Live longer without dogma: What retreats teach us about real longevity

Longevity is a big word—and a growing market. From spermidine capsules to ice baths to ketogenic diets: Anyone who wants to live longer today is quickly becoming a consumer. But how do you find a starting point that is not only scientifically sound but also personally meaningful? Anyone who begins to seriously consider a long-lasting, healthy life should do one thing above all else: ask questions. Retreats like the SOUL Festival in the Maldives offer the necessary space for this.

Nils Behrens is Chief Brand Officer at Sunday Natural, host of the podcast "Healthwise," and a lecturer at Fresenius University. He is part of our EXPERTS Circle . The content represents his personal perspective based on his individual expertise.

Anyone who googles " longevity " today gets algorithms instead of answers: 3 tips against cell aging, 5 supplements everyone should take, 10 signs that your microbiome is suffering. What's often missing is context. What's functional for one person can be overwhelming or simply unnecessary for another. The question, then, must be: Which areas of life are actually relevant to me? How is my sleep, my relationships, my energy level?

Consciously embarking on a longevity-supported lifestyle requires time, self-reflection – and ideally, exchange with people who don’t just sell, but also listen.

The SOUL Festival , which takes place from October 9 to 13, 2025, on Soneva Fushi, doesn't see itself as a wellness wonderland. It's a format that consciously focuses on community, experiential learning, and interdisciplinary dialogue. Between yoga sessions on the sand and sound journeys at sunset, the focus will also be on hormonal balance, mental health, and the question: What role does "purpose" play in a long life?

Panels with experts such as German dermatologist Dr. Timm Golüke, biohacker Tim Gray, and Sanctum founder Luuk Melisse aren't frontal lectures—they're designed to stimulate self-reflection. The idea behind them is that health can't be "hacked," but rather integrated into one's own biography.

Critically reflected longevity thrives on the balance between sound information and practical experience. Peigín Crowley, founder of Ground Wellbeing, describes it this way: "Wellness doesn't have to be luxurious, but relevant—for sleep, for hormones, for exhaustion." Her retreat sessions combine essential oils with everyday questions: What's really stressing me? And how can I change it?

Nathalie Schyllert, CEO of Bodyism, also sums it up: "It's not about perfection, but about consistency." Those who attend her presentation will not hear exaggerated success stories, but realistic routines.

What retreats like the SOUL Festival enable isn't an escape from everyday life, but a readjustment. A time out in which you examine your own lifestyle, receive inspiration, and—crucially—take back what works for you. Whether it's breathwork, nutrition, or exercise routines: sustainability here doesn't mean "100 percent change," but rather "10 percent understanding and application."

The barefoot luxury of Soneva Fushi is not the main protagonist, but rather a stage and backdrop for conscious reflection – a contrast to everyday life that, precisely because of this, facilitates reflection.

What retreats like the SOUL Festival can offer isn't a definitive answer to aging. But they do offer an entry point into a confrontation that many still face. And they demonstrate that longevity isn't a dogma. Rather, it's a path that must make sense—for you, your phase of life, your values.