Parkzeit 2021-2 (EN)

Park Zeit
Park Igls Guest Magazine
Winter 2021/2022
8
GIVE ME A HUG! –
AS IMPORTANT AS EVER
14
SPECIAL TOPIC:
DEMENTIA
24
FERMENTING –
FOREVER IN VOGUE

4
Long Covid: Fatigue
Fatigue is one out of a number of potential
long-term effects of a Covid-19 infection
8
Give Me a Hug!
Finally! We are hugging again – what a hug
means for us
11 Breathing
Conscious breathing bears great potential
for our mental, physical and emotional
wellbeing
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA
Have you
got a minute?
I’ve got
something
I need
to tell you,
Ms Gnägi.
When conversations start out this way, it's usually
not clear in which direction the talk might go. We’ve
all been there before: You’re not entirely sure if
you’re about to hear something you’d rather not
know or even discuss. Or perhaps it’s some positive
news after all?
Either way, suddenly you’re all ears because starting
out a conversation this way is a sure-fire way to
grab someone’s full attention. It is for me anyway,
as a trained lawyer and passionate hostess at our
health centre. I'm an optimist by nature. That almost
always helps. The start of the conversation quoted
in the title of the article was actually the beginning
of a compliment.
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Austria
Tel. +43 512 377 305
Fax +43 512 379 225
info@park-igls.at
www.park-igls.at
EDITORIAL TEAM:
Andrea Gnägi (MA), Dr Peter Gartner,
Michael Weiß, Franziska Lipp (MA),
Helene Forcher (MA)
Subject to changes and
grammatical errors.
EDITORIAL CONCEPT AND
COPYWRITING HEAD
Michael Weiss, www.weiss-pr.at
CONCEPTION AND DESIGN
www.studioway.ch
EDITING
Merle Rüdisser (MA), Innsbruck
PHOTOGRAPHY
Fred Einkemmer, Christian Forcher,
Martina Meier, Maricruz Aguilar
PRINTING
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Circulation: 2,500 copies
© September 2021
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14
20
24
30
34
39
A Topic We Need to Discuss
More Openly
A healthy lifestyle is the only way to reduce
the risk of dementia
Brain Training
Our ‘CPU’ needs regular training, too
A Kitchen Trend that
Never Goes out of Style
Fermented vegetables – for joy on the taste
buds and order in the gut
The Mouth is a Gateway
to Health – and
to Some Diseases
Interview with Dr Walter Wille-Kollmar and
Dr Peter Gartner
A Good Night’s Sleep
Healthy sleep is an efficient and essential
source of energy
Mayr Programmes
New Specials for your health
One of our guests, who I met at our tea bar, came
up to me and said: “Have you got a minute? I’ve
got something I need to tell you, Mrs Gnägi. I’ve
seen and experienced a lot both professionally
and in my private life. But I have never experienced
the warmth with which I have been cared for here
by all members of staff. Everyone here is so
incredibly nice. That's unique, so I just wanted to
say congratulations!"
Why am I sharing this story with you? Such
compliments make me very happy and also make
me so very proud of our entire Park Igls team. And
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all of
our dedicated employees. I know that in addition
to our high level of medical and therapeutic
competence, it is precisely this cordiality that is
also a decisive reason why people come to us in
Igls again and again to actively do something
positive for their health in an environment offering
utmost discretion.
In the meantime, stay healthy! And do leave me a
message letting me how you liked this issue.
andrea.gnaegi@park-igls.at
Sincerely yours,
Andrea Gnägi (MA) & the Park Igls team
2 EDITORIAL 3

LONG COVID / FATIGUE
Full Stop
With Covid-19 and Long Covid on the rampage,
the concept of fatigue has become better
known to the general public.
What do you need to know about
this condition of extreme physical, mental
and emotional exhaustion?
4 LONG COVID / FATIGUE LONG COVID / FATIGUE 5

The word fatigue comes from Latin (fatigatio =
fatigue). Since the advent of SARS-CoV-2, and
Long Covid disease in particular, fatigue has now
become a common term in many languages.
Physical, mental and emotional exhaustion is one
of the most common symptoms of Long Covid
worldwide. Fatigue has been well understood in
oncology and cancer therapy for a long time, as it
often occurs during tumour treatment.
DR IRENE BRUNHUBER
“It's hard to imagine,
but it's like when you just
pull the plug”
"Fatigue is one of many possible long-term
consequences of Covid-19," says internist and
Mayr physician at Park Igls, Dr Irene Brunhuber.
However, there is still a dearth of long-term
studies and research on this topic, which is
currently being studied intensively, for example,
at the Charité-Fatigue-Zentrum in Berlin. As an
internist, Dr Brunhuber is following these
developments with great interest, as well as
relevant studies and research results worldwide.
"We just don't know enough yet. In any case, it is
positive that fatigue is widely discussed as an
illness, because those affected (apart from
the symptoms) still suffer greatly from the fact
that it is too rarely diagnosed correctly," says
Dr Brunhuber.
A DIFFICULT DIAGNOSIS
Not having one’s complaints taken seriously
is always a problem for every patient. Because
Long Covid was completely new, it hit and still
hits people suffering from fatigue with full force:
“People suffering from this condition who claimed
exhaustion were simply told ‘yeah, we’re all
exhausted, so what you’re experiencing can’t be
that bad.’ I also know that such patients are often
considered to be going through something
psychosomatic. In reality, however, this can be a
serious misdiagnosis," says Brunhuber.
What Brunhuber tells us about people who
have been diagnosed with fatigue after Covid-19
is truly depressing. Even one of her friends also
suffered from this condition terribly. She is a
doctor herself, a mother of three teenage sons,
and the "type of woman where you say to
yourself: She takes care of her health, she’s very
active at work and in her private life, and she’s
really physically fit. And even though she lives her
life at a fast pace, she has her job, her private life,
her responsibilities totally under control. She’s
the type of person who really has things together,"
says Brunhuber, describing her doctor friend.
Today, more than a year after the illness and after
a one-month stay in rehab, she is back at her job.
But she still doesn’t feel fit, not like she did before.
"It's hard to imagine, but it's like when you just
pull the plug. Fit people are no longer able to
cope with their normal routines. Sufferers often
say it’s impossible for them to even make a
telephone call. The smallest, supposedly simple
and self-evident tasks in everyday life suddenly
no longer seem manageable," says Irene
Brunhuber, describing the information given by
those affected. “This has enormous consequences
on their professional and private lives." Even
though there is not yet enough concrete
information and data on this subject, what we do
know shows that the condition can affect
individuals of any age and is completely
independent of the severity of the initial Covid-19
disease. Women also appear to be more
commonly affected than men.
A HARD JOURNEY BACK
When it comes to fatigue symptoms in Long
Covid patients, the focus is on rest as well as
slowly and carefully reintroducing the affected
person to the challenges of everyday life. For
many, not taking on too much right away is an
often insurmountable hurdle to overcome.
"Because sometimes it's better, sometimes it's
worse during recovery," says Brunhuber. And, as
is the case with her friend the doctor, "even if
you're used to a fast pace in your professional
and private lives, after slowing things down to a
full stop, you’d be well advised to pick up the
pace again very slowly, step by step and
cautiously."
“Being mindful
of your own health
is one of the most
important lessons”
Dr Irene Brunhuber MD
Specialist for internal medicine, Mayr physician with an
additional diploma in orthomolecular medicine
The special "Fit after Covid" programme has
been offered at Park Igls since late 2019.
Dr Irene Brunhuber played a leading role in
developing this programme along with the
medical management team. It is designed to
help people who have already been sick with
Covid-19. How does the programme aid
recovery?
Who is it suitable for?
The programme is primarily aimed at people
who have already had Covid-19 and includes
comprehensive diagnostics and therapy.
What does the programme entail?
In addition to a medical check-up, which is
carried out for all programmes at the beginning
of the stay, we check the status of the lung
function and carry out a medical performance
diagnosis as well as a special physiotherapeutic
assessment. By means of our in-house blood lab,
we also exclude myocardial damage, which is not
uncommon with Covid-19. These are central
building blocks.
Do more men or women book this programme?
Just about equal. What we are finding is that
many of our regulars are interested in the
diagnostics of this programme. This can of
course be added on during a stay here.
Why is Park Igls so good at helping people?
Those that come to us are interested in tailormade
treatment both diagnostically and
therapeutically. In other words, the therapy
offered is personalised and fits to the needs of the
patient. That's what makes our treatment stand
apart, and that individuality is immensely
important, especially after a Covid-19 infection.
When should one book the "Fit after Covid"
programme?
Are you chronically tired, lacking drive or
strength? Do you have headaches, insomnia,
persistent irritable cough, shortness of breath,
or difficulty concentrating after having had
Covid-19? We can usually achieve good results
with this programme for effective regeneration.
And what about strengthening the immune
system?
Exactly, this is quite essential in the context of
Mayr-Prevent medicine. But we are interested in
more than just strengthening the immune system.
Our cures or special programmes are about so
much more. One of the most important lessons is
mindfulness – for your own physical and mental
health. This changes lives permanently. That's
not only great to see, but it’s also part of the
reason why I love being a doctor here.
TIP
Everybody is familiar with stress in their private
and professional lives. However, very few people
know suitable stress management strategies.
This is exactly where our treatment methods come
in. As an active therapy, Modern Mayr Medicine
also achieves great results in this regard.
With our Mayr De-Stress therapy module, we
combine the latest conventional medical methods
with therapies and treatment techniques of
complementary medicine such as cranio-sacral
therapy and thus achieve lasting treatment
successes for people suffering from stress.
6 LONG COVID / FATIGUE LONG COVID / FATIGUE 7

