Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1521025
16 | SIGNATURE MONTANA As Overgaard journeyed across the globe, she found herself continuously drawn back to the tranquility of nature and the majestic expanses of Montana. Her travels played a crucial role in shaping her next venture, Oniya. In New Zealand, she was deeply influenced by a book detailing the spiritual power of horses. Later, while studying the art of breathwork in Bali, she discovered a magazine article about a wellness retreat established by Lenny Kravitz in South America. Although she never visited the retreat, the concept immediately resonated with her, planting the seed for what she wanted to create in Montana. Despite her worldly adventures, returning to Montana always offered a sense of stability and a desire to share this rejuvenating experience with others. "I want people to get back to nature, especially in Montana, where you breathe, and you look at the sky, and you go, wait, I'm actually a part of this ecosystem," expresses Overgaard. "I am nature. I'm not supposed to be tied into the concrete or something tech; I'm supposed to be in this other environment." Nature immersion stands at the core of the Oniya experience, articulated through programs like Walk Oniya and the Horse-Human Connection. Walk Oniya invites guests to embark on a self-guided journey along five meditative trails that weave through the expansive property. " We have 580 acres, and it's not hiking and scaling mountains, it's these really great undulating trails," Overgaard explains. e trails are designed to accommodate any fitness level, allowing guests the freedom to encounter the natural world at their own pace. As visitors wander, they might spot an owl or eagle soaring above or watch a deer dart through the landscape. "I want people to get back to nature, especially in Montana, where you breathe, and you look at the sky, and you go, wait, I'm actually a part of this ecosystem," expresses Overgaard. Overgaard has recently begun experimenting with a songwriting incubator program developed through connections in Nashville.