Soneva Stars

Energy Work | Inner-Soul Metamorphosis | Spiritual Expansion Roger has been a key figure in the wellness sector for more than three decades. Named in Tatler’s ‘Best of the Best’ guide as ‘one of the top 8 therapists worth travelling around the globe for’, he conducts therapies, seminars and workshops around the world in energy work, spiritual healing, profound emotional recovery and growth. Roger’s unique approach combines science, medicine, Eastern wellness philosophies, psychotherapeutics and spirituality – working with you to create a whole-person, grounded and integrative pathway to wellbeing, health and a joyful existence.

During her 15-year career, Hortensia has collaborated with the UN, Olympics Sports Federations and several private clinics. She has a Master’s in Osteopathy and degrees in Sports Education and Physiotherapy. Originally focused on a traditional osteopathic approach to treating sports injuries, Hortensia’s methodology evolved to reflect evidence that stress, emotions and unchanneled trauma have a direct impact on the body. She works closely with you to get to the root of your concerns, using a unique, multi-pronged approach that combines traditional osteopathy with her deep knowledge of the body’s biodynamic, skeletal, muscular and craniosacral systems.

Yash Shekhar’s journey as a healer has been one of growth and positivity since a young age. He has been deeply involved in meditation, healing, Yoga and mind-training practices for two decades, following the traditional systems of Ashtanga Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, Kundalini Vignyan and Mantra Yoga. Yash’s sessions are subtle yet powerful, offering a deep, rejuvenating experience that creates long-term, positive results. His Bioenergy Session (or Vibrational-Stillness Session, as it is popularly known) creates relaxing, trance-like vibrations on the forehead, taking you into a deeply relaxed state of mind. The session’s rejuvenating effects are equivalent to multiple hours of sleep, so are particularly useful for those suffering from stress or sleep disorders.

Soneva Art & Glass is pleased to welcome celebrated Australian glass artist Clare Belfrage. Throughout her 30-year career, she has received numerous awards and honours, including the inaugural FUSE Glass Prize in 2016 and the Tom Malone Glass Prize in 2005 and 2011. Clare’s detailed and complex glass drawings on blown glass forms reflect a level of artistic innovation and mastery of her craft, and have made her one of Australia’s most renowned glass artists. Inspired by nature and its various rhythms and energies, her unique sculptural objects express her fine attention to detail and a deep interest in the minutiae of the natural world. As an artist, her point of view is often looking from close up. The ‘big’ feeling that ‘small’ gives her is intimate and powerful. The industry in nature, its rhythm and energy, dramatic and delicate, still holds her fascination, as does the language and processes of glass. Clare will be our resident artist at Soneva Art and Glass, the Maldives’ only hot glass studio, from December 1-22, 2o22.

Martina is a fitness, nutrition and dancing coach, who is passionate about encouraging others to reach their health goals in a sustainable and fun way through movement and healthy habits. Through her coaching, Martina shares her experience, positive energy, and motivation to help clients get fitter, stronger and more energised, whilst also having fun. As a certified personal trainer, fitness nutrition specialist and dancer, Martina believes that combining movement, balanced nutrition and lifestyle is the key to reaching your optimum health.

Born on December 8, 1978, Frederic is a former French international footballer who played as a striker. After a successful career (Rennes, AS Saint-Etienne, Lyon, Monaco, West-Ham), he was able to convert successfully by putting his experience at the service of football. Originally from Martinique, he puts a lot of energy into bringing out talents from the DOM-TOMs by creating a player follow-up company RPC Sport Agency. After his career, he obtained a state diploma in sport and was responsible for recruiting professional players for the Martinique football league. Sports consultant, notably passed by CANAL + and RMC Sport, Frédéric transmits his passion for football through his analysis for Amazon Prime the broadcaster of League 1 as well as for radio Europe 1.

Born in Yorkshire, England (known as ‘God’s own country’) Tim became passionate about food, cooking and inspiring others from the age of 13, when he worked as a dishwasher in a restaurant kitchen. From that moment he was hooked, watching the chefs in the kitchen, admiring their skills and the electric atmosphere of service. After graduating from college, he worked for Raymond Blanc for two years at Le Manoir aux Quat’ Saisons in Oxford, before moving to the South of France to fulfil his own romantic notions about French cuisine. While there, he worked with Yves Thuries at the Hostellerie du Vieux Cordes in the Tarn region. When Tim returned to Yorkshire, he opened a Junior Chefs’ Academy at Leeds City College to teach the next generation of chefs. Many former students have now gone on to become great chefs themselves, in England and all over the world. Tim was the first Yorkshire chef to head up one of the most popular Italian restaurants in Leeds, travelling to Italy, and working in Michelin-starred restaurants while he was there. Tim’s passion and drive saw him set up his own venture, opening The Butchers Arms in Hepworth, Yorkshire. The restaurant garnered an array of prestigious industry awards, including Pub Restaurant Chef of the Year from the Craft Guilds of chefs, and Best Gastro Pub of the Year. He has also appeared twice on the BBC’s Great British Menu, successfully reaching the finals. Tim is currently the Head Chef of the acclaimed Cannon Hall Farm in South Yorkshire, where he overseas the site’s award-winning restaurants, farm shop and deli. He also regularly cooks on television, and is resident chef on Channel 5’s This Week on the Farm. Tim will be bringing a taste of Yorkshire to Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives from December 5 to 19, 2022.