Give Me a Hug!
Hugs allowed.
The fact that this familiar ritual
was no longer possible due
to the pandemic served to underscore
just how important it really is.
A fist bump, a pat on the back, a friendly handshake
or a simple nod of the head... Or perhaps a casual
foot-shake or the namaste bow, which is
completely unusual for us in Central Europe? How
do you greet others these days when meeting
friends, family or colleagues at a business meeting?
Have you started hugging or kissing on the cheek
again? Are things already back to the way they
were before the pandemic broke out?
"When habitual behaviours are taken away from
us or forbidden – for whatever reason – it naturally
does something to us," says Thomas Blasbichler,
psychologist at Park Igls. In these welcoming
rituals that we are accustomed to where we live,
we’ve all felt and experienced this quite clearly.
"We have all found ourselves in situations over
the past year and a half that have unsettled, perhaps
even disturbed us. Situations where we weren't
sure how to say hello. How will the other person
react or what is the most appropriate greeting for
all those present in the room," says Blasbichler.
When habitual greeting rituals or gestures are no
longer allowed, "social distancing" happens in the
truest sense of the phrase.
This is always drastic and often associated with
insecurity. “After all, this also has a negative effect
on our mutual communication relationship, which
is made more difficult by the lack of closeness – a
closeness that is actually customary in our culture,"
explains the expert. Apart from that, such
encounters – where, for example, face masks are
worn – require particularly complex actions and
reactions within fractions of a second in order to
be able to form a positive relationship.
Blasbichler: "Of course, we're not used to this
at all, so how should we be able to do so straight
away?" In a hospital operating theatre, for example,
the medical staff are used to such conditions and
to wearing masks and communicating this way.
Outside, all of us who are not constantly confronted
with such situations were extremely overwhelmed
at first. Misunderstandings in new communication
scenarios are therefore completely normal.
With a handshake, a kiss on the cheek or a hug
we say much more than just "Hello!", "Ciao," or “Hi."
Above all, we express a willingness to cooperate.
Through proximity and distance, which we determine
ourselves, we humans simultaneously define
our relationship to each other. Blasbichler:
"In psychology we say: Proximity stands for
CRISIS WINNERS
The daily commute to work – an enormous
effort. Leaving the house was generally a difficult
undertaking, so he hardly ever went out. His
social phobia just wouldn't allow it. His anxiety
in social situations was very pronounced. The
many appointments with doctors and therapists
reinforced this, and he spent countless days
a year on sick leave from work. Then came the
coronavirus pandemic. And everything changed...
for the better. Home office was a huge relief
because he no longer had to go out and be around
people. This meant that he had more time and
energy to fill his day with sports and exercise.
At the start of the restrictions and tough
lockdowns, he went out into the open air more
than he ever had before. He never felt as free as
he had during these weeks, he says. And why?
There was simply no one around to be afraid of.
The people he encountered gave him a wide berth,
which was a truly wonderful feeling. He didn't
even have to suppress his strong impulse to keep
a distance from others. All of this felt so perfectly
natural. It was, he says, as if society had finally
started to experience his same anxiety. Unlike
many others, however, all that was going on was
familiar to him... quite familiar indeed. Suddenly
life was good. He got an exercise bike, took yoga
lessons via streaming video, and made a conscious
effort to cook.
To this day, he has what he calls the "privilege of
working from home". He claims to still be able
to perform his job quite well. He has not been
sick since March of 2020 and in that time he had
no doctor's appointments, which for him was
simply unbelievable. He is fully aware that in this
uncertain time, a great many people are suffering
and going through terrible things and facing
tremendous suffering as a result of the pandemic.
It will therefore sound strange to many people, but
he feels like one of the winners during this surreal,
exceptional situation. For society, he hopes that
normality will soon return, even though he knows
that it will then limit him greatly once again.
8
GIVE ME A HUG!
GIVE ME A HUG! 9

CRISIS LOSERS
Four, seven and ten are the challenging ages of
her beloved children. And her? She’s married,
full of life, and wholly engaged in professional
life. She refers to herself as both lucky and
successful – in the prime of her life so to speak.
This strong woman knows only of financial worries
or existential fears from stories. She enjoys her
freedom of choice when it comes to travel and
holidays and knows that her future is carefree.
But then the corona pandemic hits and her life as
she knew it was turned upside down as things
took a complete 180. What this would truly mean
and with what force it would throw her off her
usual track, she had no idea at that time. The ease
with which she lived and mastered her life until
now was suddenly gone.
It was replaced instead with school closures,
distance learning, curfews and restrictions as well
as feelings of confinement or being locked up
for many months. It was all suddenly too much,
she affirms. In addition to her professional life,
she has to function as a housewife, cook, teacher,
cleaning lady and mum. Every day, seven days a
week. Suddenly, she was unable to manage or to
even get space.
She was left alone with her tasks, she says, as her
husband was of no help. Without distance and
her usual freedoms, she fell into a state of constant
stress. And before long, sleeping disorders, violent
migraine attacks, exhaustion, anxiety disorders
and panic attacks followed. These are typical
reactions to severe stress and adjustment
disorders. Anxiety and depressive disorders were
diagnosed later. Accepting help never came easy
for her. She’s the type of person who loves to help
others, but too often forgets about herself in the
process. Because she couldn't get going on her
own and the pressure of suffering was too high,
she sought psychological help. Fortunately, such
help was available. And she accepted it. “I'm a crisis
loser,” she says, “but I am fighting my way out of it.
It will make me more resilient and bring back my
quality of life.”
close communication, distance for unfamiliarity.
Everyone knows this instinctively. Just imagine the
following greeting situations: a particularly intimate
hug from your best friend whom you haven't seen
for a long time or a handshake to greet a new
business contact. Such gestures make all the
difference."
WHY DO WE LIKE HUGGING SO MUCH?
"Closeness is a part of our lives from birth. I'll
even go so far as to say proximity is vital to our
survival. Ideally, when we are held, we feel safety,
affection, perhaps love, comfort or trust.
Everything we like to feel," says Thomas Blasbichler.
Are we going to forgo hugging? "Never!"
“Closeness is
part of our lives
from birth”
Breathing
From the moment we first cry
when we are born to the often quoted
very "last breath": Breathing
is something we do throughout
our whole lives.
Thomas Blasbichler (MA)
Clinical and health psychologist, sports psychologist,
specialist in prevention, coach
10
GIVE ME A HUG!
BREATHING 11

Adults inhale and exhale
between 10,000 and 20,000 litres
of air every single day
Breathing is a highly complex basic function of our
bodies. It’s not only completely autonomous, but
is also the only basic function that we can influence
and control voluntarily, i.e. quite consciously, at
times.
"This fact alone makes breathing both
remarkable and unique. Respiratory physiology
and mechanics are not only vital; they are as
fascinating as they are complex," says Dr Peter B.
Barth. As an experienced Mayr physician, he knows
that good breathing techniques are both rewarding
and beneficial to health. Not all of us, however, are
experienced Mayr doctors, actresses, opera singers,
lung specialists, yogis or voice or meditation
trainers – in other words, someone who deals with
breathing for a living. Therefore, many of us are
often unaware of the importance and effectiveness
of correct breathing techniques – at least not to
the proper extent.
Take a deep breath and just calm down! There
are many moments when we truly notice our
breath: When someone gasps from excitement,
when one feels completely out of breath after
climbing the stairs or after an intense exercise
session, when a breath catches in our throat from
shock, or when something is simply breathtakingly
beautiful... Even our use of language reveals that
our breathing is of paramount importance in any
situation. In fact, every physical and mental state
affects our breathing. Joy, anger, excitement,
sexual arousal, calmness or nervousness influence
our respiratory centre and increase or inhibit
breathing.
We breathe 24 hours a day. Without breathing,
there is no life. And without functioning lungs,
there is no breathing. As the organ responsible for
respiration, our lungs ensure that adults inhale and
exhale between 10,000 and 20,000 litres of air
every single day. In fact, we breathe in and out 12 to
17 times per minute on average. According to
Dr Barth, "The lung is a precise, high-performance
machine. Without it, we are literally finished, so it
goes without saying that we must avoid doing
harm to our lungs... smoking, for example."
What you should also know: Proper breathing
techniques can be learned. Mostly due to stress,
we often do not breathe properly. This means that
we breathe too shallowly and not enough into the
abdomen. "Abdominal breathing is essential to a
proper breathing function. It allows for deeper
breathing," explains Barth.
Why is the correct breathing technique, i.e.
abdominal breathing, so important in Mayr
Medicine? Barth: "That is quite simply explained:
Abdominal breathing stimulates peristalsis, the
autonomously controlled movement of the
intestines. The diaphragm works like a suctionpressure
pump. When we breathe deeply into the
abdomen, the diaphragm sinks downwards and
our lungs also open downwards. Below the
diaphragm are the solar plexus (note: a network of
fibres and nodes of the autonomic nervous system),
spleen, liver and our digestive system. These areas
are massaged and supplied with energy during
inhalation. This is important and works to
counteract constipation. Any improvement in the
abdomen inevitably leads to an improvement in
the quality of breath, and vice versa. Deep
abdominal breathing also leads to relaxation and
the release of tension. This is done by stimulating
the vagus nerve, which is the main parasympathetic
connection between the brain in your gut and the
brain in your head (CNS). This is one of the
quintessential learnings of more than a century of
experience with Mayr Medicine."
DR PETER B. BARTH
“Deliberate, conscious
breathing holds great
potential for spiritual, mental
and physical health”
Dr Peter B. Barth MD
General practitioner, Mayr doctor
CONTROLLING
OUR BREATHING
Our breathing is basically controlled
automatically. However, we are able to
influence this by, for example, slowing
down, stopping or speeding up our
breathing. The automatic control happens
in our breathing centre, in the brain stem.
In very simplified terms, this is where we
decide whether we breathe fast or slowly.
Sounds simple, but in reality it is highly
complex. The most important basis
for decision-making is the current level of
carbon dioxide (CO2) in our blood stream.
If the level of carbon dioxide is high,
the breathing rate is increased in order
to exhale carbon dioxide. Conversely,
we breathe shallowly when the CO2 level
in our blood is low.
BREATHE
THE STRESS AWAY
It can be done, and it can be practiced.
The following is a simple belly breathing
exercise: First, place your hands on your
stomach. Then inhale deeply through your
nose and feel in the palms of your hands
how the belly inflates and the abdominal
wall lifts significantly. As you slowly exhale
through your mouth, you will feel your
abdomen and diaphragm move back up.
Perhaps you can manage to consciously
breathe like this three or four times a week?
The diligent do this every day, ideally for
10 to 15 minutes.
INHALE, EXHALE
The organ responsible for our breathing is
the lungs. The lungs ensure the exchange
of gases, which is vital for us because our
blood, or rather our body’s organs, muscles
and every cell, is supplied with oxygen
via the alveoli when we breathe in. When
we exhale, carbon dioxide in the blood
is removed. Mechanical support is provided
by the respiratory muscles, which include
the diaphragm and intercostal muscles, and
the "helpers" of the auxiliary respiratory
muscles. These are abdominal muscles and
muscles of the neck and chest.
12 BREATHING
BREATHING 13

SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA
A Topic We
Need to Discuss
More Openly
14
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA 15

MAKING
THINGS SIMPLE
Although we do not yet know a cure
for dementia, we know very well
that a healthy lifestyle reduces the
risk of developing dementia in
old age. That's no small thing. But it
also depends on what you make
of it. After all, shaping our lifestyles is
something we all have control of.
This applies to each and every one of
us. If you are reading this magazine,
you are particularly aware of the
importance of your health.
After all, you’ve probably already
been our guest and have consciously
decided to take a Mayr cure with us.
Perhaps you are our guest right now!
I hope this was and is a life-changing
experience for you, even if it's not
easy, especially at the beginning, to
set a course towards a healthier
lifestyle. Most of us feel the same way.
But let me tell you this: It's the very
best decision you can make! For you
own benefit. So, if you are just
starting out on this journey: Just do it!
Sincerely yours, Dr Peter Gartner
Head physician Park Igls
According to the WHO, there
are an estimated 50 million
dementia cases worldwide.
Unfortunately, the trend is rising
sharply. When the human
brain dies gradually, it is a very
distressing journey for those
affected and their families.
Let's start with the good news of this story: The
principle of hope is prevention. Those who lead
healthy lives significantly reduce the likelihood of
developing some form of dementia. Science today
already knows a great deal about dementia, its
forms, the course of the disease and prevention.
And at the same time, unfortunately, what we do
actually know is still far too little. There are many
unanswered questions about the causes and
development of dementia and about possible
therapeutic approaches.
"The fact is that with increased life expectancy,
there will be more and more people who develop
some form of dementia as they get older. And this
will have massive societal implications. Therefore,
based on our current understanding, it’s definitely
time that we have a frank conversation about
preventive approaches to this disease," says
Dr Richard Kogelnig, physician and deputy medical
director at Health Retreat Park Igls. According to
the medical doctor and psychologist, we need to
speak more openly and more publicly in favour of
prevention awareness, research as well as for
facilities for those affected or support for relatives.
According to the WHO, 50 million people
worldwide, including around 2 million Germans,
850,000 Britons, 130,000 Austrians and around
145,000 Swiss are estimated to be currently
suffering from some form of dementia – excluding
(presumably) high numbers of unreported cases.
Forecasts predict that these numbers may double,
perhaps triple, by 2050 at the latest, so this is
anything but a small thing.
"This raises a host of societal questions that
urgently need answers, and the sooner the better.
However, findings from scientific and medical
research give us reason for optimism. All that’s
needed is to organise the necessary resources,"
says Dr Richard Kogelnig.
WHAT CAN WE DO?
"Healthy living, eating right, plenty of exercise.
And training the brain. All this sounds so simple, but
for many of us it is not, because it often requires
modifying our lifestyles. A Mayr cure over the
course of several weeks can actually offer a very
conscious starting point and inspiration for a
healthier life. We experience this quite often here at
Park Igls," says the experienced expert. And what’s
more: "Dementia affects us all including our friends
and loved ones. That which each and every one of
us has in our control is maintaining a healthy
lifestyle. Perhaps you just have to remind yourself
of this every day: "The modern F.X. Mayr cure, which
has been at the centre of prevention at Park Igls for
decades, is a proven therapy to avoid lifestyle
diseases and thus also provides sensible, active
protection against neurodegenerative diseases. If
you want to protect your brain for the long haul,
you would do well to prioritise lifestyle choices in
line with Dr F. X. Mayr!"
Before you continue reading, allow us to leave
you with this phrase from Jorge Bucay of Argentina:
"Children are told stories to fall asleep – adults to
wake up."
Dr Richard Kogelnig MD
Deputy medical director at Park Igls, Mayr physician
MORE INFORMATION ABOUT
DEMENTIA
Dementia is a generic term for around
50 different diseases of the human brain.
One such type of dementia is Alzheimer’s.
It is by far the most common form of
dementia, a disease in which nerve cells
in the brain die and thereby impair a
person’s mental faculties. The causes
of Alzheimer's disease are still not fully
understood. What is certain, however,
is that Alzheimer's disease – similar to
other forms of dementia (e.g., Lewy body
dementia) – is a neurodegenerative
disease; i.e. nerve cells in the brain
die off. When it comes to Alzheimer's
disease, nerve cells in the cerebral cortex
are mainly affected, but also in deeper
brain areas as well.
Sulcus
Gyrus
Language
HEALTHY
Memory
UNHEALTHY
Memory
Sulcus
Gyrus
Language
NERVE CELLS in our brain are constantly
exchanging information, as they constantly
fire electrical impulses to their neighbouring cells.
In order for neighbouring cells to receive
information, the electrical impulses are converted
into chemical messengers. There are various
messenger substances in our brains, so-called
‘neurotransmitters’. Alzheimer's disease is primarily
associated with the neurotransmitter acetylcholine.
This is the substance that transports memories,
thinking and learning processes, but also
orientation through to our brains. In Alzheimer's
disease, the nerve cells that produce acetylcholine
die off, which is one cause of all the disorders that
Alzheimer's dementia provokes. The other cause
is that, in addition to the nerve cells dying, proteins
called ‘amyloid’ or ‘plaques’ are deposited outside
these nerve cells.
16
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA 17

