Lake Wörthersee is a picture of health cradled in nature in a landscape of forest and fields. Church spires peak reverently over trees, birds break the silence. But as the sky turns grey, the lake responds with moody turbulence, ripples of unrest, and a muddy appearance. I stand on the jetty witnessing its changing rhythm and equate it to the reason for my visit here at VIVAMAYR Medical Health Resort in Maria Worth, Austria.
An Island of Good Health
The VIVAMAYR Medical Health Resort sits on the shore of the lake, the perfect prescriptive setting to embark on a serious programme to detox and revitalise the body. Lush gardens tumble to the two jetties that extend over the water where reeds sway and rustle in tune with the gentle movements of the current. Sunbeds scatter on the lawns and decking. Amidst this tranquillity, there is time to listen to your body’s needs, hear its complaints and feel its malfunctions. And, based on tailor-made programmes, it’s the ideal place to learn and integrate new lifestyle practices.
The VIVAMAYR Health Concept
The concept is based on the theory of the late Dr F X Mayr who developed a diagnostic and treatment concept focused on the digestive system. With modern practices, innovative scientific methods and advanced technologies, this medicinal concept has developed and evolved into the Modern Mayr Medicine, which is practised today at VIVAMAYR. This constitutes the blend of ancient knowledge and state of the art medicine and incorporates Functional Myodiagnostics (muscle testing), Orthomolecular Medicine, (nutritional supplementation) and scientific insights from complementary medicine.
The Classic Programme – Life At VIVAMAYR
The initial consultation with the physician sets the schedule and the pace of your stay. Your new lifestyle routine commences. Your daily schedule is itemised, whether its treatments, therapies, or your daily check with the consultant. Appointments are punctual, staff friendly and professional. Your schedule can prove to be tiring with personal training sessions tailored to target your body’s needs, oxygen therapy to boost your energy, nasal reflex therapy for the respiratory tract and an electrolysis footbath to eliminate toxins. Cryotherapy is a chillier experience while an opera singer orchestrates breathwork. The fitness centre is on standby while the lake beckons those who enjoy natural swimming or boating. The minimum stay is seven days to experience the full effect of the programme, although there were a number of three weekers!
Food For Purpose
The preparation of foods, timings, how and what you eat can affect the health of your gut and your digestion. The VIVAMAYR food culture forms a key part of the programme. Intolerances and stress factors are medically analysed which result in a personal nutrition plan to balance the acid-alkaline ratio in the body. Breakfast is a choice of spreads and protein supplements with bread or porridge. Lunch, a more substantial affair, includes soup, (for some) and a choice of main courses such as a cheese soufflé, or praline of rouge salmon with trout caviar served with a portion of oil. And for the select few, dessert, a chocolate soufflé. Dinner is smaller: bread (referred to as a chewing trainer) or vegetable chips with a choice of spreads like an almond mousse (almond and walnut oil). All courses are beautifully presented and tempting, served in a stress-free jovial atmosphere with friendly sympathetic staff. The restaurant overlooks the lake and gardens with seating inside and out. Twice a week there is a cooking class that helps transition the Mayr Cure into everyday life. It is sprinkled with tips and tricks for healthy food preparation and ingredient choice.
How To Chew and When To Drink
Chew each bite thoroughly. Yes, around 20 times! This activates the enzymes in the saliva to help digestion (and to prevent eating too much). It gives the body time to digest and reiterates the importance of the meal times and the period between to complete the digestion process. A minimum of 2.5 litres of water should be drunk 30 minutes before the meal and an hour after eating.
VIVAMAYR Medical Health Resort Maria Worth
Opened in 2005, this is a contemporary medical resort, elegant and spacious. Lounge areas are dotted around, and a tea station with a wide variety of organic teas and vegetable broth stems hunger pangs during the day. The medical lounge and facilities are located on the first floor while the chillout area is an amazing multi-sauna spa with an infrared cabin and relaxation lookout over the lake. The indoor pool is edged with comfy seating – swinging chairs, sofas and loungers. To add to its zen atmosphere, caged candles line the passageways. There are 45 rooms in total with various categories from comfort rooms to a villa. The deluxe room is airy with all mod-cons, a smart TV and a breath-taking view out over the lake. The resort has no air conditioning, relying instead on the natural fresh Austrian air.
Activities At VIVAMAYR
VIVAMAYR offers a number of complimentary group activities such early morning activity classes, evening health talks and Nordic walks in the forest. Others such as painting workshops and organised excursions to Lake Bled, Vienna and Ljubljana (Slovenia), one of the smallest capitals in Europe incur additional costs. In the summer, there are public boat trips around the lake which take around 3.5 hours with “hop-on hop-off” stops calling at places such as Klagenfurt and Velden. There is a walking trail around Maria Worth, which passes the famous pilgrimage church that leads through the Gildwald forest to Mt Pyramidenkogel and to the Pyramid observation tower (said to be the highest wooden observation tower in the world), with views over Lake Wörthersee and the Carinthian lakes and mountains.
My Healthy Life After VIVAMAYR Medical Health Resort
After seven days, I return to the jetty over Lake Wörthersee. The water is no longer moody. It’s calm, serene and still, the light glistening from its surface. A swan glides past, a symbol of my inner peace and balance achieved from my stay. Focused, energised and over a kilo lighter, my mind and body in harmony, I leave with this vision of tranquillity, and a renewed understanding of nutrition and digestion from my experience here at VIVAMAYR’s health concept.
VIVAMAYR offers a number of programmes from Weight Care, Post Covid, Immune Boost, Diabetes, Active Detox to Inflammatory Skin. The Classic Programme forms the basis for every stay. Each programme is flexible and customized to personal needs and includes the necessary medical care and a variety of tests and treatments. The additional therapies which are needed for your personal well-being and health are not defined until your initial examination with your physician. Pricing is transparent. VIVAMAYR has a day clinic in Harley Street, London that offers a range of naturopathic treatments and post care.
Indoor-outdoor dining with a view
DETOX ADVICE
- Dry brush to exfoliate your skin before showering
- Take magnesium powder in the morning for intestinal cleansing
- Take a teaspoon of mouth oil to remove bacteria and toxins in your mouth
- Keep regular meal times and have smaller portions as the day progresses
- Take time to chew with no distractions and give time for the body to digest
- Drink up to 2.5 litres per day between and not with meals. This should be pure water or tea
- Before bed prepare a liver pack wrap: moisten a cotton cloth with cold water, place on right upper abdomen, position a hot water bottle wrapped in a towel and place for 30-60 minutes
- Work hard to relax to prevent stress affecting the gut health
For more suggestions on wellness places and medi-spas, click here.
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BeSeeingYou In: Carinithia region, Austria, at VIVAMAYR Medical Health Resort.
Good To Know: You will receive full notes and recommendations following your consultations but not after personal training sessions, so take your own during exercise routines.
WOW! Factor: The Spa and the view over Lake Wörthersee.
Tip: Bring a good book and swimwear.
Author bio: Jane Wilson
All photos courtesy of VIVAMAYR
