Malta
Mindfulness & Yoga Retreat October 1st - October 10th, 2025.
Our annual Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation retreat in Malta, offers us a precious opportunity to commit ourselves to a period of dedicated intentional practice and does not necessarily require any previous experience of meditation or yoga. Our teachers will tailor these 9 days to all partipants. We invite you to explore our offering and get in touch should you have any further questions or wish to reserve your spot.
We invite you to...
step away from daily life and embark on an extraordinary journey to the Island of Malta for a
9-night Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation Retreat, designed to ignite courage, renewal, confidence, and liberation in your body, mind and spirit. Set against the backdrop of this island's stunning natural beauty, nestled in the heart of the Mediterranean, Malta’s turquoise waters, rugged coastlines, and centuries-old history, provide the perfect terrain for these ancient, wise and transformational practices.
Guided by Yoga teacher and Holistic practitioner Ilona Holland, a proud Maltese native, and Insight Meditation teacher Johnathan Woodside, this retreat is designed to further our journey of transformation and purification, helping you tap into your inner strength (resilience) and break through limitations to step into your full potential (empowerment). With a thoughtfully curated itinerary, you'll experience the best of Malta while embracing mindfulness meditation, diving deep into traditional practices of yoga, adventure, joy, connection, community, physical rejuvenation as well as a profound sense of emotional and spiritual renewal.
Your Teachers
Ilona Holland is a dedicated yoga teacher, massage therapist, and holistic wellness practitioner with a lifelong passion for fostering balance, harmony, and well-being. As the Owner and Founder of Life Dimensions she has built her practice on a foundation of trust, expertise, and professionalism.
Born with an innate curiosity for holistic health, Ilona’s journey spanning 25 years, has been shaped by her commitment to exploring both Eastern and Western wellness traditions. She seamlessly blends ancient practices with modern techniques, creating transformative body, mind and soul experiences for her clients.
At her yoga, meditation and mindfulness retreats, Ilona offers a serene sanctuary for individuals to reconnect with their inner selves. Through guided yoga sessions, rejuvenating massage therapy, and holistic healing practices, she empowers participants to cultivate a deeper connection to mind, body, and spirit
.
With decades of experience and a warm, compassionate approach, Ilona invites you to embark on a journey of self-discovery and renewal.
Johnathan Woodside is an Insight Meditation teacher offering Dharma instruction rooted in the Theravada tradition of ethics, concentration, and wisdom. He began his formal meditation practice in his youth and has been teaching Insight Meditation since 2011.
Johnathan founded the non-profit Mindfulness Outreach Initiative (MOI), an Insight Meditation organization based in Omaha, Nebraska, in 2012.
His mentor in the Dharma is Joseph Goldstein, with whom he has met regularly since 2016. He has practiced at the Insight Meditation Society (IMS), Forest Refuge, and Spirit Rock, among other renowned meditation centers, and has multiple years of cumulative silent meditation retreat experience. He trained in the 2021–2025 Insight Meditation Center (IMC) Dharma Teacher Training Program with Gil Fronsdal and Andrea Fella.
With an unwavering commitment to encouraging and promoting mindfulness practice, Johnathan founded Dallas Insight Sangha (DIS), a non-profit organization committed to sharing Insight Meditation and the Buddha’s Dharma in Dallas, Texas, in 2022.
Johnathan’s teaching emphasizes the direct experience of the Dharma, encouraging students to cultivate insight through dedicated practice grounded in mindfulness, introspection, and the development of liberating wisdom. He integrates classical Buddhist teachings with practical applications for modern life, guiding students toward greater clarity, inner freedom, and ethical engagement with the world.
Beyond individual instruction and leading retreats, Johnathan provides meditation services to medical professionals, educational institutions, correctional facilities, recovery programs, and community centers, and partners with corporations and nonprofit organizations.
A few highlights of your
experience
- Daily Yoga & Mindfulness Meditation Practices: Our retreat is designed to build upon each day with the goal of guiding participants through a transformative experience. Practice will be held throughout some of the mornings, afternoons, evenings and weaved into our excursions and tours.