PLAQUES consist of a nucleus, the amyloid
nucleus, pathologically altered nerve cell processes
and other cells, i.e. the supporting cells. In simplified
terms, one speaks of amyloids. In many Alzheimer's
patients, amyloids are found not only between nerve
cells but also in the smaller blood vessels of the brain.
That’s why about one in five Alzheimer's patients
suffers not only from Alzheimer-type dementia, but
also from vascular dementia at the same time. The
small blood vessels in the brain are constricted or
even blocked with amyloids, which can trigger
strokes.
STAGES OF ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE are
differentiated in medicine into mild (early-stage
Alzheimer's disease), moderate (progressive
Alzheimer's dementia) and severe (advanced
Alzheimer's dementia). Doctors use tests, such as
the MMST (the Mini-Mental Status Test), an
interview with nine task components, to determine
patient’s current stage.
15 %
15 %
5 % Alzheimer's disease
65 %
Vascular dementias
Mixed Dementias
Other
DISEASE PROGRESSION
In Alzheimer's disease, the short-term memory
is affected first. The long-term memory is affected
later. In the beginning, those affected forget
situations that have just happened as if they have
been erased, and some names for the most banal
everyday things, such as shoes, no longer spring to
mind. As the disease progresses, memories
disappear, as do everyday skills such as how to
handle eating utensils or personal hygiene activities.
DURATION OF THE ILLNESS
On average, Alzheimer's disease lasts about
eight years after diagnosis, though this varies from
patient to patient, especially since the disease is
often detected or diagnosed late. There are patients
who live with their disease for 20 years. Nevertheless,
Alzheimer's generally leads to death in its final stages.
The reason that the condition becomes fatal is
that the immune system of those affected continues
to weaken, so that infections become more
frequent. For instance, patients are more likely to
contract pneumonia and other infections. Since
patients in the final stage are usually already of an
advanced age, many also suffer from other physical
diseases which can also lead to death.
ALZHEIMER RISK FACTORS
Even though the causes of Alzheimer's disease
remain largely unclear, there are definitely some
risk factors that promote the onset of Alzheimer's
dementia. These include obesity, high blood
pressure, high cholesterol, high blood sugar, lack of
exercise and poor nutrition, as well as alcohol
abuse, type 2 diabetes mellitus or permanent stress
(see WHO recommendations).
obesity
high cholesterol
lack of exercise
poor nutrition
type 2 diabetes mellitus
high blood pressure
high blood sugar
alcohol abuse
permanent stress
WOMEN are statistically more likely to develop
Alzheimer's disease. This may be because men
don't live to be that old on average, and for that
reason alone, their risk is simply lower. However, it
is a fact that the number of new cases is higher in
women than in men.
VASCULAR DEMENTIAS refer to forms of
dementia caused by disturbances in the blood
supply to the brain. For various reasons such as
deposits, constriction or clotting, the blood vessels
are no longer able to adequately fulfil their task of
transporting blood. What are the consequences?
Nerve cells become damaged or even die. High
blood pressure is often the underlying cause,
although obesity or smoking can also promote
vascular dementia. Vascular dementia accounts for
about 15 percent of all dementia cases and is the
most common form of dementia after Alzheimer's
disease. Although vascular dementia cannot be
cured, there is a good chance that its cause, i.e.
circulatory problems, can be treated. It is important
that vascular dementia is detected and treated as
early as possible.
BINSWANGER'S DISEASE is amongst the
most common classifications of vascular dementia
cases. The cause is a thickening of the walls in small
blood vessels of the brain (arteriosclerosis). This
subcortical arteriosclerotic encephalopathy (SAE
disease) is called Binswanger's disease after the
German neurologist Otto Ludwig Binswanger.
Sometimes, the terms 'subcortical dementia' or
'subcortical vascular dementia' are also used. Those
who have suffered from high blood pressure or
other vascular diseases for many years are often
affected by this condition.
MULTI-INFARCT DEMENTIA is a form of
dementia in which small cerebral infarctions occur
due to repeated vascular occlusions. They slowly
destroy the brain in many small steps. Sometimes, a
single, severe stroke is responsible, but often there
are several multi-strokes.
SYMPTOMS OF VASCULAR DEMENTIA,
unlike Alzheimer's, can occur quite suddenly –
depending on where a blood vessel has clotted in
the brain. Multi-infarct dementia, in particular,
progresses almost inconspicuously over long
phases. At times, the affected person is clearly
impaired, for example, cannot find words or has
difficulty remembering, then suddenly he or she is
lucid once again. Typical symptoms include
memory, speech, thinking and movement disorders,
problems with orientation or mood swings.
1 + 1 = ?
thinking
?
orientation
mood
?
memory
distancing
RISK FACTORS FOR VASCULAR DEMENTIA
include high blood pressure, smoking, diabetes
mellitus, high LDL cholesterol levels, heart failure
and cardiac arrhythmias. These risk factors all have
one thing in common: They can lead to damage of
the blood vessels, deposits (arteriosclerosis), poor
blood circulation and strokes. If none of the risk
factors apply, family history may also promote the
development of vascular dementia. There is an
increased risk of vascular dementia if ancestors,
parents or close relatives have suffered strokes
more frequently and if family members are prone to
high blood pressure.
high blood pressure
diabetes mellitus
heart failure
family history
smoking
high LDL cholesterol levels
DEMENTIA PREVENTION
A study published in Nature in 2009 impressively
illustrated that modified fasting with a thirty percent
calorie reduction over a period of just three months
could significantly improve memory performance
in the fasting group.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON DEMENTIA
Dementia is an enormous burden for those
affected and for their relatives. You can find more
information on this topic here:
A Austrian Alzheimer Society
D German Alzheimer’s Society
UK Alzheimer's Society
Sources:
Alzheimer Forschung Initiative e.V., www.pflege.de
18
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA
SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA 19

Why we should integrate
regular brain training
into our everyday lives
Belly, legs and bum. Biceps, triceps or back.
With varying degrees of enthusiasm, we
regularly train our bodies through fitness and
sport. We do so to be attractive and to stay
healthy. However, very few of us do targeted
and regular brain training to strengthen our
cognitive abilities. According to Dr Melanie
Robertson, this is "a major failure”. After all,
our ‘CPU’ also needs regular training. Such
training keeps you healthy, makes everyday
life easier, and is also really fun!
A human being can memorise a shuffled deck of
52 cards in an incredible 12.74 seconds. Sounds
impossible and it (almost) is! But not for mastermind
Shijir-Erdene Bat-Enkh. The 21-year-old Mongolian
still holds the world record in this supreme discipline
at the Memory Championships. Reigning world
chess champion Magnus Carlsen is said to be able
to recall around 1,000 positions in this game of
kings. The best memory athletes can memorise up
to 100 words in just five minutes. These are
impressive feats of the human brain.
But what do all these feats have in common?
"Today we know from science that such peak
achievements are acquired through regular
training of cognitive abilities. At the same time,
this also means that basically everyone is capable
of developing an excellent memory," explains
Dr Melanie Robertson, clinical and health
psychologist and neuro-psychologist at Park Igls.
Of course, practically speaking, we mere
mortals hardly ever need such extraordinary skills
as memorising a deck of playing cards in our private
or professional lives. The point is nevertheless
salient in terms of our lives and our health.
Robertson: "Train your brain regularly and in a
targeted way! This promotes mental skills and
keeps you fit. Similar to untrained muscles, we
know that the performance of our cognitive
faculties also declines with age. We can counter
this through regular training.” If we work hard to
ensure that our outwardly visible body parts remain
supple and fit, why do we do so little in relation to
our mental fitness?
Working on cognitive abilities and visual-spatial
perception is particularly important because we
are confronted with increasing speed, sensory
overload, pressure, stress and massively increased
media consumption in our everyday lives. Ideally,
memory-boosting exercises should begin in
childhood. "It's well established scientifically that
even in children, there is a correlation between
physical activity and the ability to process complex
cognitive processes," says Robertson.
RELEVANCE IN EVERYDAY LIFE
Let’s be honest, we all know that there are
situations in everyday life where we forget. Things
from the shopping or to-do list, appointments,
birthdays, phone numbers we have trouble
remembering, or names of people who have
been introduced to us at a business meeting or
social gathering. "This," Robertson says, "is not
fundamentally concerning in any way; it's normal
and deeply human." However, through training and
special techniques, exercise and healthy eating,
these skills and our brain fitness can be greatly
improved with positive effects. In doing so,
everyday life becomes easier and our brains
become fitter. And medically speaking? Through
targeted training or new experiences, new
neuronal pathways and networks are formed, new
connections (synapses) between neurons are
created, communication between neurons is
improved and strengthened, and efficiency is
increased. This process is called synaptic plasticity
or neuroplasticity.
One possible maxim when it comes to potential
dementia prevention is: The more synapses we
form, the better. Cognitive training combined
with a healthy lifestyle can also reduce the risk
of dementia. "Only a very small, single-digit
percentage of all dementia cases have a genetic
component," explains Robertson. As an expert, she
is convinced that we are not helplessly at the mercy
of our genes. Instead, we do have the power to
influence them and thus to act and be agents of
change.
In the extensive weekly programme that guests
can take advantage of during their stay at Park Igls,
brain fitness is a popular offering. Dr Robertson
leads these group sessions personally and gives,
among other things, individual tips for everyday life
on how best to train the brain.
"Guests (of all ages, by the way) come to me
in regard to the aforementioned situations and
want to work out techniques and strategies." How
does this work? "All of our daily lives are increasingly
associated with pressure and with a fast pace.
This requires constant adaptation and enormous
flexibility. Many of our guests are or were
professionally employed in very demanding
positions and tasks that required or still require a
high degree of brain power. Professions such as
judges, diplomats, doctors, top managers, pilots
or entrepreneurs often require a very high level
of education. These professionals are often
multilingual and master demanding activities. But
if someone has excellent cognitive abilities in the
area of working memory, for example, this does not
necessarily mean that their action planning or
focused attention skills are also equally well
developed. In the sessions, we discuss weak
20 SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA 21

points as well as examples of how to improve them
with practice while also concentrating on strengths.
You’ll really notice the difference, we promise!"
DR MELANIE ROBERTSON
“There are many
ways in which
we can challenge
and train our
brains with different
techniques.”
What to do when my partner becomes forgetful?
It's very common, especially for people with high
levels of education, to be able to cleverly hide
cognitive decline, or at least try to do so. In particular,
such individuals often display extremely little
willingness to have this decline medically clarified.
A good strategy in partnership can then be to
say: "Come on, honey, let's just both do a
neuropsychological exam together."
What is the best way to specifically train my
brain?
There are many ways in which we can challenge
and train our brains with different techniques.
Regularity is essential, and as with physical training,
it is important to avoid routine. Dancing, playing a
game of chess, reading a foreign language book,
learning a new language or solving tricky brain
teasers – these are all things that help make our
brains fitter. These activities bring us joy, too.
Recommended
by the WHO –
guidelines for the
prevention
of dementia
5 GREAT EXERCISES FOR THE
BRAIN THAT ARE REALLY EASY TO
INTEGRATE INTO OUR EVERYDAY
LIFE, EFFECTIVE AND ALSO FUN
Dr Melanie Robertson
Clinical, neuro- and health psychologist, sports and
emergency psychologist, specialising in stress prevention
and acute intervention
Brain fitness
When you forget things, is there a need
for action?
Everyone forgets something every once in a while,
it's nothing to worry about. If, however, you
perceive subjective impairments, such as frequent
forgetfulness in certain situations, you can have
this looked into neuropsychologically. We of
course offer this kind of check-up at Park Igls. Here,
we start with a standardised testing procedure that
takes about an hour and a half to complete. This
can also have preventative benefits as it first and
foremost serves to take away worry.
How important is a ‘healthy lifestyle’ in this
regard?
Poor nutrition, little exercise, alcohol in excess or
smoking are known pathogens that damage the
brain and destroy nerve cells. Everything we know
from the pillars of Modern Mayr Medicine promotes
our health. Getting sufficient sleep and drinking
enough also have a very positive effect on cognitive
performance.
Any other personal tips?
Just stay curious, be inquisitive and keep moving –
it's a simple but wonderful and effective recipe!
NEUROPSYCHOLOGICAL
EVALUATIONS
Park Igls stands for state-of-the-art
diagnostics at the highest level, which
only very few facilities of this kind can
offer worldwide. Neuropsychological
evaluations are also offered on site. Often
the question arises for those affected
or (just as importantly) for relatives
of those affected, as to when there is
a need for action for medical evaluation.
If subjective losses are perceived
or if a person's private or professional
environment starts to let him or her know
that changes in mental abilities have
occurred, this should be investigated.
It doesn't hurt and it's easy. During a stay
at Park Igls you have the opportunity
(with the utmost discretion) to undergo
such a neuropsychological evaluation.
Standardised test procedures are used in
this diagnostic process in order to create
a targeted, completely personalised
training programme. This examination
takes about one and a half hours.
Incidentally, this can often have the effect
of not only relieving concern, but also
expanding one's own willingness to act.
1 SPELLING WORDS BACKWARDS: It certainly sounds
a lot easier than it is. Tip: Don't start out with the name
of this community in the south of the island of Anglesey
in northwest Wales, which has 58 letters:
Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogoch.
But drop us a line if you can manage this toughest of
words.
2 WATCH OR LISTEN TO THE NEWS: And then try to
recall the content of the newscast. This is a popular
practice in foreign language training and is a great brain
fitness exercise.
3 SOCIAL CONTACTS: Meeting people on a regular
basis is a great practice in any event. Are your social
contacts from different age groups, perhaps also from
different cultural backgrounds, and are foreign
languages possibly required for conversation? Fantastic,
this is the best kind of brain fitness.
4 CLASSICS: Crossword puzzles or Sudoku help make
the brain fitter. So why not consciously work on such a
puzzle at least once a week? Such puzzles offer a varied
workout for the brain.
5 LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: Vocabulary doesn't
usually just fall into your lap, you have to work at it
and that's a good thing! When we learn, our brains are
challenged and we are also rewarded with better
foreign language skills. Ten new vocabulary words a day,
you can do that easily!
22 SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA SPECIAL TOPIC: DEMENTIA 23

