Spa
The Benefits of Ayurveda by the Sea at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa
Maldives.net.mv – Designed for both those who are just beginning to dip their toes in Ayurveda as well as for the more advanced student who wants to deepen their practice and understanding of Ayurveda’s true roots and benefits, SUNDÃRI Ayurveda Spa at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa in the Maldives combines adherence to Ayurvedic principles based on an ancient eastern philosophy with the finest quality ingredients from nature, delivering a holistic approach to wellness that results in outer radiance and inner serenity.
“Within each person, the doshas are continually interacting with one another and with the doshas in all of nature, depending on the predominance of their composition within the body and in the environment. People can have much in common but also have an endless variety of individual differences in the way they behave and respond to their environment. Hence the effect of the seawater, sea air and the sun cannot be generalised in people whose doshas are not in balance. However, when balance is maintained and health is at an optimum, the seawater, sea air and the sun has proven benefits,” explains Dr.Avinash R.Tiwari, the resort’s resident Ayurvedic Doctor.
With sea water containing all the 89 known elements present in our bodies it helps heal wounds, reduce infection and addresses pain relief. Various elements have nutritional and calming effect on our nerves, encourage good urinary flow, open the pores and help to remove toxins from the body by means of the lymph system, which is valuable in eliminating trapped fluids around the thighs, knees and ankles, increases the elasticity of the skin, and improves its outer appearance.
Sea air is charged with healthy negative ions that increase our ability to absorb oxygen. These negative ions help balance levels of serotonin, a body chemical associated with mood and stress. The natural affect is one of heightened alertness, relaxation and energy while also being able to rest more soundly.
The heat of the sun affects our endocrine system (the part of our body which releases endorphins). These natural feel good chemicals are designed to make us feel relaxed and less stressed. The sound of waves alters the wave patterns in the brain soothing you into a deeply calm and relaxed state.
In the world’s greatest paradise, the Maldivian elements of lush tropical nature, soft powdery white sands and translucent ocean provide vivid and sensual inspiration as well as a natural healing environment. Just 35 minutes by speedboat from Male International Airport, Sundari Ayurvedic Spa at Anantara Veli Resort & Spa brings a holistic approach to incorporate elements of the Ayurvedic lifestyle throughout the resort activities offered, restaurant menus and spa treatments in consultation with Dr. Avinash.
Immersed in nature of the island, a wellness approach under Dr. Avinash’s guidance brings a balance of life’s guilty indulgences in line with longevity. Yoga, breathing techniques, dietary considerations and spa treatments are combined to find the individual’s natural balance within. At the end of a stay at the resort, the Dr Avinash provides guests with take-home information to continue an Ayurvedic lifestyle once they return to your daily routine, and is happy to share his daily email advice for a healthy lifestyle.
Meditation
Villa Nautica expands wellbeing programme with holistic practitioner Adrianna Lawera
Villa Resorts is expanding its approach to wellbeing with a new series of experiences at Villa Nautica, led by holistic wellness practitioner Adrianna Lawera. Centred on breath, sound, somatic movement and intentional rest, the programme invites guests to step away from the pace of everyday life and reconnect with a slower, more considered rhythm.
Adrianna is a wellbeing lifestyle coach and integrated holistic practitioner specialising in skeletal restoration, fascia release, vibrational sound healing and breath-based movement. Through her signature approach, Wellness for Busy Minds, she makes rest and mindfulness feel more relevant to modern life, helping people build sustainable wellness habits that can exist alongside demanding routines.
Based in the Maldives, Adrianna draws much of her inspiration from nature and the restorative power of slowing down. She serves as a World Digital Detox Day Ambassador and a Global Wellness Day Official Key Supporter for the Maldives, with a wider mission to encourage more intentional relationships with technology, attention and rest.
At Villa Nautica, her programme brings together shared experiences and personalised therapeutic practices designed to address mental, physical and emotional fatigue. Rather than treating wellness as another activity to schedule into the day, the sessions create space for guests to release physical tension, quiet the mind and become more present in their own lives.
The island itself becomes part of that experience. Open skies, ocean air and the natural pace of life in the Maldives create an environment where slowing down feels instinctive rather than prescribed.
The programme reflects Villa Resorts’ wider approach to wellbeing, with experiences shaped by nature, place and meaningful restoration. By welcoming practitioners such as Adrianna, Villa Resorts continues to explore more thoughtful ways for guests to reconnect with themselves and with the environments around them.
News
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa celebrates World Wellness Weekend with three-day wellness programme
Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa marked the 10th edition of World Wellness Weekend with a three-day programme led by Singapore-based wellness practitioner Dawn Sim. From 18 to 20 September 2026, guests were invited to embrace a more mindful approach to wellbeing through a curated series of experiences centred on movement, relaxation and nutrition.
With more than 25 years of experience in fitness and wellness, Dawn Sim has dedicated her practice to encouraging healthier, more balanced lifestyles. A yoga and Pilates instructor, certified sound bowl therapist and health coach, she brings together movement, breathwork, sound and holistic practices through an approachable philosophy centred on physical and mental wellbeing.

