Guest Spotlight: Meet Maria Conchita Alonso, a devoted guest at OHI San Diego!

When you live in Los Angeles and work in the entertainment industry, you live a very intense lifestyle —lots of industry events with tasty unhealthy food and alcohol, and lots of stress and pressure to maintain a youthful appearance.

Actress, singer, and philanthropist Maria Conchita Alonso understands the downside of living and working in Los Angeles all too well and wanted to find a hideaway where she could decompress and give her body an overall tune-up. “I heard about OHI from a friend more than a decade ago,” said Maria Conchita. “I was looking for a place where I could disappear from the world for just a bit and regain my peace of mind. I went to OHI for two weeks, and it was exactly what I was looking for. I feel so much happier and more relaxed when I go there. I disconnect from my phone and social media, I focus on my health, and I meet the most interesting people there that I never would have met otherwise. It’s the most energizing experience. I try to go twice a year for a complete reset of body, mind, and spirit.”

Maria Conchita Alonso was born in Cuba, and her family moved to Venezuela when she was five years old after the Cuban Revolution. Her career started in beauty pageants when she won Miss Teenager of the World and years later placed in the top seven of the Miss World Pageant. As a singer, she has received several gold and platinum records and has been nominated for three Grammy Awards. As an actress, she made her Hollywood film debut in Moscow on the Hudson with Robin Williams, and is best known to international audiences for the action thriller The Running Man. She became the first Latin-born actress to star on Broadway, debuting in Kiss of the Spider Woman. She is known to television audiences for her role on Desperate Housewives. “I moved to LA 42 years ago,” said Maria Conchita.

“Working in the entertainment industry, waiting to know what the next creative project is, can bring anxiety. OHI teaches you to love yourself in every stage of your life while adding more life to your years. It’s a powerful place of healing. Every time I go, I leave feeling energized about the future. It is so inspiring to feel truly healthy. I glow. There’s nothing like it!”

Maria Conchita’s parents opened a spa in Venezuela when she was a teen, and that greatly impacted her relationship with food. “My parents were very loving and supportive,” said Maria Conchita. “As a teen, they were complimentary of my toned body and would tell me that I needed to stay that way to set the example for the spa clients. It never occurred to any of us that focusing on physical appearance could impact your mental health in the long term. I knew I needed to look a certain way to succeed in beauty pageants, so I could leverage that success into a career in modeling, singing, and acting.

Years later, I developed an eating disorder that I still struggle with to this day. OHI’s mental health classes have really helped me get a handle on that. The Mental Detox class has taught me how to cancel, reframe, and replace negative thoughts to facilitate the healing process. The Alpha I & II and Conscious Breathing I & II classes help with my meditation practice, and the vocal toning class is great. It all helps to clear my mind and get ready to face the world again.”

Maria Conchita’s most recent visit to OHI was over the holidays. “I have a very difficult relationship with food,” said Maria Conchita. “The holiday season is filled with parties and industry screenings that can trigger my bulimia. This year, I chose to work on my relationship with food, go to OHI, and skip some of those events. It was difficult being away from my dog, cat, and friends for the holidays, but investing in healing myself now leads to a happier, healthier life for years to come.”

A wonderful bonus of attending OHI is that it’s where Maria Conchita formed lasting friendships with a few guests who have become some of her dearest friends. “They mean so much to me, and I never would have met them if it wasn’t for OHI,” said Maria Conchita. “I love the energy of most guests. We support each other by creating a nurturing environment. When you love others, it makes it easier to love yourself. I recommend OHI to everyone I know; the time spent here is truly a gift.”

To learn more about the OHI for Life Body-Mind-Spirit Program, call (800) 588-0809.