FERMENTING
A Kitchen Trend
that Never
Goes out of Style
Fermented vegetables boast
a delicious sour taste. Adding such foods
to your diet is also a simple way
to promote intestinal health.
A plea for sauerkraut and kimchi and
the long overdue rediscovery
of a kitchen technique
that has gone out of fashion.
24 FERMENTING FERMENTING 25

Preserving, drying and pickling: What once
belonged to the kitchen ABCs of our grandmothers
is now trendy like never before. Old, almost
forgotten methods have been rediscovered in
recent years by young avant-garde chefs. These
experimental cooks have literally dusted off this
old trend while giving the technique a fresh new
look. What’s currently being celebrated at the
highest level in award-winning restaurants is now
also finding its way into local kitchens. For example,
instead of buying sugary jam from the supermarket,
organic fruit is canned at home with vegetable
gelling agents. Apple slices for muesli are dried,
and herbs are desiccated and processed into salt.
DR SONJA SCHOTTKOWKSY
“Regular consumption of
fermented vegetables
creates order in our gut”
The large head of cabbage is fermented to produce
sauerkraut, while Chinese cabbage is fermented
to make kimchi. Once again, delicious homemade
products are being made and preserved just like in
grandma's day.
Dr Sonja Schottkowksy is not only a Mayr
doctor at Park Igls, but also a phytotherapist. She is
an expert in the field of medicinal herbs and plants
and their effects. Dr Schottkowksy recognises a
deep-seated desire among people to rediscover
old methods of preparation. "The last few years
have already demonstrated that many people are
once again more interested in food, its origins and
preparation. Baking bread is a recent mega-trend
as well as getting involved with herbs or home
farming. The desire for transparency is just as great
as the longing to try out new things for oneself. In
the past year, many have taken advantage of
lockdown and the home office to spend more
time cooking, but also gardening – on the balcony,
for example," says the doctor.
The traditional methods of preservation fit
perfectly into the values of sustainability, climate
friendliness and generationality. Not to mention
the demands of regionality, seasonality and zero
waste. In short, everything that the Fridays for
Future movement stands for, for example.
One of these preservation techniques is
fermentation, which is experiencing a veritable
renaissance: "In our area, we also know fermentation
as 'lactic acid pickling’. The best-known local product
that results from fermentation is sauerkraut.
After harvesting, the cabbage was traditionally
pickled in order to have it handy for the winter
months," explains Dr Schottkowsky. "Today,
packaged sauerkraut is available in the supermarket,
but it no longer contains the ingredients that we
actually want from fermented vegetables. This is
because industrially produced sauerkraut – like
many other products – is pasteurised, i.e. heattreated.
Unfortunately, this largely negates the
effects of fermenting."
Fermentation is considered to be the oldest
form of preservation known to mankind. The term
goes back to the French chemist Louis Pasteur
and means something like ‘fermentation in the
absence of oxygen’. "The fermentation of
vegetables involves lactic acid fermentation.
Carbohydrates contained in fresh vegetables are
converted into lactic acid by lactic acid bacteria
and their enzymes, so-called ferments, in an
oxygen-poor environment. In this case, it has
nothing to do with milk, but with the lactic acid
bacteria that are found in the soil and therefore also
on plants. These bacteria convert carbohydrates
contained in fresh vegetables into lactic acid,"
explains Dr Schottkowsky.
"From a medical point of view, the lactic acid
bacteria are interesting. These are already present
in our intestines but are often pushed aside by
unhealthy diets that contain too little fibre, too
much sugar and meat, causing harmful bacteria to
colonise. This is called dysbiosis, i.e. a deficient
colonisation of the intestine, which can have
health effects not only on the digestive tract, but
also on other systems such as the immune system,"
she continues.
"Regular consumption of fermented vegetables –
in addition to a balanced diet – creates order in
our gut and helps the right bacteria to re-colonise.
If you eat fermented vegetables regularly, you can
save on expensive probiotics."
However, the digestive system needs time to
get used to this supply of bacteria. Many are
familiar with the side effects of sauerkraut, which
can stimulate digestion and, in some cases, even
cause diarrhoea. Therefore, the recommendation
is to first consume fermented vegetables in small
doses (just a forkful every day) and then slowly
increase consumption.
Fermented vegetables are lactose-free, but
some caution is advised for histamine intolerance:
The longer fermented vegetables are stored, the
more histamines they contain. "However, in
histamine intolerance, it is especially important to
sanitise the gut and support the body's own
microbiome. Thus, in mild cases of histamine
intolerance, one should also regularly consume
small amounts of fermented vegetables –
starting with one teaspoon per day," advises
Dr Schottkowsky.
When preparing kimchi – the Korean version
of sauerkraut – fish sauce is added, which has a
very high histamine content. This can also be
omitted, which leads to lower histamine content
and improves tolerance.
"If you want to try fermenting yourself, start
with white, red or Chinese cabbage or carrots," the
Mayr doctor recommends. "And don't be afraid to
make mistakes! If you work cleanly, deficient
fermentations rarely occur with the vegetables
mentioned, because the absence of oxygen
means that problematic germs can hardly multiply."
Should mould nevertheless form during the
fermentation process, the contents of the jar must
be disposed of. In the case of creamy yeast, on the
other hand, which can be visually distinguished
from mould, the top layer is simply skimmed off.
A SHORT GUIDE TO FERMENTING
1 Almost all vegetables are suitable for fermentation:
white cabbage, red cabbage, Chinese cabbage and
carrots are particularly recommended for first
experiments. To do this, cut or slice the vegetables into
strips about 3 centimetres wide.
2 Mix the vegetables with salt (2% of the weight of
the vegetables, which is equivalent to 20 grams of salt
per kilogram of cut vegetables) and knead well until
the vegetables soften and leave liquid. The addition of
flour or sugar to stimulate bacterial growth is not
necessary!
3 Put the vegetables into clean, preferably sterilised
preserving jars (for example, Weck or Rex jars), pressing
down firmly so that they are covered by their own juices.
Ideally, the vegetables should be weighed down with
a glass weight: this prevents the vegetables from being
pressed above the liquid level during the fermentation
process and starting to mould. Jars and lids can be
sterilised very easily by placing them in a pot of boiling
hot water (100 degrees Celsius) for about 10 minutes.
Drain the jars and lids briefly and do not touch the inside.
4 The fermentation process takes one to two weeks:
To do this, leave the jars in a dark place at room
temperature until the desired fermentation begins.
5 After opening the jar for the first time, the vegetables
should be stored in the refrigerator.
6 Unopened, the fermented vegetables will keep for
many months if stored correctly (cool, dark).
26 FERMENTING
FERMENTING 27

