Healing with Purpose at JOALI BEING with Josephine Njenga
Sunday 31st of August 2025
The story of Josephine Njenga is one of courage, transformation and a deep commitment to human wellbeing. Today, she plays a central role at JOALI BEING in the Maldives, where she works as a Wellbeing Trainer and helps shape the property’s distinctive approach to holistic healing. Her career path has been defined by both personal calling and professional evolution, bringing together traditional wisdom and modern practice in a way that creates lasting impact for guests.
Her journey began in the field of modern medicine, where she studied for years before deciding to take a different path. Reflecting on that decision, she says, “I studied medicine for six years and then I left the industry because I wanted something different. I did not join the one year for housemanship. On the verge of Joining, I decided I would rather help people to heal naturally through their own body healing itself.”
That choice took her to Pune, India, where she attended a six-month retreat at the Osho Academy. Immersed in alternative healing approaches, she also reconnected with a family lineage of natural medicine. “My grandfather, who graduated in medicine in Scotland UK, also left the field to follow natural remedies. I felt I was returning to that path.”
From there, her quest for knowledge expanded across borders. She went on to South Africa and other destinations, building on her medical foundation to strengthen her skills in holistic practices. Over the years, her career has stretched across Kenya, Seychelles, the UAE, Zanzibar, Monaco, the Caribbean and the Maldives. Today, she also serves as a sitting member of the African Wellness Initiative, founded by the Global Wellness Institute, and she will be a speaker at the upcoming African Wellness Summit in October.
At JOALI BEING, Josephine holds two important roles: Holistic Wellbeing Specialist and Wellness Programme Architect. Together, these allow her to combine personalised care with carefully designed guest journeys. “We don’t just offer spa treatments , we create transformative journeys,” she explains. “As a Holistic Wellbeing Specialist, I attune to each guest’s emotional, spiritual, and energetic needs. As a Programme Architect, I translate those insights into personalised experiences rooted in our Four Pillars: Mind, Microbiome, Skin, and Energy. Every element, from movement and nutrition to sound, heat, and water, is layered with purpose. We’re not aiming for a quick fix; we guide guests toward lasting shifts in how they live and feel.”
Her methods draw from both ancient and modern approaches. “Every guest brings a unique story. Through in-depth consultation and intuitive reading of the body, I sense where energy may be blocked or misaligned. Ancient practices help access the subconscious and ancestral layers, while medical intuition provides a grounded map. I may pair Watsu for emotional release with gut treatments like Chi Nei Tsang or combine somatic breathwork with movement.”
At the core of her practice are JOALI BEING’s Four Pillars: Mind, Microbiome, Skin and Energy. These guide each tailored programme. She illustrates with an example: “We begin with a pre-arrival call to understand how they’re feeling and the main focus of their visit. On arrival, they have an Integrative Lifestyle Assessment within the first few hours. This becomes our compass, guiding us to identify which of the Four Pillars requires the most focus.”
For a guest experiencing chronic stress, digestive discomfort and skin flare-ups, the programme may combine sound therapy and yoga for the mind, abdominal massage and microbiome treatments for gut health, Turkish Hammam rituals for the skin, and Reiki or Thai massage to rebalance energy.
Josephine also emphasises the connection between guest healing and the property’s success. “True healing generates value — emotionally for the guest, and financially for the brand. When a guest feels seen, held, and transformed, they return. They extend their stay, they bring others, they recommend us. For me, spirituality is not separate from prosperity; it’s part of it. By designing high-impact, high-retention programmes and mentoring therapists to deliver excellence, we naturally create a ripple effect that benefits the business.”
Mentorship is something she has embraced fully. Having progressed from practitioner to trainer during her four years at JOALI BEING, she places strong emphasis on guiding others. “Mentorship is my way of paying forward the wisdom of women who came before me and believed in me when I doubted myself. I create safe spaces for women to be seen, not just for their skills, but for their stories, intuition, and resilience. I empower by reminding them they are already enough, and by giving them tools to amplify their light, both technically and spiritually.”
Her professional journey across multiple countries has not been without its challenges. She has had to adapt to new cultures, prove herself in unfamiliar environments and at times manage the loneliness of being away from home. Through all of it, she credits her Kenyan roots for keeping her steady. “My journey in wellness began in Kenya, surrounded by a culture that values community, connection to the land, and the healing wisdom of our ancestors. What kept me going was staying rooted in who I am, carrying my values like a compass.”
Her advice to women pursuing careers abroad is rooted in that same philosophy: “Your roots, your stories — they are not something to hide. They’re your superpower.”
Josephine’s work has been recognised through numerous accolades. She has received awards such as ‘Most Requested Therapist’ and ‘Employee of the Month’, and has also been nominated for Wellness Personality of the Year in the Maldives. She attributes these achievements to being fully present with her guests. “When a guest is with me, they are the only person in my world. I listen beyond words, to their body, their silence, their energy. I offer authenticity, not performance. I don’t treat guests; I journey with them. I hold space for them and allow them to feel safe, seen, and heard.”
Having worked in wellness for nearly two decades, Josephine has seen how guest expectations have changed. “Guests today are no longer looking for pampering — they’re seeking something deeper and more authentic, a true search for meaning. The trend has shifted from temporary relief to deep reconnection. People want answers, not just solutions. They want to cry, breathe, detox, and release, they want purpose. They’re more open to ancestral healing, spiritual practices, and somatic work than ever before.”
She is also highly trained, holding certifications in areas such as The Taiwanese Reflexology, Master Integrative Somatic Practitioner, Chi Nei Tsang, Watsu, Meditation and Mindfulness Teaching, and Ancient Egyptian Reiki. Yet she notes that qualifications are only one part of the path. “Two stand out as most transformative: Master integrative Somatic Practitioner and Watsu. They taught me how to hold without words, and how the weightlessness of water can invite someone into complete surrender. But my deepest capacity to heal hasn’t come from any qualification. It comes from the path I’ve walked, the pain I’ve endured, the silences I’ve honoured, and the ancestral wisdom that lives within me.”
Her belief in natural healing is clear. “I never force healing. I invite it. Whether they believe in energy or not, I let their experience be the teacher. When they feel safe, they open. And when they open, they remember that healing was always inside them. I’m just a mirror.”
For those hoping to build a future in wellness, she emphasises presence over credentials. “The most sustainable and fulfilling career in wellness isn’t built on collecting certificates — it’s built on cultivating presence. Learn the tools, yes, but also do the inner work. Walk through your own shadows, sit in your own silences, and learn to hold space for yourself before you try to hold it for others.”
Looking ahead, Josephine has a clear vision not only for herself but for JOALI BEING. “My vision is to live and breathe JOALI BEING’s core concept every day, deepening our reputation as a sanctuary of vibrancy and transformation. Not just a place of escape, but a true return to self. I envision us becoming a global reference point for integrated, conscious healing where modern science meets ancient wisdom. For me, evolution is a collective journey — when we grow, we grow together. We elevate the whole.”