A 10-minute drive north of Innsbruck, at the edge of the Austrian Alps, sits Park Igls, a private hotel and medical center. A loyal following of guests have been coming here for decades to improve their health and increase longevity. The medical programme at Park Igls is called the Mayr Cure, named for the 100-year old method designed by Austrian Dr. Franz Xaver Mayr in the 1920s. Mayr was ahead of his time in the belief that a healthy gut and a balanced microbiome are critical to overall health and that of the immune system. The idea being that if the gut is given regular opportunities to rest and rid itself of toxins, so, too could the body repair itself, reducing or eradicating chronic ailments or conditions.
Mayr’s protocol is based on specific diagnostics carried out by specially trained physicians using manual techniques to measure intestinal health, along with blood tests. A reduced calorie diet, from hard core fasting to various levels of restricted calories forms the basis, alongside a menu free from raw fruits and vegetables, considered burdensome on the digestive system. The intestinal detox is considered an antidote to modern eating habits that we’re all guilty of consuming food too quickly, too late in the evening, too acidic and simply too much of it.
Throughout Austria and Germany, there are medical hotels and resorts offering supervised fasting. But, increasingly, travellers beyond Europe are spending thousands of dollars at wellness centres and retreats not only in hopes of living longer, but also healthier lives.
Why would anyone pay to go hungry? Simple. It’s harder than it seems to do at home. At resorts like Park Igls a slower pace is embraced. It’s not only the gut that detoxes. Fasting is much easier outside of the daily grind, poor sleep habits and continuous high and low-level stresses in the background.
The benefits are impressive – allowing gut bacteria to reboot, the liver and cells to regenerate – resulting in reduced inflammation. A study in 2019 demonstrated chronic conditions among patients improved after fasting between 4 and 21 days.
Park Igls is among a short list of Mayr-approved clinics where a typical stay is 7-21 days. After an assessment considering health goals, lifestyle and activity levels, guests are provided with a nutritional plan and a schedule of therapies.
Each day begins with bitter water consumed to stimulate a release of bile, which sounds more off-putting than it is. Guests are given simple, bland and repetitive food choices like spelt bread with a small portion of protein and fat, designed to minimise strain on the intestine. Hydration is encouraged, but no water is consumed 30 minutes before or after a meal as it’s too taxing on the gut. The theory is, by reducing the amount of stress on our systems we can rejuvenate and cleanse blood cells, lymph nodes and tissue. Naturally, weight loss is a side effect, but it’s not intended to be the main goal.
Recent obsessions with state-of-the-art technology have driven other clinics to offer an endless choice of heavily marketed, trendy treatments. But at Park Igls the approach is firmly rooted in science. Medical director, Dr. Peter Gartner has a high bar. Only after he is satisfied with the scientific research behind a new therapy does he then vet each one by trying it first on himself before implementing it in the clinic for guests.
Tech is embraced, but not to the exclusion of simpler, proven techniques that deliver solid results, like the application of liver wraps with hot water bottles and warm towels to reduce the production of toxins in the liver. Equally, rather than an in-house group of consultant physicians pushing needless procedures, Park Igls is equipped with a suite of diagnostics that’s never hyped to clients but always available. Dr. Gartner has fostered close ties with expert consultants to accommodate specific medical needs and requests.
Daily guided forest walks create a social atmosphere, along with dozens of fitness classes. Boxing with Gert, one of the trainers, is a highlight for those seeking an endorphin high. Other classes are thoughtfully designed to offer more than your average, pedestrian gym schedule. Pool jogging raises one’s heart rate to a surprisingly high target, and training focusing on shoulders, arms, spine and feet aim to effectively address joint pain. Here, the fitness settings alone serve as inspiration to workout. A yoga garden landscaped with lavender and wildflowers, with a dramatic alpine backdrop make outdoor training sessions pleasurable. Meanwhile, having sweated in gyms around the world, I haven’t seen another that offers the sweeping 180-degree mountain views that wrap around the floor-to-ceiling windowed gym at Park Igls. The workout is secondary here.
