How is life in the Maldives?
Life in the Maldives is a unique combination of island living and working in a heavenly setting. We travel around the island by buggy, bicycle or on foot and the most common form of transport to reach the resort islands is a speedboat or seaplane. We can go months at a time without seeing a car or visiting a bank or a shop. All our food is either grown on the island, is locally caught reef fish, or delivered by local supply boat from the main city island Male.
My favourite aspect to living in Kihavah is my morning swim or snorkel before work, exploring the spectacular coral house reef and marine life – it’s not uncommon to see hawksbill turtles, eagle rays, octopus and black tip sharks and thousands of different species of colourful reef fish each day – it really is sensational, and I try to keep up this self-care activity as I never want to take living here for granted.
My commute is a four-minute walk along a sandy path meandering amongst the coconut trees, past a beautifully-kept organic garden where the gardener and I wish each other a ‘Good Morning’ each day. My Wellness Consultation room is situated in our overwater spa, with endless views out across the turquoise waters.
Why the Maldives?
I love the climate, the nature, the island culture, and the diverse community of inspiring people we get the opportunity to meet every day.
Is it Home?
For now, but it’s not somewhere you can settle down, as the living situation is designed for employees only.
Tell us about the path that led you to Kihavah?
After completing my studies at London’s College of Naturopathic Medicine, I gained experience working at leading Naturopathy and Nutrition clinics in the UK. Seeking new opportunities, I moved to Thailand in 2018 to work at a luxury wellness retreat resort. This experience led me to pursue personalised retreat work, as I found that guests appreciated the benefits of a holistic approach and the integrative team.
In 2020, I relocated to the Maldives and became responsible for Anantara Dhigu, Anantara Veli, Anantara Kihavah, and Naladhu Private Islands. Using my expertise in nutrition, I helped guests overcome stress, sleep issues, unhealthy eating patterns, and other health concerns such as immunity, digestion, weight management, hormones, skin, and blood sugar balance. In 2022, I became the full-time resident Head of Wellness and Resident Nutritionist at Anantara Kihavah, where I now develop wellness programs and retreats that focus on Nutrition and Naturopathy.
Tell us about your retreats?
Each programme serves a specific optimisation purpose. The comprehensive seven-day Nutrition and Lifestyle programme focuses on maximising overall wellbeing with the help of intensive Immunity and Wellbeing Report Analysis through Epigenetic testing, followed by a nutrition and lifestyle consultation. The programme also adapts the healing potential of movement through the experience of intuitive dance and utilises the therapeutic capabilities of flower essences for emotional wellbeing. Optimised wellness beverages and a supplement protocol are provided throughout the retreat based on the guests’ nutritional reports and each retreat concludes with a programme review on the last day.
The five-day Youthful Cells Retreat is designed to help guests on how to achieve a youthful glow and vitality from the inside out through the help of a functional cell reading analysis. The programme includes a Nutrition and Lifestyle consultation, a synergistic supplement, personalised nutrient beverages crafted according to the cell analysis report, and a retreat review.
“Adopting a slow living approach is crucial for our well-being and feeling our best.”
Finally, the three-day Nutrition Retreat is a programme that allows guests to discover problematic food which may be burdening their body, and the value of key nutrients in providing greater energy and wellbeing through the help of a Nutritional Epigenetic Testing.
What’s the ethos behind it?
Behind these wellness retreats, there are two fundamental concepts. The first one is the Balance Wellness Philosophy, which aims to help guests reconnect with themselves, find balance and achieve homeostasis. The second concept is Optimisation, which involves raising guests’ awareness of how their diet, lifestyle, and environment can affect their body and mind, and providing them with tools to improve their epigenetics. At Anantara Kihavah, the Optimisation programmes offer a deeper insight into guests’ nutritional needs and lifestyle habits, allowing them to optimise their health and well-being.
“Balance Wellness Philosophy aims to help guests reconnect with themselves, find balance and achieve homeostasis.”
What’s your take on ‘Slow Living’?
When we consciously choose to slow down, we allow our nervous system to function better. In contrast, a fast-paced lifestyle can trigger the sympathetic nerves that activate our survival mode and form part of our autonomic nervous system. Therefore, slowing down is essential for achieving optimal functioning and overall wellness.
I make a conscious effort to slow down by taking pockets of time to focus on my well-being. For example, I chew my food slowly and mindfully, paying attention to the colours and smells of my meal – a practice also known as conscious eating or Mindful eating. After my meals, I take 15-20 minutes to meditate, allowing myself to rest and digest. I also prioritise getting good quality sleep to ensure I am well-rested and rejuvenated. These practices help me to slow down, stay present, and promote my overall wellness.
Any key turning points in your life?
My time working in Thailand was pivotal, as it opened a new path and direction that I had never considered before. It allowed me to provide transformational healing to guests, who have had positive experiences with the holistic approach to wellness that I offer.
Lessons learned?
Healing is not a one-way street. It is a multidimensional process that involves taking care of oneself in several ways. In a fast-paced environment such as working in an operational hospitality setting, self-care is crucial to maintaining our health and achieving healing. It involves taking proactive steps to prioritise our mental, emotional, and physical well-being, such as practicing mindfulness, engaging in regular exercise, and getting enough rest. By taking care of ourselves, we can improve our overall functioning, promote healing, and lead a more fulfilling life.
Words of wisdom?
My favourite statement is: ‘You create your own reality’, first said by Jane Roberts in 1970. It puts you in the driving seat of your own life and well-being. It means that we have the power to shape our own experiences and outcomes based on our thoughts, beliefs, and actions. When it comes to wellness, this reflects the importance of a proactive approach to self-care. We must take an active role in our own well-being and make choices that support our health goals. This means committing to healthy habits, cultivating a positive mindset, and making conscious decisions that support our physical, mental, and emotional health. By taking ownership of our own wellness, we can create a reality that is happy, healthy and fulfilling.
“We have the power to shape our own experiences and outcomes based on our thoughts, beliefs and actions.”