Meet Kelly Opie, the heart behind Gut Instincts Colon Hydrotherapy in Oconomowoc. Kelly’s journey to holistic wellness wasn’t a straight path, but every chapter helped lead her exactly where she is today. From house management and dental assisting to owning a cleaning business and even exploring real estate, one common thread has always remained—her genuine desire to help and care for others.
Her interest in holistic health began years ago while living in Florida, where she was introduced to a more intentional approach to nourishing and caring for the body. Later, her own health journey led her to experience colon hydrotherapy firsthand, sparking a passion that ultimately became her calling. Today, as an Advanced Colon Hydrotherapist, Kelly has created a welcoming space where she brings a gentle, personal, back-to-basics approach to the Lake Country community. We’re excited for you to meet Kelly, hear her story, and learn more about the journey that inspired Gut Instincts Colon Hydrotherapy.
About Kelly Opie
I was born and raised in Oconomowoc alongside my brother and sister. I spent five years living in Florida, but eventually found my way back home to Wisconsin. Today, I live in Oconomowoc with my husband and our two cats, and we spend as much time with our family as possible. Outside of work, I’m happiest when I’m outdoors—walking, hiking, fishing, boating or simply spending time in nature. I also love pilates and music, and I’ve always had a strong interest in self-care and finding simple, natural ways to support our health and help our bodies do what they were designed to do.
Q: Please tell us a little bit about your family.
It’s just my husband and me, alongside our two cats, Henley and Walsh—yes, named after the Eagles! We’re fortunate to have most of our siblings nearby, with the exception of my brother, who lives in Oregon. We also have four nieces and two nephews whom we absolutely adore. We love watching them grow up and try to be involved in their lives wherever we can.
Q: Please tell us about your life and what you do (whether working in our community, a business owner, volunteer, etc.). How did you choose that path?
My path has definitely not been a straight line, but looking back, every part of it led me here. While living in Florida, I began working for a family as a housekeeper and was eventually promoted to house manager. Through that experience, I was introduced to a completely different approach to self-care and holistic health—using food to nourish the body, cooking from the garden and creating thoughtful weekly menus. It was a true light bulb moment for me and sparked a passion that never left.
After returning to Wisconsin, I worked as a dental assistant and continued in house management, spending seven years in that setting altogether. I later started my own home-cleaning business and eventually went into real estate, only to learn that it didn’t align with who I was. Although these careers may seem disconnected, they all shared a common thread: helping others, relieving them of what they couldn’t manage alone and stepping in wherever I could. Each experience gave me skills that have helped shape the therapist I am today.
I always knew there was something deeper I was meant to contribute. My own health struggles eventually led me to colon hydrotherapy, and after experiencing it personally, I became deeply interested in the modality. I trained as an Advanced Colon Hydrotherapist and gained hands-on experience working at two different clinics before deciding to create a space of my own. That vision became Gut Instincts Colon Hydrotherapy in Oconomowoc—a place where I could bring gravity-based colon hydrotherapy to the Lake Country community through a gentle, personal and back-to-basics approach.
Q: What do you love most about what you do?
I feel incredibly blessed that people who begin as strangers allow me into such personal parts of their lives—their health struggles, their frustrations and the things they may not feel comfortable discussing with many others. Being someone they trust is something I will never take for granted. I get to help people, whether the difference feels small or truly profound, and that is what I love most about what I do.
Q: What was the most difficult challenge in getting to where you are now or in your life?
The most difficult challenge was spending many years feeling as though I didn’t quite relate to those around me. I carried a constant desire to do more, be more and contribute something meaningful, but I hadn’t yet found the thing that truly gripped me. Knowing there was something deeper for me without being able to name it was very lonely and frustrating. Finding this path required me to trust something greater than myself and follow it even when I couldn’t see exactly where it was leading.
Once I knew what I wanted to create, the challenge became believing in myself enough to actually do it. Building Gut Instincts from the ground up brought plenty of obstacles, delays and moments of doubt, but it also required me to keep moving forward and trust that all of my seemingly disconnected experiences had prepared me for it.
Q: What is the most rewarding part?
The most rewarding part is helping someone find even a little hope within a struggle that may have felt frustrating or isolating for a long time. Sometimes I get to witness their own light bulb or “aha” moment, when they begin to see their health or their body differently. Knowing I may have played even a small role in that means everything to me.
Q: What are some of your future goals? Do you have anything exciting coming up that you would like to share?
One of my biggest goals is for Gut Instincts to eventually become a home for other therapists who feel called to this work because they have experienced the difference it can make in a profound way and genuinely want to help others. I also want to help erase the stigma surrounding colon hydrotherapy and create a better understanding of gut health. I don’t want to simply talk about it or repeat the same wellness language people hear everywhere—I want to show them and give them the opportunity to feel the difference within their own bodies.
Ultimately, I would love to see colon hydrotherapy become a more familiar and accepted modality—something people understand and may choose to incorporate into their routine care, much like going to the dentist. There is still a great deal of education and conversation needed to get there, and I’m excited to be part of that.
Q: What advice would you give to someone interested in doing something similar to what you have done/are doing?
If it’s in your heart, listen to it. Keep moving forward, keep your goals and intentions clear, and don’t lose sight of why you began. There will be moments of doubt, frustration and uncertainty, so find something to lean on—something greater than yourself—that can keep you grounded when the path becomes difficult.
Kelly Opie & Our Community
Q: What is your favorite thing about our community, favorite thing to do, or something unique about our community that you love? (Feel free to share as much as you’d like!)
When I was younger, I didn’t understand the importance of community at all. In fact, I couldn’t wait for the next opportunity to run from it! What I’m learning as I get older is that community is really what it’s all about. Do your part, do your good and contribute where you can. Lake Country is growing, and while not every change feels familiar, that growth also creates more opportunity for small-business owners who are ready to take a chance and live out their own small-town dream. Being able to return to the place where I grew up and build something meaningful here has given me an entirely new appreciation for this community.
Q: Do you have a favorite coffee shop, cocktail shop, or restaurant?
River coffee has become a new favorite of mine, the espresso is delicious. And Roots of course is always a go-to for meeting up with friends. We really enjoy Fish Bones, their Sunday brunch is fantastic!
For Fun
Q: What is your favorite book, TV show, movie, poem, or song? Why?
Favorite band: The Eagles, some things you can’t explain, its a feeling! Been my favorite since MTV came out with their hell freezes over special. I watched it over and over.
I read a lot but never finish entire books, lol, mostly health related content. We are big movie people, hard to choose but at the top is Top Gun and Top Gun Maverick, and Pretty Woman.
Q: Who inspires you to be better?
My husband, always. He is the person I look up to.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Explore more US state parks. A family holiday vacation in a massive house in the mountains over Christmas and New Years!
Q: What makes you the happiest?
Simple things, coffee on my front porch, listening to my husband make up crazy ridiculous songs about our cats; and frankly everything, lol. Spending Saturday or Sunday suppers with our family. Drop in visits with our parents. Daily or 8x/day calls with my sister and mom, and walking into Gut Instincts.
Where to Find Kelly Opie
kelly@gutinstinctscolonhydrotherapy.com
(262) 391-3123