You can recognise cream yeast by its very fine,
velvety surface and its white colour throughout.
Apart from the health and sustainability benefits,
the taste of fermented vegetables is also appealing.
Markus Sorg, head chef at Park Igls, is enthusiastic
about the fine note of acidity that balances every
dish: "In our hotel, the topic of wholesomeness is
important: On the one hand, fermented vegetables
are easier to digest than raw vegetables, so they can
also be eaten in the evening. On the other hand, the
fermentation process develops versatile aromas
and flavours.” The effect of fermented vegetables
can be supported by the addition of spices. Caraway
seeds in sauerkraut, for example, have a positive
effect on taste and tolerability. Here, there is virtually
no limit to how much you can experiment.
Insights into the human body.
The latest medical findings.
Tips for after your treatment programme.
Mouthwatering recipes based on Modern Mayr cuisine.
Healthy exercise sequences.
How to lead a good life. Recognising what makes us happy.
Getting and staying healthy into old age. Feeling strong and
facing all of life’s challenges. Modern Mayr Medicine deals with
all of these issues, and its holistic approach helps you put a
new, healthier lifestyle into practice. This includes great food
as well as plenty of exercise, restful sleep, and taking charge
of body, mind and spirit and – last but not least – lots of
fun. This book is ideal as a companion to a Mayr treatment
programme and offers a comprehensive guide to a better,
healthier life.
‘Every day, your body gives its best.
Trust it, the power of life is unbroken,
the will can move mountains.
Do the same to your body and enjoy good
health and a good life into old age.’
Dr Peter Gartner, Medical Director
Health is Central
A RECIPE FROM OUR NEW BOOK
Health
is Central
Happy and Healthy with
Modern Mayr Medicine
Available both
in English
and German
Mouth-watering
vegetable carpaccio
for 2 servings
• 400g celeriac, Chioggia beetroot, kohlrabi (unpeeled)
• Freshly ground salt, caraway seeds and mustard seeds
• 150g sheep’s cheese (preferably feta)
• Pistachios
• 100g olives (pitted)
“More and more people
are discovering fermenting
for themselves”
Dr Sonja Schottkowsky MD
Wash and clean the vegetables and remove the stalks
(but do not peel). Cook in plenty of boiling water
with the spices until soft; the time will depend on size.
Remove the vegetables from the water, allow them
to cool and peel. Then slice very thinly. Serve carpaccio
with sheep’s cheese, pistachios and olives. Gremolata or
lemon mayonnaise are also suitable accompaniments.
You can order our new book 'Health is Central' directly at Park Igls.
ISBN 978-3-9501262-2-8
General practitioner, Mayr physician
28 FERMENTING MODERN MAYR CUISINE 29

Healthy teeth are beautiful and do not cause pain.
But few people are aware that taking care of your
teeth and mouth can help prevent infections like
Covid-19 or pneumonia. We discuss how a simple
test can detect inflammation in the mouth and
what influence the mouth has on our health with
dentist Dr Walter Wille-Kollmar and the head
physician at Park Igls, Dr Peter Gartner.
Chew for a long time and carefully is a basic
principle of Mayr Medicine. After all, digestion
begins in the mouth.
Dr Walter Wille-Kollmar: I couldn’t agree more.
The more you’re able to crush the food in the
mouth, the better it is absorbed and digested by
the body.
Dr Peter Gartner: In the mouth, there are six large
and hundreds of small salivary glands that produce
digestive enzymes. Each time you chew, you crush
the food twice, four times, eight times – up to a
hundred times! The food's surface area is thus
enlarged, combined with enzymes through careful
salivation and prepared for the digestion process.
The better you are able to chew and add enzymes
to food, the easier it is for the organs to filter out
valuable substances from the food.
Wille-Kollmar: To chew efficiently, you need a
good set of teeth. The important thing here is
occlusion, i.e. the process of biting together.
How do you define a ‘good set of teeth’?
Wille-Kollmar: Chewing is a complex process that
involves cutting, shearing, up and down motions
and grinding, which also puts a lot of strain on the
muscles used. There are many factors involved, but
optimal occlusion requires the interaction of all
teeth. For those with fillings or dentures, this is
particularly important. If occlusion is not occurring
properly, problems with the spine, migraines or
other diseases may be the result. Teeth are a part of
a long, orthopedically functional chain.
Lay people are probably unaware that a tooth is not
a rigid structure. It has a degree of mobility as long
as its roots are there. As a result, occlusion is better
over the long term when teeth are preserved as
opposed to dental implants.
Does this mean that neck pain could be related
to my teeth?
Gartner: I once attended a seminar about ‘the
physics of teeth’: Using different inserts in the
denture, a dentist changed the occlusion of a
seminar participant. This occlusal change corrected
a previously visible pelvic obliquity with leg length
deviation.
Wille-Kollmar: For those suffering from seemingly
unrelated physical symptoms, I would suggest also
having your teeth examined. It should be
mentioned, however, that not all dentists take a
holistic approach. If just one tooth is ground down,
then the entire chewing process changes. "Form is
function, and function determines form." This
principle is the basis of Dr. Robert L. Lee’s concept
of bio-occlusion. Lee studied dentures to better
understand why some worked well over time and
others did not.
ORAL HYGIENE
The Mouth is a Gateway
to Personal Health –
and to Some Diseases
Gartner: Guests at Park Igls benefit greatly from
the fact that we doctors here work closely with
specialists in all fields.
Wille-Kollmar: This allows me, for example, to give
patients important tips when dealing with their
general dentist.
What should I bear in mind when having a dental
prosthesis?
Wille-Kollmar: It is important to note that every
tooth procedure – whether it is a filling or a denture
– requires a customised approach. Therefore,
patients also need patience. Levelling the tooth
surface is the easiest and fastest procedure.
30 ORAL HYGIENE ORAL HYGIENE 31

Fitting a denture well or having an interdental filling
takes time and is extremely difficult. Reconstructing
the original condition of the teeth is the goal here.
There is recent evidence that suggests a link
between poor mouth hygiene and the
progression of Covid-19. Can you confirm this
latest finding?
Wille-Kollmar: Most viruses enter through the
mouth, which acts like a conduit through which
pathogenic germs can travel on into the body and
cause infections such as pneumonia. Researchers
have now discovered that the SARS-CoV-2 virus
also enters the body mainly through the mouth. A
healthy mouth is therefore an important defence
mechanism against all infections!
What do you mean by 'a healthy mouth’?
Wille-Kollmar: A healthy mouth includes saliva,
which contains important enzymes and
immunoglobulins that defend against infections.
Saliva deficiency is a condition that should be
treated.
Gartner: Chewing muscles and salivary glands can
be trained just like any other muscles. Mayr
Medicine promotes such training by ensuring
ample saliva production for the chewed food.
Wille-Kollmar: There are many barriers against
pathogenic germs. These include the healthy
condition of the oral mucosa and gums, the
immune system in the mouth and the microbiome
of the oral mucosa, i.e. the composition of the
bacteria, which also includes many beneficial
forms.
DR WALTER WILLE-KOLLMAR
“A healthy mouth is
an important defence
mechanism against
all infections”
What is the best way to recognise an infection in
the mouth?
Wille-Kollmar: Nowadays, there is a simple saliva
test, the aMMP-8 test, which can be used to
measure oral immune defence. The enzyme
aMMP-8 destroys protective proteins that the body
uses to close openings between cells to prevent
pathogens. When there are high levels of this
enzyme, it is easier for viruses like SARS-CoV-2
to enter the body. Bacterial infections such as
pneumonia are also more common then. Preexisting
chronic diseases such as diabetes,
cardiovascular diseases or rheumatism can also be
negatively influenced by inflammation in the
mouth. For women, the risk of miscarriage may
also be higher.
Gartner: Incidentally, a healthy oral microbiome is
also important in preventing atherosclerosis.Signs
of inflammation in the mouth can therefore
indicate the onset of vascular hardening.
What does an elevated level of inflammation
mean?
Wille-Kollmar: That really depends on the level. If
the aMMP-8 test reveals an incipient inflammation,
then targeted oral hygiene is the therapy of choice.
In my opinion, oral hygiene should be monitored
professionally. This does not necessarily mean that
the dentist is entirely in charge, but that it should
be supervised by him or her. For cleaning, I prefer
to use a hand instrument instead of an ultrasonic
device to work on the tooth surface very delicately
and without scratches. This allows the teeth to be
made smooth without damaging them.
It is also important to pay close attention to the
condition of the tooth pockets, where tartar can
build up, in order to clean them thoroughly.
Depending on the level of inflammation, I can then
determine the frequency of oral hygiene. As a rule,
once or twice a year is sufficient. For those with
high inflammation levels, I would recommend
every three to four months.
What do you recommend in regard to gum
recession?
Wille-Kollmar: Periodontitis, also called
periodontal disease, is a bacterial inflammation of
the tooth bed that, if left untreated, can lead to
loosening and eventual loss of teeth. In old age,
people are more prone to gum recession, which
can be stopped with proper oral hygiene. The
aMMP-8 test can detect the preliminary stage of
periodontitis and prevent the progression of the
inflammation. There are even preventive measures
I can recommend for children.
What does optimal oral hygiene look like?
Wille-Kollmar: First and foremost: Brush your
teeth twice a day; evening cleaning is more
important than morning cleaning. Second: Clean
the interdental spaces daily. This is another area
where I think doctors have a responsibility. I give
my patients tips on this. Whether they use dental
floss or dental brushes is up to them. It is essential
that I show people who lack fine motor skills or
older people who find it difficult to clean dentures
how to clean their dentures as efficiently as
possible.
Gartner: When choosing toothpaste, make sure
that the enamel is not damaged.
Wille-Kollmar: It’s best to ask your dentist for
advice. He or she can also tell you whether or not
you need a toothpaste with fluoride added.
Are mouthwashes a good idea?
Wille-Kollmar: My advice is to use mouthwashes
sparingly. In the long run, the chlorhexidine
contained in many rinses damages the good
microbes in the mouth. A mouthwash is a
medication and, as a result, should be used sparingly.
Mouthwashes are also not recommended for longterm
use.
What type of diet is good for the teeth?
Wille-Kollmar: We all know that sugar and
carbohydrates damage teeth. Just like we know
that smoking is poison to the mouth's immune
system, by the way. Giving your teeth something to
chew on is all well and good, but a diet too rich in
grains leads to increased abrasion, which damages
the enamel.
Gartner: Moderation, as is usually the case, is the
sensible choice. To keep our mouths and the
related bones in shape, good chewing practices
are important, which leads us back to Mayr
Medicine.
Healthy teeth are beautiful teeth, is that true?
Wille-Kollmar: Absolutely. I'm always excited to
see a healthy set of teeth. But, and this is important
for me to emphasise, beautiful teeth are not
necessarily healthy teeth. There are people who
only pay attention to the beauty of their teeth,
especially the visible front row of teeth. Such
measures have nothing to do with dental health.
Because in fact, the back molars and grinders are
more important for the overall health of your teeth
than the incisors. That is why a good dentist is
always a holistic medical practitioner and more
than a good craftsman or a purely aesthetic
medical practitioner.
Dr Walter Wille-Kollmar MD
Born in Munich, Dr Walter Wille-Kollmar studied medicine
and dentistry at the FAU Erlangen-Nuremberg. After passing
his state examination in 1996, he worked as a dentist in
Germany before founding a dental practice in Italy (Barletta)
in 2001, where he also worked for several years as the
medical director of the International Academy for Advanced
Dentistry and Diagnostics, amongst other positions. Along
the way, he worked as a consultant for implantology at
practices in Italy and Germany. He was also a partner dentist
in Munich and Ingolstadt. He set up the ‘Zahnarzt im Roten
Adler’ dental practice in Innsbruck in 2016. Dr Wille-Kollmar
also contributes his expertise in implantology and
periodontology as a journalist as well as editor-in-chief for
various specialist media and as a speaker. The Park Igls
consultant is also a member of various committees such as
the European Dental Association or the German Society
for Periodontology.
32 ORAL HYGIENE ORAL HYGIENE 33

