LGBTQ-Ally Ben Cohen Gets Guests in Shape at Two Luxe Soneva Resorts

If there was ever a reason to get in shape, there is one now! World cup-winning English rugby player Ben Cohen is scheduled to make an appearance at the Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani in the Maldives to help guests stay in shape.

Guests will have the opportunity to experience Cohen’s renowned Soo Yoga fitness workshops that will also feature his girlfriend, Kristina Rihanoff, who is a professional ballroom dancer, instructor, choreographer, and 20-year yoga devotee. 

On October 15-23, the couple will be at the Soneva Jani, and then from Oct. 23-30, the athletic duo will get guests in shape at the Soneva Fushi.

In 2019, the couple started Soo Yoga – the first and only family wellbeing center in Northamptonshire, UK. The center offers an extensive range of classes for all ages and abilities, including styles of yoga, reformer Pilates, dance, cycling, high-intensity interval training (HIIT), and meditation. So, Soneva guests who plan to attend Cohen and Rihanoff’s workshops can expect a mix of fitness activities.  

You may remember that Cohen has retired from the rugby business, but he has become a staunch supporter of the LGBTQ+ community from addressing gay men’s health issues to calling out homophobia as the founder of The Ben Cohen StandUp Foundation, created to combat bullying.  In 2013, Cohen was named as one of the initial inductees to the National Gay and Lesbian Sports Hall of Fame in Chicago.

Cohen won’t be the only celebrity on tap to keep guests in shape. Soneva, a luxury eco-resort operator in the Maldives and Thailand, will bring a star-studded lineup of international sports legends to its Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani resorts throughout the year. It’s all part of its “Soneva Stars” calendar of visiting experts from the worlds of sports, food, literature, wellness, and more. In addition to Cohen, Soneva will welcome soccer and rugby superstars, including World Cup champion David Villa, former FC Barcelona defender Rafael Márquez, and soccer freestyling sensation Marcel Gurk.

From July 20-31, David Villa, who is hailed as one of the best soccer strikers of all time, will be in residence at Soneva Jani in the Noonu Atoll of the Maldives. Villa is a FIFA World Cup champion, UEFA Champions League winner, and the Spanish National Team’s all-time leading goal scorer. After his retirement, he founded his own company, DV7 Group, offering soccer camps and clinics for boys and girls around the world.

Regarded as one of the best Mexican soccer players of all time, Rafael Márquez, the current youth coach of the Spanish Tercera División club Alcalá, will be putting young Soneva guests through their paces during a series of soccer camps from July 25 – Aug. 8 at Soneva Fushi in the Baa Atoll. Additionally, soccer freestyling sensation Marcel Gurk will be hosting daily workshops from July 1-13 for both Soneva Fushi and Soneva Jani’s youngest guests.

And then in the fall, Ben Cohen will make his appearance at the resorts. Following his visit to Soneva Fushi over Easter, Soneva Stars’ regular and former French international player Mikaël Silvestre will be making a welcome return to the Maldives to host his ever-popular children’s soccer camps in both October and December 2022 at Soneva Jani.

 And from Nov. 21 – Dec. 18, Silvestre will also be at Soneva Fushi as a resident commentator for the 2022 FIFA World Cup Games, while Côte d’Ivoire-born professional soccer star Yaya Touré will be live-commentating from Soneva Jani.

Editor’s Note: Vacationer wants to make sure LGBTQ+ travelers are safe when they travel. And the reality is that under Sharia Law being lesbian or gay in the Maldives is illegal and can be punishable with 100 lashes and up to eight years in prison. Alcohol is also illegal. Because we are a diverse group of travelers, there are some travelers who will feel comfortable traveling to the Maldives. 

Why? Travelers should be conscious of their behavior when arriving at the airport in Malé, but most private island resorts cater to tourists, so you will undoubtedly find alcohol on the property, and as I have, run into same-sex couples who have made the Maldives an annual trip. We strongly advise queer travelers to do their research whenever choosing any travel destination, and we will add an Editor’s Note or disclaimer when we mention a place that may put our community in harm’s way.