Uman project, the holistic center in Paris for immersive wellness treatments

Who would believe that just steps from the bustling Place de la République lies a bubble out of time, far from the capital’s noise? Yet there is a secret entry to this suspended dimension that invites us to reconnect with ourselves. To discover it, walk down Rue Béranger and look for number 19. If you have the code, you can head to the second floor where Uman Project awaits—the secret lair of Marine Giovannini.

You step into this lair, bathed in soft natural light, pleasantly warm and so welcoming you instantly feel at home. As soon as you cross the threshold, it feels like a prelude—a transition space before the heady experience that lies ahead. Pale wooden floors, walls of rough stone and time-worn whitewashed timbers, exposed beams, and a sublime ceiling of mouldings; this tranquil setting drifts us into a subtly anachronistic mood. We take off our shoes, get comfortable, and settle onto one of the carpets Marine has laid out for us.

That day, the program centers on a sound bath! In front of Marine, neat rows of golden bowls are laid out. In front of them, cards lie face down; the answer to this mystery will come later. With a lot of pedagogy and a relaxed tone, Marine explains the experience we’re about to embark on and offers tips to make the most of the benefits of the sound bath.

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But what exactly is it? This therapy, originating in East Asia, is built on the impact of sound vibrations on the body and mind. The tones act on the body's energy centers and chakras, guiding us into a kind of trance. Among its touted benefits are better sleep, a keener ability to take a step back from our problems, and reduced stress.

In broad strokes, you settle in for an hour of listening to singing bowls. The skeptics might think it’s all nonsense. Yet, strangely, as you snuggle into a warm blanket and lie back, the tones begin to carry you into a strange in-between — a place where waking life brushes against sleep. The delicate chimes drift around you, leaving vibrations that seem to linger in the air long after they fade. While Marine moves among the sleepers, the bowls’ hum envelops you, and you feel your body respond to each note — a shiver, waves of emotion, and finally a release.

A faint snoring, seemingly so distant, reminds us we’re far from the only ones feeling this pleasant drowsiness that truly delivers the promised mental break. Once the last note fades into the air, Marine gives us about ten minutes to ease back from this timeless pause. Then, as our senses gradually return, Marine invites us to draw a card and read its meaning in a book set beside it — a final tip to accompany this renewed sense of awakening.

Following this experience, we were itching to learn more about this secret cocoon. Beyond the sound baths, Uman Project also offers yoga and meditation sessions, talking circles, as well as energy-healing services including reiki, personal coaching, and workshops. The pricing is fairly accessible, and after just a week open, the venue is already seeing early regulars form friendships. Marine also hints that the journey ahead will bring increasingly immersive, multisensory treatments, which we can catch a preview of with the Sleep Infusion—a nocturnal session featuring a deep sound immersion.