- Cultural Adventures: Discover the timeless beauty of Malta through visits to historic Valletta, 3 Cities, the ancient Prehistoric Temples, the Blue Grotto, Mdina and more.
- Gozo by Land and Sea: Explore Malta’s charming sister island, Gozo, on a scenic cruise and a guided land tour showcasing its stunning landscapes and hidden treasures.
- Hands-On Activities: Learn the art of making pastizzi, Malta’s beloved pastry, and join an olive oil press tour to experience authentic Mediterranean flavors.
- Outdoor Exploration: Paddle along crystal-clear waters on a kayaking excursion and hike Malta’s picturesque trails for breathtaking views and stunning landscapes.
Relaxation and Self-care:
- Spa Treatments: Enjoy a rejuvenating hammam treatment session at the hotel’s spa. Unwind and relax in the sauna, pool and jacuzzi area with views overlooking the sister islands of Comino and Gozo.
- Local Flavors: Relish two exquisite Maltese dining experiences featuring traditional cuisine and locally crafted wines in historical settings.
Luxurious Accommodations:
Relax in your choice of single or double occupancy Deluxe Seaview Rooms or Double Occupancy Suite Seaview accommodations at the Ramla Bay Hotel, offering panoramic views of the islands of Comino and Gozo. Every detail has been arranged to ensure your comfort and tranquility throughout your stay.
Memorable Stories:
Enrich your experience with our personal guide’s captivating tales and fascinating insights into Malta’s culture, history, and traditions.
Deep Dive into practice
During this retreat we will embark on the exploration of duality and polarity as a powerful pathway to cultivating inner strength, resilience, confidence, and ultimately, liberation.
The recognition of duality—the coexistence of opposites such as light and dark, calm and agitation, or ease and discomfort—invites practitioners to observe life without becoming overwhelmed by its contrasts. Instead of seeking to eliminate these opposing forces, mindfulness teaches us to develop a calm, centered presence amidst them. By observing and embracing both the pleasant and the challenging, practitioners build inner strength—the capacity to remain grounded and undisturbed regardless of external circumstances. This process cultivates resilience, as the ability to face discomfort and uncertainty without being overtaken by them strengthens the mind and spirit over time.
In the context of polarity, the dynamic tension between opposing forces—such as active and passive, expansive and contracting—serves as a metaphor for the balancing of energies within ourselves. In yoga, we learn to balance effort with surrender, to find power in stillness and strength in softness. By cultivating this balance, we grow in confidence, trusting ourselves to navigate the ebb and flow of life with a deep awareness of our capacity to adapt and thrive. Polarity teaches us that both force and ease, action and rest, are necessary for wholeness, and by embracing these aspects, we become more liberated from the limitations of a one-dimensional view of strength or success.
Ultimately, through mindfulness meditation and yoga, the integration of duality and polarity leads to liberation—freedom from the constraints of rigid thinking, attachment, and fear. By understanding that opposites coexist and are interdependent, practitioners experience the freedom to be fully themselves, without judgment or resistance.
Join us as we take you through a 9 day process that fosters a profound inner liberation where one can live with a deep sense of strength, resilience, and confidence, able to move through life’s challenges with grace, fluidity, and authenticity.
Accommodations
The Ramla Bay Resort will be our home away from home for your 9 nights stay. Built on over 28,000m² of waterfront land, this delightful four-star property located in the North of the island promises a countryside setting, stunning open views of the Mediterranean Sea, and an incredible range of on-site services.
Deluxe Seaview Room
Our Deluxe Rooms at The Ramla Bay Hotel, form part of our luxury collection, and are located in the Resort’s newly-built Atrium Wing. Modern and bright, these 30sqm rooms promise complete comfort, a large private balcony, and breathtaking views over the Mediterranean Sea, Gozo and Comino.
Seaview Suite
Spacious, bright and evocative of its stunning Mediterranean setting, our Suite Category provides the ideal home-from-home for our guests. Spread over 70sqm of space – and with a balcony or terrace overlooking unobstructed sea views – each is welcoming and serene. Located in the newly-built Atrium Wing of the Resort, each suite can sleep up to four guests – making them ideal for a small group of retreatants travelling together.
