A SHORT RESPITE FOR BODY AND MIND
The first half of this year was stressful, life has been completely exhausting, and so I decided to do the only sensible thing about it and booked a holiday! After trawling through websites searching for the ideal location to spend my precious four-day break I decided on Tyrol in Austria. The beauty of the mountains and the guaranteed fresh air was the initial appeal, ‘it’s got to better than the city’ I thought. I then came across Park Igls near Innsbruck – a medi-spa based on Modern Mayr Medicine – it sounded a little daunting at first but the reviews from the Tatler and Condé Nast Traveller Spa Guide’s were outstanding, I had to give it a go.
Park Igls recommend staying there for a period of two to three weeks because detoxing takes time, but I came across a special offer for their Summer Short Stay Programme. ‘Perfect’, I thought. You still get to experience the basic elements of a Modern Mayr break, receive a full body massage, four therapeutic treatments and have use of their spa, but it’s designed specifically for people who don’t have the time for a long detox – people just like me! I packed my yoga pants, donned my walking boots and set off for the mountains. The flight from London to Innsbruck was less than two hours and I can’t begin to describe how magnificent it was to fly through the mountains – the journey was an experience in itself!
RELAX, DETOX, UNWIND
From the moment I arrived at Park Igls I felt relaxed; the ambience, décor and hospitality were all very tranquil. I spent the first two days enjoying my detox at the retreat. Daily yoga classes outside in the fresh air, relaxing massages, lounging in the gardens and getting lost in a good book: utter bliss. On day three I booked a guided walk to discover nature and get some light exercise. We walked a fairly easy route that took us through the stunning countryside, into a forest, past a lake and back to the retreat in time for a light lunch.
One part of the stay I was a little concerned about was food – I love food! I love big portions and I am partial to wolfing down a three-course meal followed by a couple of glasses of wine. At Park Igls we were given small portions, made to chew each bite very mindfully and of course there was no alcohol. Despite my concerns, throughout the whole of my stay I didn’t once feel hungry or fancy an alcoholic drink.
MODERN MAYR INSIDERS TIP
As a holistic method for prevention and early diagnosis, Modern Mayr Medicine at the Park Igls is based on six fundamental principles:
Resting the digestive tract by means of a therapeutic fast or personalised diet plan.
- Cleansing the digestive system with daily ‘bitter water’ (Epsom salt) applications and increased fluid intake.
- Learning how to chew and eat properly, and adjusting dietary habits to suit individual nutritional needs for long-term recovery and regeneration.
- Supplementing the diet with key alkalies, vitamins, minerals and trace elements as and if required.
- Daily indoor and outdoor Exercise programmes under the instruction of dedicated professionals boost therapeutic effectiveness as well as overall fitness and vitality.
- Self-discovery with the help of talk therapy, psychological counselling, mental training, craniosacral treatments and mental coaching. Fasting can also be an impetus for emotional healing.
