Optimum Health Institute FAQs

Absolutely! Our reservation specialists are happy to answer any questions. You can also request to speak with one of our Program Directors to discuss more detailed questions. Call (800) 588-0809

The OHI holistic healing program is a 21-day program taught over 3 weeks. You can attend all three weeks consecutively or choose to come for 1 or 2 weeks at a time and complete the 21-day program over multiple visits to OHI.

The flexible program allows you to start the first, second, or third week of the program on any Sunday at either OHI Austin or OHI San Diego. The weekly program runs from Sunday through Sunday. The minimum stay is one week.

OHI’s Holistic Healing Program is designed to facilitate the healing and calming of your body, mind, and spirit. The classes and spiritual activities are designed to help you make healthy choices, integrate helpful tools in your daily life, promote spiritual growth, and enable transformation that you can take home with you.

The OHI Program is an integrated Program conducted in a group setting and is designed to take you on a journey to healing. Small group meeting and healing sessions, at which your participation is key to your success in the Program, are held daily during the Program. By attending the OHI Program at one of our healing centers, you agree to accept and adhere to our values and principles while at OHI.

Attendance in our classes is essential to your receiving the benefits of the Program which includes complete physical, mental, and spiritual transformation. To attend OHI, you must agree to attend OHI’s classes in order to maximize and enhance your experience at OHI to the best of your ability. OHI’s willingness to welcome you and teach you the OHI Program is closely tied to your willingness to be open to OHI’s values taught throughout the Program.

While OHI does not exclude attendees based exclusively on their religious beliefs, to attend, you must be in harmony with OHI’s core values, guiding principles, policies, practices, and procedures. You must agree not to proselytize other faiths or religions. You must also agree to honor those who may not share your beliefs. You must agree to refrain from any disruptive behavior while at OHI. Behavior deemed by OHI to be disruptive to the Program may result in ejection from the Program. Because maintaining the safe and sacred environment that promotes healing is essential to OHI’s purpose, you must also recognize that any failure to abide by OHI’s principles or any behavior by you that threatens the integrity of the Program in the eyes of OHI may result in your being asked to leave our facility.

All meals at OHI are prepared to provide maximum cleansing, nutrition, and energy. Our staff lovingly serves food in its purest form – fresh, raw, certified-organic vegetables and fruits. To support the detoxification process, OHI meals do not contain nuts or oils, which are often found in gourmet raw meals. A two-and-a-half-day liquid fast of vegetable juice is served during the first week of the program to support rapid and effective cleansing of your body.

There are two meal options. The regular diet consists of raw melons, fruits, vegetables, sprouts, and fermented foods. The hypo diet is for people with sugar sensitivities such as yeast, candida, diabetes, or cancer and excludes melons, fruits, carrots, beets, and jicama.

You are asked not to bring any outside food or drink onto the campus, or order food for delivery, as OHI meals are designed to aid the healing process. We ask that you keep an open mind and positive attitude so you can discover what highly nutritious food can do to help you heal and promote long-term health habits.

You should be able to drink wheatgrass juice without any problem. The wheat grass that is juiced at OHI is harvested within 10 days of planting, and gluten is not yet formed.

We do not have a gym at either of our campuses in Austin, Texas or San Diego, California. We do offer a lymphatic exercise program each morning and a stretch class each afternoon. These classes have been designed to help you cleanse the body, activate your lymphatic system, and relax your mind – to boost your immune system and contribute to the healing process.

Colon cleansing is an important part of our holistic healing program. On the first Monday of the program, you will learn how to use enemas and implants to support the cleansing process, and OHI will provide you with the materials that you can use in the privacy of your room. In addition, OHI has contracted with qualified professionals that provide colon hydrotherapy services for an additional fee.

The number and frequency of colonics are a personal and financial decision. If you attend the Optimum Health Institute in Austin, Texas, you must obtain a prescription for colonics from a visiting physician on Sunday who will decide the number of colonics that can be authorized for you. This is required by Texas law. A written note from your attending physician may be required at OHI San Diego as well if you have a pre-existing condition. Please call the colon hydrotherapy provider prior to your arrival so that you are prepared before your stay with us.

