fushi’s Two-Bedroom Ocean Pavilion with Indoor-Outdoor Pool, Two-Bedroom Ocean Pavilion with Outdoor Pool and Two Bedroom Beach House with Pool.

For reservations and further information, visit huvafenfushi.com.

The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort will commemorate World Wellness Weekend 2026 with an immersive three-day celebration inspired by the restorative power of nature. Taking place from September 18 to 20, 2026, the thoughtfully curated program invites guests to embrace mindful living, holistic wellbeing, and meaningful connection through experiences designed to foster balance, vitality, and renewal in an extraordinary island setting.

Rooted in the St. Regis tradition of crafting exceptional experiences, the weekend brings together movement, mindfulness, self-care, and wellness education against the breathtaking backdrop of the Maldives. The three-day program includes yoga and meditation, Pilates, strength and fitness training, Anti-Gravity Yoga, aquatic fitness experiences, skincare workshops, and guided self-care sessions. These experiences encourage guests to reconnect with themselves, cultivate inner balance, and embrace a more mindful way of living.

Nestled between lush tropical rainforest and pristine white-sand beaches on a private island in Dhaalu Atoll, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort offers a serene sanctuary where luxury and wellbeing exist in harmony. From sunrise rituals overlooking the Indian Ocean to transformative experiences at the award-winning Iridium Spa, every element of the weekend is thoughtfully designed to inspire presence, deepen one’s connection with nature, and nurture a lasting sense of wellbeing.

Day One | Friday, September 18, 2026

The weekend begins with Morning Yoga at the Yoga Sala, where guests are invited to greet the day with sun salutations that energise the body and calm the mind. A dynamic blend of aerobics and boxing follows, designed to strengthen, challenge, and invigorate.

Later, guests can explore the principles of holistic wellbeing during Balancing Your Doshas, an interactive Ayurvedic workshop focused on achieving greater harmony between mind, body, and environment. The afternoon continues with an energising Beach Boot Camp, before transitioning into a restorative Chakra Yoga session, encouraging self-expression, authenticity, and personal growth.

Day Two | Saturday, September 19, 2026

The second day begins with Sunrise Yoga and Meditation, followed by Mat Pilates, session designed to enhance core strength, balance, and flexibility.

A highlight of the day, Anti-Gravity Yoga combines traditional yoga principles with suspended movement, creating a unique experience that is both engaging and restorative. At Iridium Spa, guests may participate in a Skin Analysis Workshop, featuring personalised consultations and expert recommendations tailored to individual skincare and wellness goals.

The afternoon features Strength Training, before concluding with a guided Chakra Meditation centred on Ajna, the third-eye chakra, encouraging clarity, intuition, and reflection.

Day Three | Sunday, September 20, 2026

The final day starts with a tranquil Morning Yoga session, followed by an invigorating HIIT Workout, challenging participants with high-intensity movement designed to elevate fitness, endurance, and vitality.

Guests are then welcomed to the iconic overwater Iridium Spa for an interactive BR Skin Instant® Workshop, where tailored insights and expert advice highlight the relationship between wellbeing and radiant, healthy skin.

The wellness journey continues with Pool Bike Fitness, a low-impact aquatic workout that combines resistance and cardiovascular training, followed by The Art of Massage Workshop, where guests can learn simple therapeutic techniques to support relaxation and recovery.

The weekend concludes with a Modified HYROX Workout on the beach, a dynamic functional fitness challenge that blends strength, stamina, and cardio. A final Chakra Yoga session dedicated to Sahasrara, the crown chakra, brings the celebration to a meaningful close.

A Journey to Renewal

Nestled between lush tropical rainforest and pristine white-sand beaches on a private island in Dhaalu Atoll, The St. Regis Maldives Vommuli Resort provides an extraordinary setting for renewal and discovery. From sunrise rituals overlooking the Indian Ocean to transformative experiences at the award-winning Iridium Spa, every element of the World Wellness Weekend is thoughtfully designed to inspire presence, deepen one’s connection with nature, and nurture a lasting sense of wellbeing.

For more information on World Wellness Weekend 2026 and the resort’s wellness offerings, visit stregismaldives.com.