Soneva Jani: December 10-15, 2022 Soneva Fushi: December 15-23, 2022 Graeme Le Saux is a former England international footballer who played most of his career as a left-back, though his football pace and skill enabled him to move into a left-sided midfield role when required. Graeme made his England debut in a 1994 friendly against Denmark and went on to represent his country 36 times. The highlight of his England career was representing his country in the 1998 football World Cup. Graeme started his career at St Paul’s and moved to Chelsea football club in 1987. In 1993 he switched to Blackburn Rovers where he won the 1995 PremierLeague title with Blackburn. In August 1997 Graeme became the most expensive defender in English football when he returned to Chelsea football club in a GBP 5 million deal. Graeme remained there for six seasons before moving to Southampton football club. Graeme played at St. Mary’s for two seasons announcing his retirement in May 2005 following Southampton’s relegation. Since retiring from football, Graeme is popular with the media working across national and international outlets including NBC, Sky and the BBC. A respected and clear-thinking individual, he frequently undertakes project work with the FA, UEFA, FIFA and the Premier League.

Paul Svensson is a Swedish chef and restaurateur who lives and works in Stockholm after several years in the kitchens of London. Having spent 11 years as Creative Leader at Fotografiska, which in 2018 was voted the World’s Best Museum Restaurant and in 2020 was awarded a green star from the Michelin Guide, Paul now runs Paul Taylor Lanthandel, a neighbourhood restaurant that is known and respected for its circular outlook and thinking. Spring 2022 also saw the launch of his latest project Studio 2000, an edible experiment that strives to disrupt the food system and change the way we think about land use, soil health and flavour whilst also becoming the most equitable and fun way to look at the future of food. Passionate about the ‘Green Kitchen’ and questions sustainability in every decision he makes, Paul strives for a kitchen that achieves zero waste – a subject he also lectures on. His cookbooks are much loved and have won a number of awards, earning him distinction as one of Sweden’s most popular and loved TV chefs.

As part of our ongoing commitment to ensuring that our younger guests stay inspired and intrigued, Soneva aims to help visiting children and teenagers feel fully supported outside of term-time. We have partnered with Oppidan Education, a British-based mentoring firm created to help children continue their learning outside of the classroom and reach their full potential. As well as complimentary drop-in workshops with fun, educational activities, Oppidan will also offer private, one-on-one appointments, which can be scheduled each afternoon at an additional fee.

Jonas Bjorkman is the former World No. 4 in singles, and World No. 1 in doubles tennis. He retired from professional tennis in 2008, after achieving six singles titles and 54 doubles titles (including nine Grand Slam wins) and is among a small group who has managed to win all four Grand Slam events. After five years as the Marketing Director of the Stockholm Open tennis tournament, he started his coaching career, with Andy Murray in 2015 and with Marin Cilic in 2016 and 2017. Today he works for Eurosport as a tennis commentator and coaches Swedish No. 2 and WTA player, Mirjam Bjorklund. Since February 2021, Jonas has been captain of Sweden’s men’s national padel team.

Danish chef Anika Madsen began her culinary career at the age of 17, starting at the bottom and working her way up through the ranks of a brasserie in the heart of Copenhagen. While studying her bachelor’s degree at Formel B, she spent time training under Heston Blumenthal at Dinner By Heston in London, before joining the team at Eldorado under Theis Brydegaard in Copenhagen. In 2018, she took on the role of partner and head chef at the Kadeau group’s Roxie, located at the five-star hotel Herman K, and later joined Claus Meyer in 2020, her mentor at the time, as partner and head chef in the old pheasant farm Fasangården, situated within the Frederiksberg Gardens. With Anika at the helm, the restaurant’s set menu features dishes led by sustainable, seasonal ingredients from local farmers and fishermen and highlights her personal approach to gastronomy, gathering people through surprising elements and innovation.