A six-day residential retreat in Málaga

From persona to being

Six days to stop performing your life and finally start living it.

6 days · Groups of up to 16 · Between the mountains and the sea

We guide and hold people on a journey to their authenticity.

Sitting by an open door looking out at the mountains of Málaga during the retreat

Is this your moment?

This isn’t a starting point. It’s a way to go deeper.

Therapy, yoga, perhaps a retreat or two already. You’ve done the inner work — you know what it means to stop and listen. Now it’s about finally letting go of the persona that brought you this far, and meeting who you are when no one is watching.

Why now

You’ve achieved it all. So what now?

You’ve achieved everything you set out to do. And yet something doesn’t fit: success arrived, but the feeling of living your own life never did.
You’ve finished your studies and now you’re facing the working world. You want to fit in, to be liked, to be taken seriously — and without noticing, you start shaping yourself to what you think is expected of you.
You’ve spent years being the one who cares for others — your children, your parents, everyone but yourself. Now that they need you less, you’re not sure who you are when you’re not looking after anyone.
You lost your position or changed companies, and you no longer carry the title that for years answered the question of who you were. And you realise you had no other answer ready.
You moved to a new city, or a new country, and the mask that served you so well there no longer fits here. For the first time in a long while, nobody knows you — and that’s an opportunity, if you dare to use it.
You simply no longer recognise yourself in the person you built. Sometimes a milestone birthday is enough, or retirement on the horizon, or just the growing certainty that the time has come to let it go.

If you saw yourself in any of these stories, read on.

The journey

Three phases, one journey

Days 1–2

Recognising the persona

The mask I have lived behind.

Days 3–5

Returning to the centre

The inner truth of who I am, today.

Day 6

Choosing from your true self

A real commitment to yourself.

Explore the six days of the journey →

The journey doesn’t end with the retreat

Weeks later, the group comes together again.

Two group follow-up calls after the retreat — the first three to four weeks later, and the second a month after that — to share how integration is going, what’s holding and what has been hardest. You’re not alone in the changes you chose to make.

Dusk over the bay of Málaga, with the lights of the coast reflected in the water

Next retreat · 2027

1–6 June & 9–14 October 2027

Two retreats in 2027 at Monte Naturivo, a private retreat estate in the Montes de Málaga Natural Park. Places are limited to 16 per retreat.

Book your place See the venue

Purpose

We exist to guide and hold people on a journey towards their authenticity.

To create a safe space for self-discovery, self-recognition and the courage to live a full life.

To be a channel for truth.

Begoña de las Llanderas, founder of The Pause Strategy

The seed

Born from a real pause

I’m Begoña de las Llanderas: facilitator, coach, yogi, mother and traveller. After a long life journey and a conscious pause — a time of deep introspection and of finding my way back to myself and my peace — this project was born: a project of life and contribution, fully in tune with who I am and with my purpose of service.

Begoña de las Llanderas embracing an ancient tree

The name

Why “Pause”

The name isn’t a slogan. It’s my story. None of this would exist without the pause I allowed myself — months of slowing down, of silent breakfasts facing the mountains, of sitting by the sea in no hurry to get anywhere. Of letting go of the pace I had lived at for years and truly listening to myself, perhaps for the first time. It was that pause that made everything else possible: this retreat, this team, this way of accompanying people.

That’s why we call it Pause. Because I know, from my own experience, what can happen when you give yourself permission to stop.

Who it’s for

We want to offer those who are searching for their truth a space to explore authentically — gently, calmly and feeling cared for.

Why

A full life is only possible once we awaken to who we truly are. That awakening calls for calm, silence and care of body, mind and spirit. The retreat creates the ideal setting to look within, to go deeper, to feel. Even to transform.

Methodology

Many sources, one experiential process

The retreat brings together different sources of knowledge and experience, so that each person can find the tools that serve them best in their own process.

Co-active coaching

Neuro-linguistic programming

Nonviolent communication

Yoga

Mindfulness

Somatic work

Energy work

Breathwork

Creativity exercises

Spaces for silence and integration

Systemic facilitation

Therapeutic writing

Music and dance

Each technique is chosen to support an experiential process. We learn by living it.

The journey

Six days, three phases

Over six days — five nights — we move through three phases of self-knowledge and discovery, in a group of no more than 16 people.

The journey, day by day

Each day belongs to one of the three phases of the journey.

Phase 1 · Days 1–2

Recognising the persona

Day 1

Arriving and becoming aware of the persona

Aim: Settle into the space and the group, and begin to uncover how we have built our persona.

Mental and digital disconnection. Introduction to the programme, the participants, the facilitators and the ground rules. We revisit the passage from the free child to the conditioned adult: the role we took on, the masks, and the inner system that holds the persona in place, and how our environment and deep-rooted beliefs have shaped it.