A Good Night’s Sleep
In a world that never seems to settle down,
sleeping appears like an untimely need.
And yet, a good night's sleep is an efficient
and valuable source of energy that has
no substitute. Psychologist Dr Melanie
Robertson is committed to restoring sleep’s
deserved status. She advises us to think of
sleep as a caring big brother who embraces
you protectively each and every night.
Somewhere in the city, a church clock chimes
twelve. It's midnight and the moon is high in the
sky. However, no one seems to be thinking about
sleeping: People crowd the counters in the bars,
the streets are busy, and the windows are brightly
lit. Now seems as good a time as any to quickly
make a final bank transfer for the day, to place an
online grocery order for tomorrow's birthday party
at the deli around the corner, and, once you've put
on your reading glasses and poured yourself a
glass of wine, to check out the latest goings-on on
your social media channels. And, before you know
it, night turns into day and the clock strikes again.
Those who go to bed at such times may well
wonder why sleep seems so elusive: The brain and
body are wide awake. Reason – and reason only –
suggests turning off the lights. And when the alarm
clock rings the next morning, you hardly feel up to
the day’s challenges. Your head is buzzing and your
eyes are watering. Sleep was unable to perform its
healing effects. Instead of allowing sleep the time it
deserves and seeing it as a source of regeneration
and rest, it is instead treated like an unwanted
problem. The result: a vicious circle. Dr Melanie
Robertson can help you to escape this pattern.
Dr Robertson, we all know that sometimes
young children don’t want to go to bed for fear
of missing out. Are we adults feeling the same
way these days?
Yes, in some ways that’s a good parallel. We all
want to function at a high level. When we are
asleep, it seems like a waste of time. It’s a time
when we all must let go, which is hard for many
people. The idea of relinquishing control for a few
hours does not fit to our lifestyles of constant
accessibility and availability. Therefore, sleep is
having a hard time in our current living and working
world. Sleep patterns change as we grow older.
Sleep becomes more fragmented. Sleep
34 A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP 35

SLEEP PATTERNS change as we
grow older. Sleep becomes
more fragmented. Sleep continuity,
for example, decreases during
menopause. Basically, it is important
to regard these changes as ‘normal’
in order to be able to deal with
them more easily.
continuity, for example, decreases during
menopause. Basically, it is important to regard
these changes as ‘normal’ in order to be able to
deal with them more easily.
Why do we need sleep so badly?
Even though our entire system is shut down during
sleep and we are no longer physically active, many
processes run autonomously. Our brain, which
never rests, is also active during sleep. It uses
the nightly downtime to process events and
happenings. The amygdala, for example, is
extremely active at night.
It is part of our limbic system and links events to
emotions. This is one reason why dreams can often
be very intense and emotionally overwhelming.
During sleep, important processes of cell renewal,
detoxification and metabolism also take place:
Hormones, enzymes and fats are absorbed, broken
down, metabolised and produced. It is a wellknown
fact that permanent sleep deprivation
provokes numerous diseases and symptoms.
Conditions such as digestive disorders and obesity,
an increased risk of developing cancer or type-2
diabetes, emotional problems such as depressive
moods and cognitive impairment can all be the
result. Reduced sleep also causes a reduction in
attention span and concentration decreases. In
fact, when we close ourselves off to sleep, we lose
our ability to perform.
So conversely, sleep is an important contributor
to our holistic health?
Absolutely, and this is the value that sleep should
be given. It is not something to be annoyed by but
is instead a very effective and simple strategy we
should adopt for better health. In combination
with good nutrition and exercise, sufficient sleep is
probably the most efficient rejuvenation cure. But
in addition to sleep itself, we also need dreams.
After all, those who sleep also dream.
And yet sleep disorders are now considered a
lifestyle disease. When did we forget how to
sleep?
It would be accurate to say in the last fifty years or
so. In the 1960s, humans slept an extra hour and a
half per night on average. This probably also has to
do with the fact that more physical work was
performed, but also more time was devoted to
sleep. Basically, the levels of sensory overload, stress
and general strain have increased dramatically.
Today, up to one fifth of people suffer from sleep
disorders. How are such disorders defined?
Sleep disorders are very individual. There are
people who lie awake for an hour every night, but
don't give it much thought. Others, on the other
hand, are afraid of going to or falling asleep. Some
lie awake for long hours in the morning, constantly
looking at the clock and becoming nervous. They
thus suffer from a feeling of severe pressure. As a
psychologist, I would classify this as a sleep
disorder.
How would you treat such disorders?
In the vast majority of sleep disorders cases, small
yet not so easy to implement changes in everyday
life are required. Such changes might include: no
large meals or raw food after 5 pm, sufficient
exercise during the day, no stressful conversations
shortly before bedtime and a pleasant sleeping
environment. Warmth, for example in the form of a
hot shower or a hot water bottle, helps greatly
when trying to fall asleep. Alcohol, on the other
hand, is not an effective sleep aid. In fact, it prevents
you from sleeping through the night. You should
also refrain from looking at your mobile phone, TV
or tablet for at least half an hour before going to
bed. Additionally, I strongly advise against using
sleep apps, as they increase the pressure to sleep
or constantly make you feel like you haven't slept
enough. They are usually counterproductive, as is
looking at the clock at night. A good remedy for
insomnia is serenity.
Worries, fears and other burdens often rob us of
sleep. It is therefore important to give these cares
some space and thus to set in motion the necessary
processing time. Psychologists can offer assistance
in this regard.
Sleep is a highly individual matter. Does that also
lead to stress?
We like to be guided by standards, that's true. But
when it comes to sleep, only our own needs apply.
There is basically no right or wrong: You can go to
sleep at 9 pm just as easily as you can go to sleep at
midnight. You can sleep eight hours or you can
sleep six. You can lie awake or sleep through the
night. As long as you don't put pressure on yourself,
sleep will happen and not become a problem.
If sleep disorders are accompanied by pain, acting
out dreams, or breathing and movement disorders,
it is important to seek medical help. The medical
team at Park Igls will be happy to assist you.
If SLEEP DISORDERS
are accompanied by pain,
acting out dreams, or
breathing and movement
disorders, it is important
to seek medical help. The
medical team at Park Igls will
be happy to assist you.
But just lying awake at night also wears you
down. Why does brooding in bed become such a
negative?
There are physical reasons for this and it is good to
recognise them. At night, one part of our brain –
the prefrontal cortex – works less intensively than
during the day. However, this area of the brain is
responsible, among other things, for problem
solving, and therefore we start brooding very
quickly when lying awake, without actually coming
to a solution. Problem solving strategies simply
work less well at night. So, my tip is to get up, make
a little note for the next morning and then go back
to bed. This ensures that the problem is not
forgotten, but there is no acute need to mull it over
any longer.
Are there strategies for becoming more
comfortable with sleep?
Yes. In fact, they are strategies that should be
practiced during the day. They aim to reduce the
major antagonists of sleep – adrenaline and
cortisol. If you lie awake at night and worry that you
won't be able to sleep, these stress hormones are
released. So, if we practice regularly during the day
to contain the level of stress, we will succeed more
easily at night. A simple exercise would be to take
five minutes several times a day to switch off briefly.
This exercise can then also be used at night to help
you fall asleep.
36 A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP 37