All guests are advised to consult their physicians regarding specific personal health issues and the use of prescribed medications. While on the OHI program, you should continue following your physician’s orders regarding your prescribed medications. Never discontinue any medication without first consulting a physician. We do not advise you to continue taking vitamins and nutritional supplements while on the OHI program because it may interfere with the detoxification.

The nature of OHI’s holistic healing Program requires that guests be self-reliant. We are a healing ministry, not a medical or recreational facility therefore we are not necessarily equipped to support those who are not self-reliant. Because we have a responsibility to ensure all guests in the Program have the same opportunity to heal and support guests to focus on their own personal healing, we require that all guests maintain a certain level of self-sufficiency. If your physical limitations restrict you from being self-sufficient, then we encourage you to come but require you to bring a friend to support your needs. We offer financial assistance for those required to bring a friend for support. Read more about the OHI scholarship program.

While the OHI holistic healing program is not designed for weight loss, if you eat only the meals prepared at OHI, participate in the daily exercise classes, and drink the required amounts of water and rejuvelac, you will most likely lose weight during your stay. By attending all classes, you will learn how a variety of factors impact your physical, mental, spiritual and emotional health, including powerful Alpha techniques that will enable you to continue the healing process and focus your attention on specific goals while you’re at OHI and after you return home.

While the OHI program is not designed for quitting smoking, the cleansing program and nutritious meals will assist in removing toxins from your body. In addition, the body-mind-spirit classes will help you to focus your attention on specific goals that you can use while on campus and when you return home.

OHI is an alcohol-free environment. We do not allow alcohol on campus, in the privacy of your room, or anywhere on the grounds.

OHI offers a variety of accommodations and room fees to make our healing program as inclusive to everyone. Room fees vary depending on location, building, room size, and occupancy. If you are sharing a room with another person, you may want to consider bringing earplugs.

OHI Austin is located on 14 wooded acres in a rural area 16 miles from Austin. Rooms that face the quiet Texas woods make an excellent choice for those who treasure quiet. OHI San Diego is located in a residential neighborhood in an urban area. Rooms that are inward facing the courtyard make an excellent choice for those who treasure quiet.

No; however, for health reasons, shoes or sandals must be worn in the common areas. Closed-toe shoes are required in food preparation classes. Most people choose to wear casual clothing. Many people bring exercise clothes and tennis shoes for the exercise classes and a bathing suit for the hot tub and OHI Austin's swimming pool. Clothes are required at all times.

Yes, we have a laundry facility that is coin-operated. We request that you purchase our environmentally friendly soap. Because of heightened sensitivity during detoxification, we do not allow the use of fabric softeners or dryer sheets.

You can calculate the amount that you are likely to spend by considering the following items:

• Tuition for the OHI holistic healing program: Covers all classes, activities, materials, wheat grass, and meals.
• Room fees: OHI Austin room fees and OHI San Diego room fees vary depending on location, building, room size, and occupancy.
• Services: Massage, colon-hydrotherapy, and chiropractic services are available by third-party professionals contracted by OHI to provide their services on campus. These services are in addition to tuition and room fees.
• Optimum Health Store (optional items):
  • The Optimum Health Store carries personal care as well as health and beauty items that you may have forgotten to bring with you from home. The store also carries household items; books, cards, and stationery; music and DVDs, and clothing and accessories. All items are available for purchase at an additional fee.
    Note: some of our service providers only accept cash or personal checks for payment. You can ask about payment options before you arrive. We do not offer check cashing services or an ATM on campus, so please come prepared.

The Optimum Health Program is designed to help you focus on healing, which is not conducive to taking care of a child at the same time. If possible, we encourage you to arrange childcare for your child during your visit to OHI. However, children can attend OHI if needed. With an adult paying full private tuition, there is no charge for a child under 5 years old. The fee for children between 5 and 12 is $150. Children over the age of 12 are charged tuition only. All children under the age of 18 require an adult to be present in the same room.

