Permission to pause. One woman’s journey from burnout to presence.
Rodianne Abela
After years of balancing motherhood, family business and entrepreneurship, RODIANNE ABELA discovered an unexpected calling during a restorative trip to Bali. Inspired by the transformative power of slowing down and receiving care, she returned to Malta determined to create Presence - a bodywork studio that invites people, especially women, to reconnect with themselves through mindful touch, movement and the senses.
Who is Rodianne?
If you had asked me a few months ago who I was, I would have simply said: "I'm a mother." My whole identity revolved around that role, especially when my son was younger.
Over time, though, I realised that being a mother is only one part of who I am. I'm also a woman, a daughter, a sister and a partner. I made a conscious effort to explore those different parts of myself and give each one the attention it deserves.
I am a woman who loves travelling, exploring and learning. I'm curious by nature and genuinely interested in understanding people and the world around me.
Tell me about your path to Presence.
My journey has taken quite a few unexpected turns. I started university when I was 19, but paused my studies after becoming a mother. During that time, I completed a beauty therapy course at MCAST before eventually returning to university to earn my psychology degree.
Ever since I was little, I loved psychology. After graduating, I worked in different settings, including the Foundation for Social Welfare Services, where I gained valuable experience supporting people through difficult situations.
A couple of years later, I made what seemed like a surprising decision and joined my father's electrical lighting business. As a single mother, I needed something more financially stable, so it was a practical choice.
“As women, we're often the ones constantly giving. We care for everyone else… In Bali, I experienced the opposite. I allowed myself to be looked after, and I realised how powerful that felt.”
Working with my father taught me an entirely different set of skills. I learnt how to run a business, lead a team and understand everything that happens behind the scenes. Looking back, it was an invaluable experience.
Later, I met my partner, who was turning his leathercraft hobby into a full-time business. Together, we both left our jobs and dedicated ourselves to building his company. Once his business was established, he encouraged me to ask an important question: What do you want to do?
It actually took me a couple of years to answer it. Today, I'm building my own business while he supports me, just as I supported him. We truly encourage one another to pursue our dreams.
How was Presence born?
A few months ago, we travelled to Bali, and that trip changed everything.
Before we left, I was completely burnt out. Following a family trauma, I realised my body simply didn't know how to rest anymore. I set one clear intention before boarding the plane: I wanted to allow myself to truly rest.
Almost immediately after arriving, I felt something shift. While we were there, we explored Balinese traditions, experienced different therapies and had various treatments. One day, while heading for a hike, our taxi driver accidentally dropped us in the wrong place. We found ourselves walking down a quiet alley where we discovered a small wellness centre.
I had a treatment unlike anything I'd experienced before. Instead of a traditional massage, the therapists used incredibly gentle touches, light scratching movements and nurturing techniques.
It felt less like a treatment and more like being cared for by a mother. I felt safe, supported and deeply looked after.
What stayed with me wasn't simply the physical experience - it was the feeling of allowing someone else to care for me.
“What stayed with me wasn't simply the physical experience — it was the feeling of allowing someone else to care for me.”
As women, we're often the ones constantly giving. We care for everyone else and frequently feel guilty when we receive. In Bali, I experienced the opposite. I allowed myself to be looked after, and I realised how powerful that felt.
The moment I walked out, I turned to my partner and said: "This is what I want to do."
From that point on, I couldn't stop thinking about it. I filled pages of my journal with ideas and began visualising exactly what Presence would become.
When we returned to Malta, I immediately started searching for a space, and everything simply fell into place.
I honestly didn't doubt the idea itself. I'm a deeply spiritual person, and I truly believe God placed this calling in my heart. I trusted that this was what I was meant to do.
What did you call it Presence?
The name Presence came directly from my experience in Bali.
While I was there, I realised I was completely present. I was enjoying walking barefoot, appreciating the food, noticing my surroundings and living in the moment instead of constantly thinking ahead.
That's exactly what I wanted to offer other people. Presence is a bodywork studio rather than simply a massage studio. We offer traditional massage therapies, but many of our treatments go beyond working on muscles. They're designed to reconnect people with their bodies.
“By focusing on one sense at a time, the brain begins to quieten. We're constantly overstimulated — from the moment we leave the house to the endless notifications on our devices. Slowing everything down helps people reconnect with themselves.”
After returning from Bali, I completed training in somatic therapy, which focuses on how emotions are stored and processed through the body rather than only the mind. I also brought a professional holistic therapist into the team.
Inspired by what I experienced abroad, we developed treatments that combine mindful touch with sensory elements such as feathers, essential oils, breathing exercises and grounding techniques.
It's not just about touch. Every element has been carefully chosen.
For example, we use sounds and scents to awaken different memories and emotions. One of our essential oils reminds me of incense in church and immediately takes me back to childhood Sundays with my mum.
Each treatment finishes in our reflection room with a cup of tea.
Rather than drinking it absent-mindedly, we guide guests through the experience. We invite them to notice the colour, inhale the aroma, feel the warmth of the cup in their hands and pay attention to the sensation of the tea moving through their body.
By focusing on one sense at a time, the brain begins to quieten. We're constantly overstimulated — from the moment we leave the house to the endless notifications on our devices. Slowing everything down helps people reconnect with themselves.
Guests are also invited to complete a guided somatic journal, helping them reflect on any emotions, sensations or thoughts that surfaced during the treatment.
Who is Presence for?
Most of our guests are mothers who desperately need time for themselves, although we also welcome people who are searching for motivation, feeling emotionally disconnected or simply wanting to reconnect with their bodies.
Every treatment begins with an intention, and each session is tailored around what that person needs on that particular day.
The treatments last around an hour, but there's no rush afterwards. We encourage guests to stay in the reflection room for as long as they need.
Ultimately, what we're offering isn't just an hour of relaxation. We're helping people practise presence. It's a skill, and like any skill, it becomes stronger the more we make space for it in our everyday lives.
You can find out more about Presence on Facebook and Instagram.