Retreat Rates
Menu
Travel Planning FAQs
When does the 9 night Yoga Mindfulness Retreat in Malta commence and end?
Our 9 night Yoga and Mindfulness Meditation Retreat begins at 5pm (Malta time) on October 1st, 2025 and ends at 8pm (Malta time) October 9th, 2025.
When is it ideal that I/we land in Malta?
To allow enough time for travel from the airport to the Ramla Bay Hotel located on the North side of the island, checking-in and settling into your accommodation and freshening up or having a short rest, we encourage participants to have a flight landing in Malta no later than 1pm on October 1st.
What time should I depart from Malta on the 10th?
Our first suggestion would be an early afternoon departure on the 10th October. In past retreats this has allowed participants the ability to have a good nights rest before a full day of travel, have access to their room up until checkout and depart at a comfortable hour.
Our second suggestion would be a very early morning departure which may not get you a full nights rest but may contribute to a better arrival time at your final destination.
Proposed Retreat Itinerary
What might our experience look like?
We say might because safety and comfort are always our top concerns for our participants, but weather and safety permitting, this is what you can expect!
Day 1
Greeted by one of the hotel staff you will be transported directly to The Ramla Bay Hotel at the North of the island. Upon arrival you will be checked-in, shown to your room and given time to settle in for retreat to commence at 5pm with group dinner to follow.
Day 2
We enter this day of history, culture and food with a foundational and intention setting practice followed by hotel breakfast before heading out for a ‘pastizzi’ making experience and olive pressing tour. Guided by our local friends we will get to create and enjoy traditional Maltese pastizzi, a flaky, golden pastry, filled with ricotta cheese or mushy peas, for our lunch. Afterward, we’ll head to experience the true magic of Maltese craftsmanship as we learn more about the centuries-old process of olive pressing.
We will have a couple hours before gathering for 5pm practice followed by dinner at the hotel and a good night's sleep.
Day 3
Following breakfast we will gather for a light introspective practice at 9.30am designed to support us through our on the move Mindfulness Meditation practice sprinkled in throughout the day. We will depart in the late morning and join our private private guide in Valletta for a tour of the Capital City, before sailing across the Grand Harbour to one of the 3 cities to visit the Inquisitor’s Palace. A walk through the streets will lead us to dinner in one of Malta’s finest wine bars to pair some delicious Maltese culinary treats with award winning wines.
Day 4
Today is a day for staying close to home and diving deeper into the practice of Yoga and Mindfulness. After breakfast we will gather on the mat at 10am. You can enjoy lunch at the hotel then join the group for a short hike to nearby Armier bay where our friends Turu and Lella from Get Out and Kayak will be waiting to guide us out for an adventure on the Mediterranean Sea (weather permitting).
Our evening circle and practice will commence at 6pm followed by dinner and a good night’s rest.
Day 5
Begin your day with a light healthy breakfast and join us on the mat for more deep diving. We will create space in our day for integration and assimilation of practice and have enough time to enjoy the hotel sauna, pool and surroundings. Following this deeply introspective and practice-filled day one might be ready to head out for some traditional local Village Feast Celebrations and a food truck dinner or stay behind to enjoy your evening at the hotel.
Day 6
Our day commences with breakfast and the option to join the morning sit and movement practice before departing and joining our personal guide for a full day excursion of the Pre-Historic temples, Blue Grotto (weather permitting), Mosta Church, St. Paul’s Catacombs and Mdina. Once we bid our guide farewell we will settle for some Meditation practice at one of Mdina’s very special sites within the walls of the old capital. Our day won’t be complete without a traditional Maltese dinner in the town of Mgarr that houses one of Malta’s World War underground shelters.
Day 7
A full day of immersive practice will include your very own Hammam and Mini-treatment at the Carisma Spa inside the hotel (included in your package), an opportunity for deeper integration and assimilation of the practices experienced thus far, more open group discussion and time to enjoy the hotels amenities before circling up for Sunset Evening Practice, Dinner and a good nights’ rest.