No, baby-sitting is not provided.

Optimum Health Institute-San Diego (OHI) is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to the disabled and encourages you to inquire about our God-centered holistic healing program. As a matter of interest, OHI is not a hotel, spa, recreational or healthcare facility, business establishment, or place of public accommodation. Optimum Health Institute-San Diego is a healing mission of the Free Sacred Trinity Church and is a tax-exempt, non-profit California religious corporation organized pursuant to California’s Nonprofit Religious Corporation Law. Optimum Health Institute-San Diego is organized exclusively for religious purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended. The Americans with Disabilities Act provides an exemption for religious organizations. 42 U.S.C.§12187. Pursuant to this exemption, the provisions of the Americans with Disabilities Act that address public accommodations and services operated by private entities do not apply to religious organizations or entities controlled by religious organizations, including places of worship.

Although the ADA exempts religious organizations from access standards, OHI is committed to the healing of all persons including the disabled. OHI attempts to provide reasonable accommodations for the disabled. Service animals, while working and accompanied by a disabled person, are allowed at OHI-SD on a restricted basis. Service animals may be present in specified areas of OHI-SD.

Please contact OHI to learn more about how OHI is able to accommodate the disabled, including those with working service animals. Be advised that reasonable notice is required before OHI-SD schedules a reservation for a disabled person depending on the nature of the disability and the time it may take to provide a reasonable accommodation. OHI is committed to providing accommodations to the disabled and encourages you to inquire.

OHI has a closed campus, meaning the only people allowed on campus are staff and registered guests. We have carefully created a spiritually safe, tranquil and monastic environment exclusively for our guests and adherents. By strictly limiting visitors, we keep distractions to a minimum and allow you to focus your attention on the OHI program.

That being said, Visitors are welcome during our weekly Sunday Open House between 4-6pm at OHI San Diego and OHI Austin.

Visit our weekly Open House every Sunday starting at 4:00 p.m. at OHI San Diego and OHI Austin. OHI's Sunday Open House offers visitors, guests, and adherents a personal tour of the facility, lecture, prayer circle, and an all-raw, plant-based meal. A donation ($5 at OHI San Diego; $7 at OHI Austin) is appreciated, but not required.

We try to keep the environment as free from chemicals as possible, but it is not a completely chemical-free facility. In addition, we encourage our guests to bring non-toxic, personal care products to OHI or purchase them at the Optimum Health Store.

No. Pets are not permitted in any area of OHI. During the detoxification process, guests often become very sensitive to aromas, contaminants and pet allergens. In addition, some of OHI’s Program participants have phobias related to animals and cleanliness. OHI’s grounds are consecrated and considered sacred. Therefore, pets are prohibited at OHI in order to provide and preserve the safe and sacred environment necessary for healing. These steps are necessary to promote healing.

Payment in full for the first week is required at the time a reservation is made. If a reservation is made for more than one week, the remaining balance for the entire stay is due at check in.

OHI accepts MasterCard, Visa, Discover and American Express. Personal checks must be drawn on a U.S. bank and must be received 14 days prior to your stay. OHI also accepts cash and money orders.

OHI allows you to reschedule one visit. A ONE time reschedule is available at no charge if change is made more than 14 days prior to your check-in date, OR for a $400 rescheduling fee if reschedule is made within 14 days of your check- in date. 

A rescheduled visit must begin within 6 months of the originally scheduled visit. Guests must sign an acknowledgement of cancellation within 2 weeks of requesting a rescheduled visit. Once signed, no additional reschedules are allowed.

Cancellations made 14 days or more in advance of the scheduled check-in date will incur a $400 cancellation fee. No refunds for cancellations made within 14 days of the check-in date. No refunds are given after the guest has checked in.

The OHI policy is first-come, first-served. If your relative or friend’s health is unstable, please discuss your concerns with your physician before you arrive. We are a healing institute, not a medical facility. We do not have a physician on the premises. Your relative (or friend) must be well enough to take care of himself or herself. He or she must also be willing to participate in all facets of our integrated program for physical, mental, spiritual and emotional healing.