Across the three-day programme, Dawn led sunrise and sunset yoga, Pilates, meditation and sound bath sessions, with private classes also available for guests seeking a more personalised experience. Moving beyond physical practice, she hosted a diet and nutrition conversation focused on mindful eating and practical ways to support everyday wellbeing.
“I am delighted to return to Le Méridien Maldives, this time for World Wellness Weekend. The Maldives offers a beautiful environment to slow down, reconnect and spend time in nature, and I hope guests leave feeling restored and inspired to carry some of these practices into their everyday lives,” said Dawn Sim.

Set on the natural island of Thilamaafushi in Lhaviyani Atoll, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa brings wellbeing into the island experience through an active lifestyle, restorative treatments, nourishing cuisine and time spent outdoors. At Waves Lifestyle Hub, guests can take part in a daily programme including yoga, Pilates, Zumba, aqua aerobics, workout sessions and more, complemented by a 24-hour fitness centre and personal training. Outdoors, the resort offers a padel court alongside complimentary non-motorised water activities including kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and snorkelling, while the surrounding lagoon and nearby housereef invite guests to explore below the surface.
For moments of relaxation, the overwater Explore Spa features treatment rooms with glass-panel floors offering views of the ocean beneath. Drawing inspiration from Ayurvedic principles, its collection of massages, body treatments and facials is designed to restore balance and enhance overall wellbeing. Expanding its wellness offering, the resort has recently introduced dynamic air-compression boots, designed to support circulation and ease tired legs after workouts, watersports or active days around the island.

Mindful dining forms another part of the resort’s approach to wellbeing. Waves Café presents an all-day menu of fresh, nourishing dishes featuring produce harvested from the resort’s hydroponic Greenhouse, one of the largest in the Maldives.
“It is a pleasure to welcome Dawn back to Le Méridien Maldives and bring World Wellness Weekend to life through a programme that complements the experiences we offer throughout the year,” said Thomas Schult, General Manager of Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa. “Our approach to wellbeing is about creating opportunities for guests to move, recharge and enjoy the island at their own pace, whether starting the day with sunrise yoga, staying active on the padel court, enjoying nourishing food or simply taking time to unwind. Dawn’s approach was a natural fit for this philosophy.”
Surrounded by a 360-degree lagoon and the Indian Ocean, Le Méridien Maldives Resort & Spa features 134 beach and overwater villas inspired by mid-century modern design and the brand’s European heritage. From private pool villas to spacious two- and three-bedroom options for families and groups of friends, the resort invites guests to savour the good life through an unhurried approach to island living.

From 13 to 23 December 2026, Le Méridien Maldives will welcome former World No. 1 padel player Juani Mieres for a dedicated padel retreat, inviting guests to take their game further through daily clinics led by one of the sport’s most accomplished players.
For more information or to book, please visit lemeridien-maldives.com or contact reservations.maldives@lemeridien.com.
Meditation
Canareef Resort Maldives expands yoga and holistic wellness experiences
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.
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