When Omega Institute for Holistic Studies opened in 1977, the intent was to create an environment for immersive learning that could awaken the best of the human spirit. Almost 50 years later, the Rhinebeck-based nonprofit has twice been named the best yoga retreat in the country by Time Out and recognized as one of the top five wellness centers in the country in USA TODAY’s 10 Best Readers’ Choice Awards. The retreat center has served more than one million people from its diverse menu, which includes more than 300 courses, an increase of 30 percent from last year’s offerings.
“We offer a wide range of lifelong learning opportunities,” says Chrissa Santoro, Omega’s senior director of communications. “From holistic health and the arts to psychology and spiritual practice—there are many ways for people to learn, grow, and be inspired.”
There is an array of ways to participate in Omega’s course offerings. “We have increased our focus on accessibility, with a growing number of online opportunities. Now you can be anywhere in the world, and join us for an interactive live-streamed workshop or take a self-paced course,” Santoro says. “And we’re offering sliding-scale tuition for all online programs, and for about a third of our in-person programs. Having tiered pricing allows participants to choose a rate that suits their ability to pay.”
Upcoming Workshops and Stays at Omega
Among the many workshops planned, faculty include author Elizabeth Gilbert, who teaches about creativity and spiritual courage; Dr. Brian Weiss, a one-time skeptic who has become one of the nation’s best-known experts in past-life regression; and Dr. Ramani Durvasula, a licensed clinical psychologist who focuses on healing from toxic relationships. Several programs addressing trauma and resilience are planned, from A Journey to Sacred Wholeness, aimed at healing trauma at the soul level, to four different workshops on healing from grief and loss. The Omega Women’s Gathering is an invitation to join a supportive community devoted to wellness, as a space for renewal and an antidote to the culture’s pace and polarization. And Pride Weekend at Omega includes 10 workshops that will be led by internationally prominent LGBTQIA+ faculty.
While Omega is known for its world-class teachers and programmatic offerings, people can also opt to take part in a Rest and Rejuvenation Retreat, allowing maximum flexibility to enjoy all the campus has to offer. When booking a two-night retreat between May 30 and June 15, enter code RR2025 to enjoy $30 dollars off per night.
A Spirit-Enriching Setting
Participants at the 250-acre Rhinebeck campus can enjoy a long list of amenities, from farm-to-table meals and Wellness Center treatments, hiking, and pickleball to exploring the award-winning Omega Center for Sustainable Living and browsing the 7,000-volume library of holistic living books. “What we offer isn’t about escaping life, but stepping into it with more clarity, intention, and joy,” says Santoro. “We invite people to be in community, to be in nature, to pause and reflect, and have the kind of time and space to remember what matters most.”
Omega Membership, which starts at just 10 dollars a month, open up a range of perks, including discounts on courses, the Wellness Center, Bookstore, and Café.
“It feels as though the tools we’ve been cultivating here for nearly 50 years are needed now more than ever,” says Santoro. “When we take time to recharge and grow, we create the capacity to show up more fully for ourselves, others, and the world we share. Whether you join us in person or online, you’ll connect with a community focused on growth, connection, and meaningful change.”