Day 2

Detachment: letting go of dead weight

Aim: Recognise what weighs you down and begin to release what no longer serves you.

Deciding which patterns, beliefs or identities no longer belong on the path. Releasing mental, emotional and physical burdens. Deep work on identity, detachment and liberation.

Phase 2 · Days 3–5

Returning to the centre

Day 3

Connecting with your essential self

Aim: Reclaim authenticity and alignment with your own values.

Remembering your authentic self and reconnecting with truth. Connecting with your inner guide. Exploring your life purpose. Experiencing vulnerability, lightness and freedom.

Day 4

Honouring the journey

Aim: Integrate your own story with respect and clarity. Celebrate.

Looking back on your life from the heart, acknowledging the road travelled and what it has taught you. Forgiving yourself and giving thanks. Recognising the gift of everything you carry with you.

Day 5

Integration in silence

Aim: Let the process settle.

A day of introspection. Experiencing the impact of silence and strengthening presence in the here and now. Mindfulness, creative studio, writing.

Phase 3 · Day 6

Choosing from your true self

Day 6

Taking responsibility

Aim: Leave the retreat with clarity, inner calm and intention.

Group sharing. Scheduling the group follow-up. Option of one-to-one coaching.

A typical day

06:00Wake up

06:30Movement practice and meditation

08:00Breakfast

09:30Morning workshop

12:00Time in nature

13:00Lunch

16:00Afternoon workshop

18:00Gathering circle

20:00Dinner

22:00Silence and rest

The challenge lies in the moment; the time is always now.

An ancient olive tree in the hills of Málaga

After the retreat

The group comes together again

The journey doesn’t end on the last day of the retreat. The whole group meets again for two group follow-up calls: the first three to four weeks after the retreat, and the second a month later — just enough time to have begun integrating the experience, to keep reflecting and to put real changes into practice.

It’s a space to keep being supported — and to support others — in the changes you decided on together.

The setting · Monte Naturivo

Málaga, between the mountains and the sea

We step away from the city to surround ourselves with nature, peace and beauty, on a private estate in the hills of the Montes de Málaga Natural Park.

Where we pause

Monte Naturivo

A private retreat estate on a quiet hillside at the edge of the Montes de Málaga Natural Park. Olive and almond groves, wide views across the valley, and nothing but birdsong — close enough to Málaga to arrive easily, far enough to truly slow down.

The group has the whole estate to itself. Two houses, each with its own pool and terraces, share the hillside:

Aerial view of Villa Trompetilla and its terraces on a green hillside

The main house

Villa Trompetilla

The heart of the retreat: our light-filled studio for movement and meditation, a lawn terrace for practice in the open air, the dining room and porch where we share meals, a living room with a fireplace, and a terrace with a pool overlooking the valley.

The guest house

Casa Cactus

A short walk across the estate, a quieter hideaway among olive trees and bougainvillea, with its own pool, a shaded pergola for slow evenings and an infrared sauna.

A short walk through Monte Naturivo (1 min 18 s).

Bright studio with open windows onto the mountains — The studio

Pool terrace with views over the valley — Pool terrace

Living room with a wood-burning stove — The living room

Sunlit bedroom with a window onto the hills — Waking up to the hills

Ice bath between cypress trees, facing the mountains — Ice bath with a view

Lawn terrace with a railing, looking over the mountains — Practice in the open air

Nourishment

Food cooked with care, on site

Our own cook prepares three vegetarian meals a day in the house kitchen: seasonal produce from Andalusia, colourful salads, warm bowls and slow breakfasts facing the mountains. We adapt to allergies and intolerances.

Dining room with a long wooden table set for the group

Rooms & prices

Choose your room

More than a stay: a guided six-day journey with a team of facilitators, a structured programme and two follow-up group calls after the retreat.

Prices are per person for the whole retreat — 5 nights, all meals by our own cook and the full programme. VAT included.

Bright room with two single beds and a bunk bed, with its own bathroom

Shared room for three

Villa Trompetilla. Three single beds — two singles and the lower bunk — with a private bathroom.

€1,490early bird€1,690 regular

Twin room with two single beds at Casa Cactus

Twin room, shared bathroom

Casa Cactus. Two people per room; two rooms share one bathroom.

€1,650early bird€1,850 regular

Twin room with wooden beams and mountain views, with its own bathroom

Twin room, private bathroom

Villa Trompetilla or Casa Cactus. Two people per room, with a private bathroom. In one Trompetilla room, the private bathroom is on the floor below.

€1,850early bird€2,050 regular

Private garden cottage

La Casita: a small cottage of your own in the garden, with air conditioning and its own bathroom. For one person.

