(credit: JOALI BEING)
JOALI BEING, the first nature immersive wellbeing retreat in the Maldives, officially opened its doors on the secluded island of Bodufushi in Raa Atoll on November 15. With 68 beach and over-water villas – each with its own butler or “Jadugar”, four earth-to-table dining destinations, individualized immersion programs and educational workshops, the resort draws on both modern science and long-honored traditions to present a dedicated, immersive and interactive wellbeing retreat. The moment guests walk into the resort, they are uplifted and inspired due to its design principles of preserving the local landscape designed with biophilic design principles.
Just a short 40-minute seaplane journey from Malé International Airport, at the center of their well-being philosophy, lies the Four Pillars of JOALI BEING – Mind, Microbiome, Skin and Energy – which act as the platform for personalizing each individual’s journey. These pillars act as the crux for each guests’ path to self-discovery and renewal to achieve what the resort calls a new sense of weightlessness and to find thoughtful ways to discover the true joy of living.
(credit: JOALI BEING)
“Aimed to inspire and ignite the very deepest of mindful connections to one’s self, one another, and one’s environment by enhancing our relationship with the surrounding natural world, our bodies and our minds, every element of this island works together to bring to life specialized spaces, opportunities, and unique moments that lend themselves to a vast array of possibilities,” said General Manager Özgür Cengiz.
The 68 elegantly appointed and expansive guest accommodations are broken up into 33 beach villas and 35 over-water villas, encompassing one-, two-, three- and four-bedroom options. Each villa comes with a personal Jadugar, meaning ‘skilled magician’ in Dhivehi who are dedicated butlers that help personalize the experience for guests by making dining arrangements, setting up meetings with wellbeing experts, and more. Its scientific system of integrating architecture and design with nature can be seen in the distinct interiors of the guest villas which pulls inspiration from the shorelines, sea waves, shells and green textures to present a relaxed but upscale interior.
(credit: JOALI BEING)
Ranging from five nights to three weeks, JOALI BEING’s personalized Immersion Programs begin with an Intelligent Movement Analysis and an Integrative Health Assessment. Following assessment by staff, they then begin to tailor programs from all angles (strength and vitality, mental clarity and wellbeing, hormonal balance, digestive and weight rebalance, restorative sleep and more) to ensure individual’s goals are being met. Experts such as naturopaths, therapists, movement specialists and nutritionists are brought in to interact with each guests’ personal wellbeing consultants to reach their best self.
“The magic of JOALI BEING is that no story is previously written and no itinerary previously set, rather, it is a place where all visitors are welcome, invited, and encouraged to pave the way for their own journey of self-discovery and renewal, enabling guests to return home feeling uplifted and inspired,” said Cengiz.
(credit: JOALI BEING)
39 elevated treatment rooms are spread across the island which enhances the overall wellbeing journeys of guests. These transformational spaces provide endless opportunities for reflection, movement and growth. Areka features an expansive fitness facility and an over-water meditation deck whereas Core features private training rooms, a multipurpose studio, fitness room and Ocean Sala. In Kaashi, guests will experience healing through water and the tranquility of the Sensory Deprivation Room, and at Seda music and vibration are used for sound healing. AKTAR is their on-site herbology center where guests meet with the resident herbalist for their specific blend while the Discovery Sound Path is an onsite outdoor sound therapy oasis that resonates with the natural rhythms of the island.
JOALI BEING has also curated a variety of exciting water adventures and relaxing moments to nutrition programs, wellbeing classes and more to present each guest with their own one-of-a-kind journey while at the retreat. At the Learning Center, guests can choose from a series of educational workshops and experiential classes, where wellbeing classes and workshops allow guests to explore mindfulness, nutrition and health from the retreat’s resident experts. Due to its location surrounded by unrivaled vibrant landscapes, the resort encourages guests to enjoy the wonder of nature, immersive experiences, outdoor fitness routines, excursions and exhilarating water adventures. For those who want a quiet moment to reflect, the Inspirational room is a well-stocked library perfect to expand one’s knowledge while in seclusion and solitude.
(credit: JOALI BEING)
With a strong belief that what you put into your body is just as important as how you maintain and better your true self, the culinary arts take on the Earth-to-Table initiative. Guests are presented with locally sustainable harvested food with offerings curated alongside the retreat’s nutrition experts, presenting both healthy and indulgent options.
At FLOW, JOALI BEING’s open-plan interactive dining space, guests can choose between three signature kitchens, Plantae serving vegetarian and vegan cuisine, Su focusing on ocean-to-table pescatarian fare and B’Well including a selection of Earth-to-Table meals. Mojo is the retreat’s tropical beach sanctuary located on a three-layered sundeck and is great to grab a bite and catch the sunset and also is home to SAI tea lounge, where guests can join tea ceremonies and learning sessions hosted by the resident tea sommelier. For those wanting a more bespoke dining experience, the culinary team can arrange meals whether on a private sandbank, nature immersive jungle spaces or an inviting Turtle Treehouse.
(credit: JOALI BEING)
The resort has also enacted several initiatives and partnerships to maintain the preservation of nature and the surrounding landscape. It is home to one of the three turtle conservation sanctuaries in the Maldives and is partnering with EarthCheck, the world’s leading scientific benchmarking, certification and advisory group for travel and tourism, on impactful long-term sustainability initiatives. Some of these programs are already being seen in the sustainability infrastructure existing on the island and specifically at the resort with the on-site desalinating water bottling plant, a rainwater harvesting, and greywater recycling system, a glass crusher and recycler, a 1750 food waste composter, and plant waste shredder for fertilizing, and a biological wastewater treatment plant for safe discharge.
Starting rates for JOALI BEING begin at $2,035 with a minimum of five nights. For more information and to book a visit to JOLI BEING, please visit joalibeing.com.
