Review: Vivamayr, Austria spa review

Set the scene

The small spa town of Altaussee has been drawing in healthy-minded Mitteleuropeans since the 19th century, bounding along hiking trails and leaping into the crystal-clear lake. And with the town’s salt spring water a long-famous restorative, Vivamayr’s appearance in 2015 was not wholly unexpected. From the outside, it’s an oversized alpine chalet, where staff wear traditional Austrian clothing (like Oktoberfest without the beer) and yodelsome views over the mountainscapes are to be had from floor-to-ceiling windows – though interiors are smartly contemporary and reassuringly comfortable. And its reputation is formidable – fellow guests might easily turn out to be a New York brand founder, Aussie entrepreneur or British film director, here to address anything from chronic fatigue to weight management and stress control.

What's the backstory?

At the heart of everything is the Mayr Cure, which focuses on the digestive system as the root to better health. It was developed just over a century ago by Austrian physician Dr Franz Mayr and then modernised by Dr Harald Stossier. Stossier worked at the world’s first permanent centre for the Mayr Cure as head physician before co-founding Vivamayr with his wife Dr Christine Stossier. The Maria Wörth location opened in 2005, a decade later came Altaussee, and permanent day clinics in Vienna and London followed. Here, the key fundamentals of the Mayr Cure are complemented by both Western and Eastern medicine.

What’s the wellness concept?

For a fully functioning digestive system, detox is a must. But rather than undergoing a starvation diet or strenuous exercise every day for a week (the recommended minimum stay) in order to drop weight, the emphasis here is on cleansing the gut of toxins, bad bacteria and acidity, and giving it some much needed rest. Nonetheless, days can be tough: 6am wake-up calls are commonplace as time is needed for oil-pulling, salt-drinking, and chewing each mouthful of breakfast at least 40 times before heading to the first appointment at 8am. Schedules vary daily but bespoke medically prescribed alkaline meals are served at set times three times a day, in-between personalised treatments including IV drips, cryotherapy, mud wraps, lymphatic drainage massages and colonics.

What are the signature treatments?

Meal plans and treatments are all chosen by analysing blood-test results and using an alternative medicine technique called Applied Kinesiology. This is a functional muscle test based on the belief that different muscles are linked to particular organs (in this case, those linked to digestion), and that if muscle weakness is detected when patients hold vials of extracts such as sugar, dairy and gluten, then there is an intolerance present.

Dr Christine Stossier tells me that sugar and carbohydrates are not my friend, that I should consume lactose in small doses and that my thyroid is sluggish. If I was sceptical about AK before, I was now converted, as previous DNA testing and a lifetime of thyroid tests revealed the same. Then she massaged, tapped and prodded my abdomen revealing that my small intestine needs a little help – which makes perfect sense too. No longer having a gallbladder and after years of battling with emotional and disordered overeating, I’m more than certain I’ve overtaxed my digestive system.

Guests are directed to cut out sugar, caffeine, alcohol, dairy, eggs, meat and fried foods two weeks before arrival – I failed, which meant I had a headache for two days and felt exhausted and nauseous. Needless to say, I didn’t venture out. Which was fine by me as my spacious two-bedroom Park Residence apartment (located in a second chalet-style building connected by a long glass walkway) had a huge bathtub, multiple comfy sofas, incredible views over the lake and the mountains and an ample balcony with sunbeds that I lounged on each morning while drinking my laxative-like Glauber salts. Rooms and suites in the main building have balconies, bathtubs and views too.

Which therapist should I book?

There are no ‘stars’ at Vivamayr as everyone is well trained and the offering is so specific to the brand that there isn ’t any deviating from protocol – while of course still being personalised for you. With that said, beauty therapist Bernadette Hierzegger purged my pores and left my skin glowing after one of the best facials I’ve had. And the breathing exercises from Liz Truckle’s class will be kept in my back pocket for life – especially her headache relief techniques.

What else do they offer?

There is a weekly Mayr Cure cooking class and a cookbook available (at extra cost), as well as activities outdoors, including a guided hike, and a well-equipped gym. Swimming is also a good option (indoors in winter, at the lake in good weather) as is the infrared sauna.

Final word

Overall, the experience was a positive one, I have more energy, and my skin and overall mood are much improved. But if I had to do it again, I would have steer my programme more towards tangible information that would help me carry on my weight management journey at home. For those who aren’t focused on weight, the detox and the follow-up eating plan to maintain a gut-friendly diet are probably more than enough. But for those who need help transitioning out of the detox into a way of eating that’s nutritious but accommodates your weight-loss goals, more personalised guidance is needed. So be clear on your goals and what you might need in order to achieve them before you start: that way you can ask the right questions and have a clear plan for when you leave. Oh, and do an online shop before you get home, so you have everything you need to keep the alkaline diet going as soon as you land.

Healing Holidays (healingholidays.com/condenast; 020 7843 3592) can arrange a 7-night Classic programme from £3,819 per person sharing, including transfers, full board accommodation and inclusions of the programme.