Dr. Cinque’s Health Retreat is a gateway to a world untouched by the disturbances and toxicities of life, perfect for those looking to lose some weight or hold therapeutic fasts. The centre provides also dietary counseling and fitness training while introducing you to secure health alternatives. The retreat has now established itself as one of the prominent fasting centers in the USA.
Dr. Ralph Cinque founded the retreat back in 1995 after piling up on years of experience in therapeutic and health retreats. eBrandz catches up with the man himself as he gives us a glimpse of his life as an entrepreneur and the ideals that propelled his success.
Kindly give our readers an introduction to your business.
For those interested in therapeutic fasting, for health and/or weight loss, I offer a safe, comfortable environment to do it in, and I take pride in being one of the most experienced fasting practitioners in the world. I have been doing it continuously since 1976. As someone who has undergone fasting and who has supervised fasting for many years, I feel I have a unique perspective about it. I offer conditions that I know I would appreciate if I were fasting. I feel good about my knowledge and ability to offer the proper guidance for fasting. Fasting isn’t for everyone, but for those seeking to fast, I offer excellent quality of care, and that is always my utmost endeavor.
Kindly give us a brief description about yourself.
I am a graduate of UCLA and Western States Chiropractic College. Upon completing my education in 1976, I did a two year internship with the renowned Dr. Herbert Shelton in San Antonio, Texas. Later, in 1989, I took a sabbatical and did a second residency with the esteemed Dr. Alec Burton in Sydney, Australia. For many years, I operated the Hygeia Health Retreat in Yorktown, Texas. In 1995, I moved to Buda, Texas (a small town about 5 miles south of Austin) and established Dr. Cinque’s Health Retreat. I have authored numerous articles on health and nutrition, and I am the author of a book on breaking bad habits (although it is currently out-of-print).
What ignited the spark in you to start Dr. Cinque’s Health Retreat? How did the idea for your business come about?
I had been involved with conducting therapeutic fasting for most of my adult life. My decision to relocate to Austin, Texas was due in part to the fact that it is an excellent place to obtain high quality organic food. Austin is the world headquarters of the Whole Foods Market, the largest proprietor of organic foods in the world. Quality of food is very important because my guests only fast for part of the time they are here. And once they resume eating, I want them to have the best food available. This is just as important as the fasting.
How important have good employees been to your success?
This is a small, homey business, accommodating up to 4 guests at a time. The person assisting me is Linda Hadley, who is my partner in the business and my partner in life. Linda has been an avid health enthusiast for many years and it was this common interest that brought us together. She is also a very caring and compassionate person, and Linda adds a lot to the atmosphere at Dr. Cinque’s Health Retreat.
What advice would you give to college students who are seeking a career in this field?
Ideally, they should get a general medical education, either in Medicine, Osteopathy, or Chiropractic, and then they should complete an internship through the International Association of Hygienic Physicians.
What motivates you to be in this business?
I am motivated simply by the fact that there is so much illness and impaired health, and I have very impassioned feelings about health care. I feel that there is way too much drugging going on. I feel that much of medical practice today amounts to nothing more than dangerous pharmaceutical meddling. I believe, strongly, that good health comes from healthy living. And I believe that fasting, when properly conducted, is beneficial in many conditions and circumstances. So, I believe in what I am doing, both personally and professionally. And I feel good to be able to offer an alternative.
What are the greatest fears people have about fasting, and how do you manage those fears?
It requires discipline to fast, but it is not as hard as most people think. For instance, hunger is not a major issue. Most people get quite comfortable that way while fasting. They are not troubled by constant gnawing or anything like that. In fact, sometimes it can feel very good to fast, to take a break from food, to enjoy the lightness of not eating for a while, of not being weighed down by food. So, it’s not torturous to fast. Believe me, I wouldn’t let anyone continue fasting if it became torturous.
How long do people fast at your retreat?
Most guests who come here to fast do so within a range of 7 to 21 days. However, we just take the fasting one day at a time. We don’t decide in advance. We may have a general idea, but we don’t commit ourselves to any particular length of fasting. We see how it goes. And either of us (i.e., myself or the guest) have veto power over fasting at any time. We both have to agree to continue.
For what purposes do people undergo fasting at your retreat?
It varies from purely weight loss to many other specific health objectives. For instance, fasting is very effective at lowering elevated blood pressure. And it is a lot safer and more effective, and for that matter much healthier, than taking prescription drugs. Fasting benefits the circulation, and people with circulatory problems come here to fast. Fasting relieves inflammatory disorders, such as lupus and rheumatoid arthritis. And there is a whole gamut of digestive disorders that are aided by fasting. There is nothing like the physiological rest derived from fasting to reinvigorate the digestive system.