€2,490early bird€2,690 regular

Early bird applies when booking more than 8 weeks before the retreat.

Twin room for sole use: +€450 on the twin room with private bathroom, on request and subject to availability. If you need a room of your own for health or personal reasons, please tell us.

Getting there

Fifty minutes from Málaga airport

Fly into Málaga (AGP), with direct flights from across Europe. Monte Naturivo is about 50 minutes by car, in the hills north-east of the city. Before the retreat we put participants in touch and help coordinate shared transfers.

We share the exact address with confirmed participants.

The map is loaded from OpenStreetMap only when you ask for it.

Why Málaga

Light, silence and a sea on the horizon

Southern Spain offers one of the sunniest climates in Europe, gentle seasons and a landscape that invites you to slow down: olive groves and almond trees, white villages in the hills, and the Mediterranean always close by.

Easy to reach via Málaga airport, with direct flights from across Europe.
Carefully kept spaces, silence, harmony and healthy vegetarian food, cooked on site by our own cook.
A small group — 16 people at most. Everyone is welcome: before the retreat we send a short questionnaire, simply to learn about your health, your personal journey and your previous experience.

A white village among olive groves and mountains near Málaga

The Mediterranean meeting the rocky shore

Photos of Málaga by Begoña de las Llanderas.

A quiet moment on the rocks by the sea, on retreat in Málaga

Disconnect to connect

Five days without screens.

Five days of digital disconnection lets the mind settle so you can hear your inner voice clearly. It helps you be truly present and makes it easier to connect with the other participants.

Noble silence, kept for one full day of the retreat, is an exercise in deep self-knowledge and centring, essential to the work we do.

Frequently asked questions

Where does the retreat take place?

At Monte Naturivo, a private retreat estate in the Montes de Málaga Natural Park, about 50 minutes from Málaga airport. The group has both houses — Villa Trompetilla and Casa Cactus — to itself.

How do I get there?

Fly into Málaga airport (AGP), which has direct connections with most European cities. Before the retreat we put participants in touch and help coordinate shared transfers from the airport and the train station.

What are the rooms like?

Most rooms are shared by two or three people; some have a private bathroom and others share one. There is also a private garden cottage for one person. See rooms and prices.

What is the food like?

Vegetarian, home-cooked and carefully prepared, three meals a day. We adapt to allergies and intolerances — just let us know in the pre-retreat questionnaire.

Is there free time during the retreat?

Yes. There’s free time after meals and before and after dinner, plus spacious shared areas to rest or simply be.

Do I need previous experience of yoga, meditation or anything similar?

No experience is needed. We adapt to every level, physical and mental — yoga, meditation, workshops, walks. The pre-retreat questionnaire lets us tailor the experience to you, together with our team of experts.

What language is the retreat in?

The whole retreat is held in English.

Can my company pay for the retreat?

Yes. We can invoice your company, and if it is VAT-registered it may be able to recover the VAT.

Team

An expert, multidisciplinary team

Every facilitator has experienced first-hand the transformation a conscious pause can bring. We will put all our effort and enthusiasm into accompanying you on your path.

Founder · Coach and facilitator

Begoña de las Llanderas

Executive and systemic coach. After decades devoted to people development, she founded The Pause Strategy, convinced that growth and wellbeing can only come from a conscious pause.

Executive and life coaching

Marina Arroyo

Executive and life coach, specialising in leadership development after 15 years leading her own teams. Her gentle guidance always leads to results.

Gestalt therapy · Somatic work

Nina Santorio

Gestalt therapist, systemic coach and specialist in somatic work and integrative therapy. 15 years leading retreats in several languages. Service is her life purpose.

Emotional management

Noelia Correa

Specialist in emotional management, with long experience running workshops and speaking at events. Author of the book Morir con todo en orden (Dying with everything in order). Convinced that to live lightly, we must learn to let go.

Breathwork · Energy

Marcos Welsh

Former elite athlete who has spent 20 years teaching Sivananda Vedanta philosophy around the world. Specialist in breathwork and life transformation. Convinced that no obstacle can hold back personal growth.

Benefits

Reconnecting with your inner peace

Greater coherence between feeling, thinking and acting

Less mental noise

Renewed focus, energy and motivation

Clarity on priorities and purpose

Reconnection with the body

Less emotional reactivity

A state of calm and wellbeing

Detox on every level

More creativity

More authentic relationships

Experiencing community

Braver, more aligned decisions

+ Support and guidance along the way

Contact

Let’s talk

To set out on this brave journey towards your true self…

Next retreat

Spring retreat

1–6 June 2027

Tuesday to Sunday · Monte Naturivo, Málaga

Autumn retreat

9–14 October 2027

Saturday to Thursday · Monte Naturivo, Málaga

Investment

Per person, depending on your room. VAT included.