Day 8
Rise and shine for an early breakfast before we depart for a Full Day Gozo/Comino Boat and Land Tour. We will not want to miss a moment of this adventure which is why we will invite everyone to a short sit in the privacy of their own room before we get going. We will enjoy a packed lunch with a return time of 4pm, followed by evening circle and practice and dinner at the hotel.
Day 9
Our final day will be designed to serve retreatants and their intentions. Details will naturally flow and form together in the spirit of everyone’s highest and best. We look forward to what this day will come to be as we close our time together and prepare for the shift of our practice to online community gatherings post-retreat.
Day 10
With a hug and a wave Ilona and/or Johnathan will be sending you off in the good and capable hands of our hotel driver who will transport you to Luqa Airport in time for your departing flight home.
How do I book this retreat?
- Retreats can be booked by registering your interest via phone call or text at 712-318-2427 or by email at ilonahollandlifedimensions@gmail.com.
- You will then need to complete a Retreat Application Form sent to your email address.
- Upon receipt and approval of your application you will be sent confirmation of your place on the retreat along with important dates.
- You will be asked to pay your $1000 non-refundable but transferable deposit to Life Dimensions to secure your spot.
- You are required to fulfill payments as follows:
$1000 non-refundable deposit to register
50% of total due by June 1st 2025,
100% payment is due by August 1st, 2025.
Retreat FAQs
How do I book my flights?
Life Dimensions is located in Council Bluffs, Iowa within the United States. We have partnered with Terry Oldenburg of Beacon Vacations for any flight bookings and travel insurance needs. We ask that you kindly arrange to arrive in Malta no later than 1pm on October 1st, 2025 and to depart on October 10th, 2025 We require all retreatants have insurance coverage for flight, travel and retreat participation.
What happens if I have to cancel?
Retreat reservation: Due to the way the retreat has been designed we are unable to offer refunds but will gladly change the name on the retreat booking reservation should there be the need for someone else to attend in your place.
Room Reservation: In the event of a single room the
reservation will be switched to the new participant. If you are sharing with another retreatant travelling in your party they will need to be comfortable with keeping the same sharing arrangements if the hotel cannot accommodate a single occupancy room. Any room reservation changes will be subject to availability.
Flight Reservations: We do not provide flight reservations. These will need to be acquired through Terry Oldenburg, your own travel agent or independently. We do require you to purchase insurance and ensure that your policy covers last minute changes, sickness, accidents etc. Terry Oldenburg of Beacon Vacations will be able to assist you with booking, insurance and any questions you may have.
Can I come for just part of a retreat?
For the benefit of everyone, we ask that all participants commit to attending the entire retreat, arriving for the beginning of the retreat and staying until the end. Your wholehearted commitment supports your fellow retreatants and expresses respect for the retreat teachers and partners who are committed to being here and creating a great experience for all.
Can I stay extra days, before or after the retreat?
Retreatants are welcome to arrive days earlier or extend their stay. Should you need support in extending your hotel booking by a few days we are more than happy to arrange that with the hotel. If you wish to make other arrangements Ilona will be more than happy to connect you with reliable partners on the island.
What about accommodation availability and changes
The Ramla Bay Hotel will be keeping a select number of rooms on hold for us. When room holds are lifted and open to the public there may not be availability however we will do our best to accommodate any accommodation changes or requests.
What food is provided?
Beginning with dinner on October 1st and ending with breakfast on October 10th all meals are included. Breakfast will be provided in the hotel, while lunches will be a mix of both packed (when out on excursions) and hotel. Dinner will be a mix of dining out and hotel dinners.
Details of meal times and plans will be included in the retreat schedule when we get closer to the date. If you have any questions or dietary requirements the Ramla Bay Hotel has many options and we will be more than happy to plan accordingly to accommodate your needs for our packed lunches.
Are there opportunities or space for other activities?
Our retreat has been curated to build upon each day and includes a good amount of practice, excursions as well as adventurous and relaxing activities. We do not suggest you include more however if you do find that you need to opt out of some of the opportunities provided we will support you as needed. We do hope you understand that opting out of an event, excursion or activity will not result in a reduced price package.
