OMKISA: RETREATS FOR REAL WOMEN, REAL LIVES, REAL BEAUTY
A conversation, a calling, and a wild-hearted return to self
BY EGW LUXURY MAGAZINE | SUMMER 2025
Written by Monica Lofstrom
There are women who follow maps. And there are women who become the compass.
When Katja Kreher and Nicola Stauder met, it wasn’t a brand waiting to be born. It was a feeling—quiet, intuitive, undeniable. A pull toward the wild, the meaningful, the unfiltered. A recognition in each other: we’re not finished becoming yet. And neither are the women we walk with.
Retreats for the Woman You Are Right Now
Omkisa isn’t for the woman trying to erase time. It’s for the woman honoring every year, every lesson, every breath she’s taken to get to this moment. There’s no anti-aging doctrine here. No pressure to transform. “We’re not selling change,” Nicola says. “We’re inviting you into your truth.”
And so their retreats are designed with real women in mind. Women who are mothers, leaders, seekers. Women who are weary of chasing and ready to receive. Women who don’t want the performative version of wellness—they want what’s real.
As Omkisa’s retreats invite women to embrace their authentic selves, they offer a space where the journey is about connection, restoration, and embracing the fullness of life as it is. These transformative experiences are crafted for women who are ready to nurture themselves without the pressure of unrealistic expectations. Whether it’s a tranquil retreat in the heart of Costa Rica or an immersive cultural escape in Austria, each retreat offers a sanctuary for women to pause, reflect, and step into their power. Here's a closer look at the upcoming retreats, designed to honor the woman you are right now.
COSTA RICA — Where the Jungle Speaks and You Finally Hear Yourself Again
January 30 – February 7, 2026
Imagine waking up to the hush of rainforest leaves outside your window. Yoga on a deck nestled above a river. Paddle boarding through mangroves. Waterfalls. Bare feet. Air thick with life.
Omkisa’s 9-day Costa Rica retreat is more than a tropical getaway—it’s a full-body exhale. Hosted at the stunning Synergy Retreat Center in Uvita, guests experience slow movement, nature immersion, cultural exploration, and the kind of laughter that lives in your chest long after the trip ends.
Each day blends intentional activity with deep rest. Mornings begin with meditation or gentle yoga. Days are filled with hikes, beach days, and local adventures—like shopping the vibrant Dominical farmers market or watching humpback whales breach at Whale’s Tail National Park.
Meals? Made by a private gourmet chef. Nourishing. Organic. Uncomplicated. The kind of food that reminds you how beautiful simplicity can be.
Katja shares, “We design the retreats as if we were going ourselves—because we are. No fluff. No curated nonsense. Just magic, presence, and a lot of freedom.”
AUSTRIA — Hiking the Soul Open in the Zillertaler Alpen
September 20 – 29, 2025
If Costa Rica is for softness, Austria is for soul-strength.
This 9-day alpine adventure is rooted in Nicola’s childhood landscapes—steep trails, glacial lakes, and a lifetime of local knowledge. Think hut-to-hut hiking, hearty Tyrolean food, and elevation that brings you closer to the sky and something sacred within.
Highlights include hiking across the Italian border for a pasta lunch in a mountain hut (“we call it the Spaghetti House,” Nicola laughs), summiting alpine passes, and sleeping in the historic Berliner Hütte surrounded by silence and stars.
“This trip isn’t for beginners,” Nicola says. “But if you want to feel your power, your presence, and your pulse in the wild—it’s unforgettable.”
Evenings offer yoga, reflection, and space to rest deeply. One day is reserved entirely for wellness and stillness—a gentle nod to the truth that rest is part of growth.
Q&A: Wisdom from the Trail
Q: What makes the Omkisa experience different from other retreats?
Katja: “We’re not following guides or trends. We’re following gut. Our retreats are rooted in culture, in nature, and in our own lived experiences. You’ll feel that the moment you arrive.”
Q: What do women gain from an Omkisa retreat?
Nicola: “A sense of grounding. Reconnection. They remember that they’re allowed to take up space. To be quiet. To be wild. They leave more themselves.”
Q: What’s your favorite retreat memory?
Katja: “Hiking to the Berliner Hütte. Then crossing into Italy for spaghetti. It sounds small—but it’s everything.”
Q: What advice do you give to women hesitant to say yes?
Nicola: “You’ll know if it’s for you. We talk with each guest before booking. If you’re ready, you’ll feel it.”
Who They Are, and Why That Matters
Nicola, a former professional dressage rider turned yoga guide, is the grounding force. She holds a mirror to those around her—not to judge, but to reflect. “I’d be a nun in another life,” she laughs. “But for now, I’ll settle for hiking and soulful conversation.”
Katja, who once trained police recruits in Berlin, brings fire. She listens to classical music, travels insatiably, and is the kind of woman who quietly gets things done—with love and backbone. “I want to see all of Europe before I die,” she says. “And I want to bring as many women with me as I can.”
Together, they are balance and brilliance. Logic and soul. Invitation and sanctuary.
Omkisa Isn’t Just a Retreat—It’s a Reckoning
Omkisa stands for something more than getaways. It stands for women waking up—to their desires, their capacity, their joy. It’s about healing through presence, beauty, nature, and sisterhood. No performance. No pressure. Just the quiet truth that you are allowed to come home to yourself.
As Katja says:
“We’re nowhere near done. But we’re done doing it anyone else’s way.”