The atmosphere inside and outside the hotel is very much that of quiet, understated sophistication. Interiors are modern, but not achingly so, and public spaces have a comfortable alpine touch. Nothing is overdone – especially not the staff-guest ratio. There is no fussing and equally, none of the over-the-top expectations of a hotel defined by luxury. It may seem a subtle thing, but the result is a more relaxed, comfortable environment. Doctors and staff are approachable, and guests are friendly.
Evenings are typically on the early side, with lectures, musical and other performances in the common areas. Outings into Innsbruck are organised for the theatre, the philharmonic and the opera as well as golf at a nearby course. A local bus descends the mountain into Innsbruck for easy exploration of the compact, but charming city.
If all this sounds like a lot of physical movement – it is – but all of it is optional. There is also a spa complete with different saunas and a plunge pool (my favourite). Doctors emphasise the importance of rest and a selection of pillows, breathing workshops and medicinal massages as well as detoxifying mud wraps all support a slower pace.
Throughout the year, there are themed weeks. During my stay, it was Feldenkrais, a somatic method where practitioners guide you to increase awareness of detailed body movements. The goal is to re-educate the brain in order to reduce joint pain, increase ease and range of motion and improve flexibility and coordination. With a focus on biomechanics, Feldenkrais is unlike any other practice I’ve tried. When guided to sit, I automatically straighten my back to sit tall. Instead, I’m directed to shift to a smaller movement by tilting my tailbone, creating a less arched and more natural position with less stress on the spine. Group and one on one sessions provide better awareness and teach subtle but effective movements.
The highlight of my programme is interval hypoxia hyperoxia therapy (IHHT), also known as altitude training. Professional athletes regularly do IHHT to improve performance – both active and resting. Using an oxygen mask, one breathes in a personalised alternating mixture of oxygen-poor and oxygen-rich air. It’s very much an active therapy with the individual using conscious and specific breathing techniques to expand the lungs as much as possible through the belly to regenerate cells even at the base of the lungs. I found it difficult to focus so intently on my breathing for the first 40-minute session. It was tempting to slow down and doze off, but IHHT works in the opposite way – it requires a very active and conscious form of breathing. Once I began the second session, it became more like an active meditation exercise and I looked forward to seeing my heart rate reduce and the calm feeling it left me with – all secondary benefits to the primary goal of activating and regenerating mitochondria (cells), which is critical to fighting the effects of ageing. Scientific research has proven IHHT promotes new red blood cells, improves respiratory and lung function and strengthens the immune system.
Just like Dr. Gartner, I, too, trust facts over anecdotes, so as I approached the end of my stay, I was delighted by the results of a series of blood tests measuring blood cell count, signs of inflammation, clogged arteries and other important indicators – all pointing to a peak state of health for my body. Medical advice suggests anything less than a 14 day stay won’t have the same long-lasting effects, but a week-long stay left me with a feeling of better health, lower mental and physical stress levels, and most importantly, peace of mind.
The Details
Park Igls – Medical Spa Resort, Gesundheitszentrum Igls, Igler Strasse 51, 6080 Innsbruck-Igls, Austria.
Tel: +43 512 377305
Website: www.park-igls.at
Email: info@park-igls.at
Located just 6 km from Innsbruck Central Station, Park Igls also provides free transfers from Innsbruck Airport. There is free parking available at the resort.
Type of Hotel: Medical Spa Resort
Number of Rooms: 51 rooms including complimentary Wi-Fi
Price Band: High – all-inclusive with various levels and programmes
Insider Tip: Prepare for 2-3 days to adjust to the fasting protocol but embrace the pre-planned schedule, optional activities and the opportunity to downshift.
Reviewer’s Rating: 9/10
Author Bio:
Amy Guttman is a journalist based in London.
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