Women who are pregnant or nursing are advised not to participate in the OHI program.

Bring comfortable, casual clothing and shoes. You will need closed-toe shoes for food preparation classes. A light sweater is useful, as many people feel chilled while detoxing. Many people bring exercise clothing and tennis shoes for the morning exercise and afternoon stretch classes, and a bathing suit for the hot tub and OHI Austin's swimming pool.

OHI San Diego typically enjoys sunny skies and comfortable temperatures year-round. A light sweater or jacket may be required in the evening. OHI Austin has pleasant temperate weather with an average low of 40 in December and January, and an average high of 95 in August. Spring and fall weather is spectacular. You can either call a few days prior to coming or you can log on to www.weather.com to check the forecast predicted for your time in either location with us.

Bring all personal care products such as shampoo, conditioner, body lotion, toothpaste, sunscreen, and so on. However, leave all fragrant toiletries at home. Only bring products that are chemical and scent free. People become highly sensitive during detoxification, and perfumes or other scented items may be offensive. Many toiletries can be purchased at the Optimum Health Store.

You may want to bring a hair blow dryer, alarm clock, water bottle, sun hat, or personal pillow if desired. Hats, bottles, and pillows can be purchased at the Optimum Health Store.

OHI provides bath towels in the rooms, the hot tub, and OHI Austin's swimming pool.

There are some exercise mats available in the exercise room, and they are also available for purchase at the Optimum Health Store. However, you might want to bring your own personal mat or a beach towel for the stretching class or for colon cleansing in the privacy of your room.

Yes, but the use of mobile phones in public areas is prohibited. We request that you use your mobile phone in the privacy of your room so that you do not disturb other guests.

Yes, you may bring your tablet or laptop computer but the use of mobile devices in public areas is prohibited. We provide free Wi-Fi in our guest rooms, where you can connect one device per session. We do not provide Wi-Fi in our public areas since the use of mobile devices are prohibited in these areas. Remember that OHI provides you with a rare opportunity to escape from the hectic pace of life and consider whether it is really necessary for you to bring your computer during this time of peaceful relaxation.

On Friday nights, guests gather to share their personal talents in a lively evening of music, spoken word, dance, and performance. Consider bringing a musical instrument, a favorite poem, materials for a skit, or any other item that highlights your gifts.

For transportation options from the airport or driving directions, please visit:

• OHI Austin Campus page
• OHI San Diego Campus page

Check-in occurs every Sunday at the following times:

• OHI Austin: 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm
• OHI San Diego: 2:00 pm – 4:00 pm

At OHI Austin, the front desk closes at 6:00 pm on Sunday. However, if need be, you can check-in as late as 9:00 pm. Please call us if you are delayed or will be arriving past 6:00 pm, by calling: (512) 303-4817, ext. 0. Program participants who are not able to check-in on Sunday afternoon or evening will be required to move their reservation to another week.

At OHI San Diego, the front desk closes at 7:00 pm on Sunday. However, if need be, you can check-in as late as 9:00 pm. Please call us if you are delayed or will be arriving past 7:00 pm, by calling: (619) 589-4023. Program participants who are not able to check-in on Sunday afternoon or evening will be required to move their reservation to another week.

Upon arrival at either OHI Austin or OHI San Diego, you will be greeted by one of our healing missionaries who will direct you to the reception area. You will be asked to fill in some forms and assigned a room. At this time, you will also receive materials for the week including your OHI Planner. We encourage returning guests to bring the OHI Planner you received on your first visit.

At 4:00 pm on Sunday, we take you on a tour of the grounds. Then at 4:30, you will attend our welcome orientation. This is followed by dinner at 5:15 pm, and new guest orientation at 6:00 pm.

At OHI Austin, if you intend to have colon hydrotherapy services, you must arrive on Sunday by 5:00 pm to meet with a physician for a brief screening. 

Check-out time is 10:00 am on Sunday.