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.

Pullman Maldives Maamutaa has announced wellness expert Vanessa Goodman as its resident practitioner for Vibrance Week, a six-day wellness programme taking place from 21 to 26 September 2026.

Held under the theme “Relax, Restore, Revive”, the programme will introduce guests to a series of experiences centred on movement, recovery, mindfulness and personal wellbeing.

According to the resort, Vibrance Week reflects its approach to wellness as an ongoing, holistic practice rather than an experience limited to a holiday. The programme is intended to help guests reconnect, recharge and develop practices that can support balance in their personal and professional lives.

Goodman brings 14 years of practice and research into the relationship between movement, breath, emotions and the nervous system. Her approach considers movement not only as physical exercise, but also as a tool for developing strength, confidence, self-awareness and a deeper connection between physical and mental wellbeing.

During the week, Goodman will guide guests through a framework built around three areas: purposeful movement, safe physical challenge, and the balance between performance and recovery.

The resort said the programme will encourage participants to work towards physical goals while remaining mindful of their individual limits, with recovery and restoration incorporated alongside more active sessions.

“Vanessa’s philosophy aligns perfectly with this vision. For her, movement goes far beyond physical exercise — it is a strategic pathway to building inner strength, confidence, self-awareness and deeper cognitive connection,” Pullman Maldives Maamutaa said in announcing the programme.

Vibrance Week forms part of the resort’s wider focus on experiences designed around wellbeing and lifestyle, combining guided activities with its island setting in Gaafu Alifu Atoll.

The programme will run at Pullman Maldives Maamutaa from 21 to 26 September 2026.

Transformative luxury retreat Patina Maldives, Fari Islands unveils a new stage of The Perpetual Journey, its ongoing programme of art, culture, wellness and conscious dining experiences. Highlights from August to November include acclaimed multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawood’s inaugural Patina Art Residency, a junior football camp led by FC Bayern Munich coach Jonas Caryot and a three-day Diwali celebration bringing together chef Atul Kochhar, mixologist Giancarlo Mancino and DJ Sakré.

The Perpetual Journey is Patina’s evolving programme of experiences designed to inspire couples, families and solo travellers to embrace connection, growth, wellbeing and nourishment at their own pace through collaborations with global and local guest talent.

Aishath Shuaila – Art Gallery Malé Collaboration, 22 September – 10 October

Developed in partnership with Art Gallery Malé, the rolling creators in residence programme at Patina Maldives’ Fari Art Atelier provides an ongoing international platform for contemporary Maldivian artists.

Following the success of Ahmed Khaleel’s residency in June and Hassan Najih’s residency in July, Patina Maldives will collaborate with Aishath Shuaila as part of its commitment to nurturing and showcasing local talent. Rather than simply displaying her paintings, the Fari Art Atelier will become Aishath’s working studio during the residency, allowing guests to encounter her work and creative process through an open-studio format, alongside workshops and informal exchanges.

Drawing on her love for nature and background in sustainable development, Aishath’s signature style uses vivid colours and bold brushstrokes to represent the patterns and textures found in the natural world. The resulting works encourage viewers to better understand and appreciate Maldivian flora and fauna.

Patina Art Residency: Shezad Dawood, 18 October – 8 November

Winner of the inaugural Patina Art Residency, London-based multidisciplinary artist Shezad Dawoodwill undertake extended fieldwork at Patina Maldives, deepening his practice that connects art, science and environmental advocacy. With more than a decade spent in dialogue with marine biologists and environmentalist, Shezad will take this time to explore the island’s environment and marine ecology to create a piece of work shaped by the 2025 Theme, Fluid Worlds, which invites artists to examine how boundaries shift and change, whether between cultures, ideas or elements.

Bayern Munich Football Camp, 25 – 29 October

Designed for young players aged six to 17, this exclusive camp takes place across five days with FC Bayern Munich’s Coach Jonas Caryot, blending expert coaching, small-group sessions, and up to five hours of focused training every day. With two days reserved for rest, the camp offers participants a rare opportunity to refine their football skills in the island’s serene setting.

Yakido by Yardbird Hong Kong, 6 – 10 October

Hong Kong-based modern izakaya and bar Yardbird brings its travelling Yakido concept to Brasa for two nights alongside a week of pop-ups and collaborations, including ALWAYS FRIENDS BY ALWAYS JOY on October 8; a pop- up at Veli Bar with Max Levy’s pizza project, MR. IKO; and a series of strength and mobility movement sessions led by Lindsay Jang.

Moments of Connection: Diwali

Chef Atul Kochhar, 7 – 9 November

Widely recognised as a pioneering figure in Indian fine dining, Atul Kochhar is the first Indian chef to be awarded a Michelin star, receiving his first at Tamarind in 2001 and a second at Benares in 2007. With over 30 years in the culinary world, he brings a contemporary expression of India’s regional cuisine through bold flavours, refined technique and premium ingredients. For Diwali, Kochhar brings the culinary identity of Kanishka by Atul Kochhar, his acclaimed London restaurant, to Helios, presenting a special menu that reinterprets his signature contemporary Indian cuisine for the Maldivian setting.

Giancarlo Mancino

Internationally renowned bartender and the creative mind behind SeiBellissimi, a luxury sparkling bottled cocktail line, Giancarlo Mancino returns to Patina Maldives with a series of guest shifts and cocktail experiences.

Sakré

Bangalore-based producer, DJ and sound artist Sakré brings his genre-blurring approach to electronic music to Patina Maldives during Diwali. Drawing on ambient textures, lo-fi beats and South Indian cinematic influences, his immersive soundscapes offer a contemporary interpretation of India’s evolving music culture.

Patina Resonance: Visiting Practitioners

Jasmin Küster – Holistic Bodywork, 14 September – 14 October

Jasmin is a holistic therapist and aquatic bodyworker whose practice brings together Water Therapy, Chi Nei Tsang abdominal massage, fascia-focused Somatic Bodywork and other specialised treatments to encourage deep relaxation, release tension and restore balance between body, mind and emotions. Her approach focuses on deep relaxation, release and greater connection with the body, with each experience adapted to the individual.

Minako Saito – Japanese Wellness Innovator and Founder of Platinum Ritual Series, 15 October – 15 November

Minako Saito specialises in Japanese thermal therapy and women’s wellness counselling. She is the founder of the Platinum Ritual Series, a holistic treatment collection designed to calm the nervous system, encourage deep relaxation and restore inner balance. Each ritual combines gentle, deep-reaching warmth with therapeutic techniques to support harmony between body and mind. Guests can choose between rituals promoting relaxation and restorative sleep, a neuro-relaxing facial ritual, or women’s wellness-focused rituals that support hormonal balance, nervous system regulation, pelvic wellbeing and hip mobility.

Thalia Jones – Breathwork Practitioner and Holistic Therapist, 15 December – 15 January 2027

Thalia Jones returns to Patina Maldives, working with guests on personal transformation with her rounded approach that integrates the mind, body and soul. Through guided breathwork and holistic therapies, Thalia creates space for guests to pause, reconnect and develop a greater awareness of body and breath.

To book, email reservations.maldives@patinahotels.com, tel. +960 4000555, or visit patinahotels.com/maldives-fari-islands.