Early bird · from

€1,490

When booking more than 8 weeks in advance

Regular · from

€1,690

From that date onwards

Shared room for three €1,490 / €1,690 · Twin room, shared bathroom €1,650 / €1,850 · Twin room, private bathroom €1,850 / €2,050 · Private garden cottage €2,490 / €2,690 · Twin room for sole use, on request: +€450. See the rooms →

Includes

Accommodation at Monte Naturivo for all 6 days (5 nights), in the room you choose.
Three meals a day of carefully prepared vegetarian food, adapted to intolerances and allergies.
All workshops and activities in the programme.
Materials for the practices: yoga, creative studio and reflective writing.
Two group integration calls in the two months after the retreat, led by our coaches — a space to share as a community and support one another in the changes we chose to make.

Travel to Málaga is not included. We help coordinate shared transfers from the airport and the train station.

How to book your place

1. Write to us using the form below, telling us which retreat you’re interested in.
2. Booking deposit: €400, non-refundable, by bank transfer. We’ll email you the details; your place is confirmed once we receive it.
3. Balance, payable up to 6 weeks before the retreat begins.

Accommodation is confirmed for the whole group, so payments are non-refundable once that deadline has passed. If you need to cancel earlier, we’ll gladly transfer your booking to a future retreat.

Access bursary

Each year we award one participant a bursary covering 50% of the retreat fee. If you feel you need this bursary to be able to attend, tell us why and we’ll consider it carefully.

Book or ask us anything

Would you like to book your place, or simply hear about new dates? Write to us and we’ll reply personally.

Email
info@thepausestrategy.com

Name

I’m interested in

Room (if booking)

Booking for

Tell us what brings you here

Controller: Begoña de las Llanderas. Purpose: to reply to you, manage your booking and, if you tick the box, send you news. You can exercise your rights at info@thepausestrategy.com. See our privacy policy.

Legal notice

Website owner

In compliance with Spanish Law 34/2002 on Information Society Services and Electronic Commerce (LSSI-CE), this website, thepausestrategy.com, is owned by:

Owner: Begoña de las Llanderas
Tax ID (NIF): 07495542A
Address: C/ Panorama 8A, 29018 Málaga (Spain)
Email: info@thepausestrategy.com

The Pause Strategy is the trade name under which the owner organises personal development retreats.

Purpose

This website provides information about The Pause Strategy retreats and allows visitors to contact us to ask for information, request a booking or apply for a bursary.

Terms of use

Access to this website is free of charge. Users agree to make appropriate use of its content and not to use it for unlawful purposes or in bad faith.

Intellectual property

The texts, logo, design and original photographs on this website belong to the owner or are used with their authors’ permission. They may not be reproduced, distributed or transformed without express authorisation.

Liability

We aim to keep the information on this website accurate and up to date, but cannot guarantee it is free of errors, and we are not responsible for the content of third-party websites we may link to. The specific conditions of each retreat (dates, prices and booking) are always confirmed by email before a booking is made.

Applicable law

This legal notice is governed by Spanish law.

Last updated: October 2026.

Privacy policy

Data controller

Begoña de las Llanderas (The Pause Strategy) · NIF 07495542A · C/ Panorama 8A, 29018 Málaga (Spain) · info@thepausestrategy.com

What data we process

The data you give us through the forms on this website or by email: name, email address, the retreat you’re interested in, and whatever you choose to tell us in your message or bursary application. Please don’t include health information or other sensitive data in your message unless it is necessary.

If you book for someone else, you’ll also give us their name and email. Please make sure they agree to this; we’ll only use their details to manage the booking and to contact them about the retreat.

Why we use it

To answer your questions.
To manage your booking and your participation in the retreat.
To assess your bursary application.
To send you new dates and news from The Pause Strategy, only if you have expressly ticked that box.

Legal basis

Your consent, given when you submit the form, which you can withdraw at any time; and the steps necessary before and during a contract when you request or make a booking.

How long we keep it

Enquiries: as long as needed to reply to you, and no longer than two years. Bookings: for the duration of the relationship and the periods required by tax and accounting law. Newsletter: until you unsubscribe.

Who else has access

We do not share your data with third parties except where required by law. To provide the service we use providers acting as data processors: Netlify (website hosting) and Google (form storage and email). Some of these providers may process data outside the European Economic Area, with the safeguards required by the GDPR, such as the EU–US Data Privacy Framework or the European Commission’s standard contractual clauses.

Your rights

You can access, rectify or erase your data, object to or restrict its processing, request its portability and withdraw your consent by writing to info@thepausestrategy.com. If you believe your data has not been handled properly, you can lodge a complaint with the Spanish Data Protection Agency (www.aepd.es).

Last updated: October 2026.

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Last updated: October 2026.