The Art of Banya and the Science of Wellbeing
Where preventive medicine meets ancient bathing traditions, a new destination on the French Riviera invites us to rethink longevity, recovery and the quality of life.
Just moments from Monte-Carlo, SOMA Longevity introduces a new approach to health and wellbeing. Founded by Anna Lunhu Wardenaar, this distinctive destination brings together preventive medicine, personalised wellness programmes and the timeless ritual of the traditional banya – creating a space where science, recovery and the art of living well come together.
The name SOMA comes from the Greek word for “body”, reflecting a philosophy built around a simple idea: longevity begins with taking care of ourselves today. Because living longer matters most when those extra years are lived with vitality, strength and independence.
Three Steps Towards Longevity
SOMA’s approach is built around three complementary pillars: Check-up, Treatments and Recovery.
The journey begins with a personalised health assessment, developed in collaboration with medical specialists, including Professor Dr Bernd Kleine-Gunk and Professor Uwe Nixdorff. By exploring relevant health markers and individual needs, this first step helps establish a clearer picture of each person’s health and priorities.
The second stage focuses on personalised treatments and lifestyle guidance. Depending on individual goals, programmes may address healthy weight management, muscle preservation, cardiovascular health, nutrition, sleep and cognitive wellbeing, combining medical expertise with advanced technologies.
The third pillar, Recovery, brings the philosophy to life through one of SOMA’s most distinctive features: its traditional banya.
The Art of the Traditional Banya
A unique addition to the wellness landscape around Monaco, SOMA’s authentic banya offers a ritual that goes far beyond a conventional sauna experience.
The journey begins with a welcoming tea ceremony, featuring honey and lemon, before guests enter a carefully guided bathing ritual. Three programmes offer different levels of intensity, making the experience accessible to curious newcomers as well as experienced banya enthusiasts.
The ritual unfolds in three stages: the gradual warming of the body, the art of steam bathing with traditional leafy veniks made from birch and oak branches., and a final cleansing experience with a foam wash and gommage. Contrast cooling in a cold pool, followed by a refreshing cold-water dousing, concludes this stage of the ceremony. Heat, cooling, breathing and rest combine to create a deeply immersive moment of relaxation and renewal.
It is an invitation to slow down, disconnect from everyday pressures and reconnect with the body. The sensation afterwards is one of lightness and revitalisation as though pressing the reset button.
A Holistic Vision of Wellbeing
Beyond the banya, SOMA offers a carefully considered selection of wellness and recovery treatments, including massage, body rituals, breathwork, yoga therapy, red-light therapy and pressotherapy. Depending on individual needs, personalised programmes may also incorporate advanced technologies and aesthetic treatments.
Set within an intimate environment of natural materials, warm tones and tranquil relaxation spaces, SOMA has been designed as a destination for both expert guidance and personal restoration.
For founder Anna Lunhu Wardenaar, the inspiration is deeply personal. She believes that consistent daily choices from staying active and eating well to keeping the mind engaged and investing in preventive health can make a meaningful difference to how we age.
Healthspan Over Lifespan
SOMA’s philosophy is captured in three words: Healthspan over lifespan.
The ambition is not simply to add years to life, but to add life to those years. By bringing together personalised health assessments, lifestyle guidance and the restorative power of traditional bathing, SOMA offers a contemporary vision of healthy ageing one that values prevention, balance and the ability to enjoy life to the fullest.
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