As a curious person, and one always interested in health, I had heard so much about the Mayr system and spoken to many who swear by it. But I wanted to understand exactly what it was. So it was with a high degree of excitement that I made my way to Austria.
Situated just outside Innsbruck in the mountain resort of Igls, Park Igls Medical Spa Resort is the foremost health retreat in Austria and the only place in the world offering Modern Mayr Medicine and Modern Mayr Cuisine. Winner of The Times Best Detox Spa in the World 2025, it has built a formidable reputation around a method that begins with one central belief: health starts in the gut.
The original Mayr system, developed by Austrian physician Dr Franz Xaver Mayr, is based on the idea that the intestines are the body’s “root system”. When digestion is compromised by modern habits such as eating too quickly, too much, too often, too late, or when tired, the knock-on effects can burden the liver, stress other organs and contribute to a host of issues, from IBS and food intolerances to poor sleep and metabolic disorders. The Mayr method aims to tackle these problems at their source through a carefully managed combination of eating, fasting, exercise, rest and education.
What sets Park Igls apart is its Modern Mayr Medicine. While traditional FX Mayr is built around four principles — rest, cleansing, education and substitution — Park Igls extends the programme to include two more: exercise and mindfulness. The result is a far more rounded, medically supervised approach, where movement, mental wellbeing and sustainable behaviour change are considered just as important as what’s on the plate.
On arrival, I was quickly settled into a beautiful suite overlooking the snow-capped mountains and given the first outline of my personalised detox programme. Even from the room itself — notably absent were the usual minibar and tea-and-coffee set-up — it was clear this was a place with purpose. The food plan was structured but impressive: measured portions, plenty of protein, minimal carbohydrates, no alcohol, and a great deal of thought given to how food is prepared and eaten. There are eight dietary stages depending on the programme, and the quality of the cooking is outstanding: organic, elegant and, in the case of the soups, genuinely delicious.
One of the core tenets of Mayr is that how we eat matters as much as what we eat. Meals are taken slowly and mindfully, with the now-famous instruction to chew each mouthful around 40 times. It sounds excessive until you try it. Then you realise how radically it alters your relationship with food. Portions feel sufficient, hunger recedes surprisingly quickly and digestion becomes something you actually notice. Within two days, my system had adapted and I genuinely didn’t feel hungry.
The days themselves were carefully choreographed: massage, seaweed wraps, heat treatments, abdominal and lymphatic drainage, gym sessions, exfoliation and supplements to support rest and elimination. Yes, you do spend a fair amount of time thinking about your colon. But the medical supervision is what makes the experience feel serious rather than faddy. I had three consultations with Dr Gartner, the medical director, who talked me through the philosophy, oversaw treatments and, incidentally, also happens to be a jazz saxophonist — a detail I found oddly reassuring.
Outside treatments there was plenty to do: swimming, saunas, walking, exercise classes, health talks and cultural activities, plus a golf clinic and on-site putting course for those so inclined. But there is no pressure to perform wellness. You can be busy or quiet. The emphasis is on listening to what your body needs, and sometimes that is simply rest. Sleep, in particular, is treated as a crucial part of healing and digestion rather than an afterthought.
What impressed me most was the degree of personalisation. The Mayr cures are individually tailored, and the retreat can also support guests with broader health concerns, including stress-related habits and addiction. There is a sizeable rehabilitation facility too, and it is easy to see why professional athletes and serious health seekers come here. Beneath the polished surface, this is a place of real substance.
By the end of my stay, what I had learned felt both simple and profound. That the gut really does sit at the centre of health. That eating slowly, sitting down properly and allowing digestion to do its work can have a dramatic impact. That the evening meal should be light and early, that drinking around meals is not ideal, that sleep is non-negotiable, and that movement every day matters. None of it is especially flashy, but that is rather the point.
I also came away with something more personal. Because of my family history, high cholesterol has always worried me. At Park Igls, I had the opportunity to explore this properly and was advised to have my carotid arteries scanned to check for plaque build-up. The results were reassuring, and that peace of mind alone felt invaluable. It was a reminder that a stay here is not just about detox in the superficial sense, but about understanding your own health more clearly.
Perhaps the most useful aspect of all is that you do not leave empty-handed. Guests go home with a detailed folder of information tailored to them, offering practical advice on how to apply the Mayr principles in everyday life. And that, ultimately, is why Park Igls works so well. This is not about punishing restriction or impossible routines. It is about learning habits worth keeping.
A wonderful stay combining health, food, exercise and knowledge — which, as Julie Andrews might say, are a few of my favourite things.
