Wellness holiday in Mauritius

We meet some of the practitioners keen to help you make the most of your time in Mauritius.

Sophia Sew: Janzu Water OMR and craniosacral therapy practitioner

“My name is Sophia Sew. I’m from a multicultural family in Mauritius. I feel lucky to be born here and have ancestors from almost every continent.

“My passion is to accompany people on their life journey. I have been doing this for the past 20 years and, more precisely, I have been doing craniosacral therapy for the past 15 years, which I discovered after the birth of my daughter in 2006 who was born with a disability. This gave me a whole new perspective and vision on life, human behaviour and the very essence of life.

“Since then I’ve accumulated the tools to accompany groups and individuals during their life journey. I do this through various approaches. The OMR process, which is the reactivation of the original matrix, uses frequencies to heal, and rebalance the body’s energy. We come to earth with an already divine, perfect programming, and over the years we lose contact with our true nature and that connection to our soul. The reactivation process allows us to rediscover our full potential and the reason we are on earth. It’s at the core of all the retreats that I organise, whether it’s an individual or couple’s retreat.

“I also use craniosacral therapy, which is a more physical, holistic and energetic approach. Janzu is a very powerful tool that allows a rebirth experience around water, which is a sign of purification. Balance is really about giving ourselves time. For me, it’s being able to stop and take care of ourselves on all levels – mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

“Mauritius remains a unique destination. I lived in Europe for 15 years and it was amazing to return to my homeland and notice the harmony between cultures.
We have a fantastic ocean, beautiful mountains, nature, and an amazing blend of cultures who choose to live in peace. And then there is the unique heart and warmth of the Mauritian people.

“Today in Mauritius, you can enjoy a great range of wellness activities. There is yoga, meditation in the forest, sound healing, yoga, Ayurvedic and detoxification retreats, high-quality spas, and some beautiful therapists and souls who offer fabulous services. Participants come from all parts of the world and from all walks of life.

“Mauritius is the destination where you can really open up, relax, regenerate and rest. I wish that all those who come to Mauritius meet the soul of this country.”

Aurélie Chateau: Yoga practitioner

“My name is Aurélie and I’m Mauritian, though I’ve travelled so much that I consider myself a citizen of the world. I’ve been very lucky to visit and live in many wonderful places, but I’m always delighted to come back to my beautiful island.

“I’m a yoga instructor and a kindergarten teacher, but I’ve been devoting more time and energy into my personal and professional yoga practice over the past year, which I love. For a few months now, I’ve been holding classes all over the island. I’ve also organised quite a few yoga retreats and I’m actively trying to promote yoga, so that I can introduce as many people as possible to the practice.

“I like to change the locations of my yoga classes so we can experience a different level of energy at every class. It’s great because I get to welcome new people to the class and experience what they have to share with us, and us to them. If we stay in our comfort zone with the same people doing the same yoga, we’re not opening ourselves up to all of the richness this world has to offer. So to be able to practice yoga with people from all over the world enriches the practice. New people coming and going….that’s a lot like life. Things are always in flux.

“The sheer diversity of the Mauritian landscape means that you can practice yoga on the beach, in the forest, in yoga studios, on rooftops… whatever your preference is, you can find it here. Everyone’s welcome at my yoga classes, whether that’s on retreats or standard classes. I always ask people if they have done yoga before so I can adapt my classes to suit their needs.

“Mauritius is a multicultural island. I am mixed race and increasingly proud of that fact. That hasn’t always been the case. But ever since I started practising yoga, I’ve been able to see my mixed heritage as a gift. Because there are so many different cultures in Mauritius, it’s easy for a diverse group of people to gather here and reconnect with themselves and nature.

“It’s hard for me to summarise in a few words what I love the most about Mauritius. But, if I had to choose, I’d say it’s how easy it is for us to access and enjoy nature, whether that’s the ocean or the forests. I really hope that the environment will be preserved so that future generations can enjoy it as we have.

“Mauritius is a great place to come and find yourself. Being surrounded by the ocean offers a limitless horizon that can help you feel like anything is possible. Mauritians are very generous people and yoga resonates with that mindset. When we practice yoga, it’s an act of sharing. I’d advise anyone coming to visit Mauritius to pack light because you’ll have plenty of memories to carry back with you!”

Marc-Antoine Tschopp: Positive psychologist

“My name is Marc-Antoine Tschopp. I’m originally from Switzerland but I’ve been living in Mauritius for the past 10 years.

“What does ‘wellness’ or ‘feeling good’ mean? A lot of people associate that with success, but once you achieve success and realise it doesn’t necessarily make you happy, the question then becomes ‘what should I do to be happy?’ My job is to help people find the answer to that and other fundamental questions in life on their quest to find fulfilment and unlock people’s blocked energy.

“Once people become aware of their problems, they also realise that these can be hard to overcome. I use a combination of exercises, energy healing and other methods to help them work through these challenges. This can be done individually, in a group setting, or even as a couple. I work with people of all ages, and from all backgrounds, from all around the world.

“On the surface, a well-balanced life involves balancing your professional and personal life, but I also think you need nature, and in Mauritius we’re surrounded by it. Whether it’s the forests, mountains or ocean, we have it all.

“It’s important to have a place where you can press pause and ask yourself life’s fundamental questions. So, when it comes to wellness, Mauritius is a great place to come and reconnect. We have many ways to help you achieve this, such as massage, energy healing, reiki, yoga, tai chi, qigong, ayurvedic practices and much more besides.

“This island is a vortex of pure energy. And it’s not a coincidence that there’s great cultural diversity here and that people come here to feel good. And I’m not just talking about going to the beach to get a tan. There are plenty of other places to do that. Here, it’s all about opening your eyes, your ears, your mouth… open your senses and savour all the experiences that this small island has to offer. You can do it all in a day.

“The energy in Mauritius is exceptional and unique. It’s why people here are always smiling. That’s not common nowadays. The kindness of the Mauritian people makes all the difference.”