What else promotes healthy sleep?
It’s a good idea to have a well calibrated sleep-wake
rhythm. This is achieved by going out into the
daylight during the day and – whenever possible –
going to bed or getting up in the morning at
approximately the same time. The body’s production
of the sleep hormone melatonin begins when it
gets dark and peaks between two and three in the
morning. So, at this time it’s best to be in bed and
not active. It's also important to really only go to
bed when you're tired and to set an alarm during
the week or for important appointments. The
alarm clock creates certainty that you wake up on
time, so you can really let go while you sleep.
Is the nap an exercise for the night or is it rather
counterproductive?
Those who are very sleepy during the day should
give in to the feeling. However, a nap during the
day should not last longer than 20 minutes and
should be finished at least six hours before bedtime.
So, if you go to bed at 10 pm, you should be awake
by 4 pm at the latest after your siesta.
What should you do if you lie awake at night and
sleep fails to come?
Getting back up is absolutely fine, although you
should avoid overly bright light sources. I would
advise against sitting in front of your cell phone,
computer or television. It would be better to listen
to soft music, read something or make yourself a
cup of tea.
Dr Melanie Robertson offers one-onone
sleep coaching at Park Igls. Sleep
disorders are often due to personal
fears and worries such as stress at work,
relationship problems or dissatisfaction
with certain areas of one’s life. Often,
one or two one-on-one meetings are all
that is needed to get a new perspective.
With what thoughts should you go to bed?
Anxious fears concerning the night ahead should be
avoided. Daydreaming is a nice way to help you fall
asleep. You can dream yourself away somewhere
or think back on a wonderful experience. My
recommendation would be to focus your thoughts
on yourself rather than external stimuli. Everyone
has thoughts that relax them; these need to come
into play. Concentrating on your own breath also
helps you fall asleep.
What is your personal sleep ritual?
Regular exercise during the day and a very small
evening meal are part of my routine. I also
consciously shower off the workday and change
my clothes. This helps me go from activity
to rest.
With our high level of medical, diagnostic and therapeutic competence,
as well as maximum discretion and individuality in all treatment areas,
Park Igls is one of the best medical spas in the world. Thanks to our
sterling international reputation, we host people from all over the world.
WHICH TYPE OF THERAPY OR OFFER IS THE RIGHT FOR ME?
Our competent reception team will be happy to provide you with more
information via telephone. We will also be happy to discuss your desired
health goals with you as well as suitable treatment emphases.
BETTER HEALTH IS JUST A PHONE CALL AWAY AT +43 (0)512 377 305
38 A GOOD NIGHT’S SLEEP HEALTH IS CENTRAL 39

MAYR DETOX
MAYR FOKUS
Mayr Basic
Mayr Classic
Mayr De-Stress
Mayr Metabolic
Mayr Basic is a fixed component of your stay and forms
part of every Mayr programme. It can also be booked
individually and supplemented with individual services.
MEDICAL SERVICES
• Initial examination – health check (30 mins)
• 1 medical examination – abdominal treatment (20 mins)
• Concluding examination (30 mins)
BASIC SERVICES
• Daily Kneipp treatments
• Personal Modern Mayr Cuisine diet plan
• Mineral water, herbal tea and base broth
• Exercise sessions
• Active and passive anti-stress exercises
• Lifestyle management
• Mental group coaching
• Lectures
• Use of swimming pool and sauna
• Use of gym with panoramic views
1,102 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 969
Time out for your health – this therapeutic module
includes relaxing full body massages and offers the ideal
introduction to Modern Mayr Medicine.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 5 full body massages (50 mins each)
1,574 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 1,442
Mayr De-Stress is a burnout prevention programme:
sleep disorders, a lack of motivation, rapid heartbeat,
restlessness or stomach cramps could indicate an
immanent burnout or chronic exhaustion. Most of us
are familiar with high pressure at work or stress in
our daily lives. Only few, however, know how to cope
with this. Reduce the pace! This programme offers
a welcome timeout and is not just for stressed-out
managers.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 2 craniosacral therapy sessions (50 mins each)
• 2 talk therapy/coaching sessions (50 mins each)
• 3 combination heat packs (hay flowers and moor)
• 4 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 1 metabolic detox bath
2,108 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 1,976
This programme is recommended for allergies, fat
and glucose metabolism disorders, skin conditions, food
intolerances and increased uric acid. Modern Mayr
Medicine provides targeted treatment, which often breaks
the vicious circle of chronic conditions.
This programme is often booked by people with the
following indications: high blood pressure, overweight,
gout, metabolic syndrome with type 2 diabetes.
Prevention: type 2 diabetes, heart attack, stroke, high blood
pressure in old age
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 bioimpedance measurement
• Expanded laboratory blood tests
• 1 personal training session (50 mins)
• 3 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 2 lymphatic drainages or full body massages
(50 mins each)
• 3 detox compresses with beeswax
• 2 metabolic detox baths
2,055 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 1,731
prices in euro
Mayr Intensive
Mayr Physio
Mayr Intensive is the premier class of Modern Mayr
Medicine and the most popular detox programme for
long-term weight loss. You will notice an improvement to
your health already during your stay as you begin to feel
fitter and discover new strength and energy. Our team of
doctors will put together a custom therapy programme
for you. We recommend a minimum stay of two weeks.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 additional medical examination – abdominal treatment
(20 mins)
• 1 bioimpedance measurement
• Expanded laboratory blood tests
• 5 full body massages (50 mins each)
• 3 detox compresses with beeswax
2,058 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 1,727
This programme focuses on relieving back and joint
pain so that you can live a healthy and pain-free life.
The programme targets pain syndromes in the muscularskeletal
system.
It is often booked by people with the following indications:
back problems, arthrosis, osteoporosis and painful muscle
tension.
Prevention: back pain, joint pain and muscular disbalance
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 bioimpedance measurement
• 1 diagnostic physiotherapy session (50 mins)
• 2 physiotherapy sessions (25 mins each)
• Gait analysis
• 3 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 2 full body massages (50 mins each)
• 2 combination heat packs (hay flowers and moor)
1,993 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 1,607
40
HEALTH IS CENTRAL
HEALTH IS CENTRAL 41

MAYR SPECIALS
MAYR SPECIALS
DIAGNOSTICS AND MEDICAL SERVICES
Mayr Short Stay
Programme
Give yourself a break from everyday stress. Enjoy our
revitalising Short Stay Programme that will lead to full
physical and mental relaxation. This programme will
introduce you to our hotel, the effective basics of Modern
Mayr Medicine as well as the exquisite Mayr Cuisine.
During your stay, we will tell you whether we would
recommend longer stays for you including personal
treatment and therapy goals based on our proven method.
4 NIGHTS INCLUDING BASIC SERVICES
• Initial examination – health check (30 mins)
• Concluding examination (30 mins)
• 1 full body massage (50 mins)
4 THERAPEUTIC TREATMENTS – PLEASE SELECT
FROM THE FOLLOWING
• 1 partial body massage (25 mins)
• 1 personal training session (25 mins)
• 1 heat compress
• 1 nourishing body pack
• 1 metabolic detox bath
• 1 detox compress with beeswax
975 excluding Mayr medication and accommodation
Resilience after Crisis
Find your way back and reclaim your emotional balance
after a personal crisis, misfortune or extraordinarily
stressful situations. Our highly qualified team of doctors
and therapists will help you to achieve this goal.
This programme is often booked by people with the
following indications: post-COVID-19 syndrome,
remitting depression or burnout.
Prevention: better coping for future stress situations
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 2 talk therapy/coaching sessions (50 mins each)
• 2 personal training sessions (50 mins each)
• 2 craniosacral therapy or shiatsu sessions (50 mins each)
• 3 full body massages (50 mins each)
• 3 combination heat packs (hay flowers and moor)
2,341 excluding Mayr medication and accommodation
Feldenkrais® and
Mentalcoaching@Mayr
Will take place from 19 through 26 June 2022.
Ideal for migraine, back pain, arthrosis, sport injuries, impaired
mobility or stress. You will explore your movement patterns
and discover relieving and pain-free ways to move with the
help of our Feldenkrais ® coach. Combined with Modern Mayr
Medicine and mental coaching, this programme will help you
to experience a new level of lightness.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 5 Feldenkrais ® group classes (60 mins each)
• 1 one-to-one Feldenkrais ® lesson (60 mins)
• 2 one-to-one mental coaching sessions (50 mins each)
• 5 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 1 detox compress with beeswax
2,000 excluding Mayr medication and accommodation
Super Medical Check
This comprehensive diagnostic programme offers an
effective preventative medical package within only
a few days. You don’t have to see several different
specialists, which will save you time and provide
you with a comprehensive analysis of all vital functional
processes in your body. By assessing potential risk factors,
our doctors and our team of staff offer an ideal screening
programme using state-of-the-art diagnostics.
DIAGNOSTIC MODULE EXCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 physiotherapeutic assessment (50 mins)
• Expanded laboratory blood tests including hormone status
• 1 urinalysis
• 1 spirometry
• 1 oxidative stress measurement
• Ultrasound of abdominal organs and vessels
• Ultrasound of brain-supply vessels
• Ultrasound of thyroid gland
• Ultrasound of prostate and testes / breasts
• Resting and exercise ECGs
• Echocardiography
2,253 combined with Mayr Basic programme. Needs to
be booked in advance. Without Mayr Basic, an initial
examination (187 euro) and a concluding appointment
to discuss the results (177 euro) must be booked.
Immune System Booster
Neuro@Mayr
Yoga@Mayr
prices in euro
This Mayr Special Programme will strengthen your immune
system, making you more resilient to illnesses. You can
book our package all year round, but we recommend late
summer as an ideal time for this programme which is
often booked by people with increased susceptibility to
infections.
Prevention: infectious diseases
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• Expanded laboratory blood tests + special immune
profile test
• Evaluation and discussion of results
• 3 intravenous drip therapies with activated oxygen
(ozone)
• 3 intravenous drip therapies with zinc and vitamin C
• 5 full body massages (50 mins each)
This specialised therapy programme helps for degenerative
diseases of the nervous system such as Parkinson’s or
multiple sclerosis. What Mayr doctors have assumed for a
long time has now been proven by neuro-scientific
findings: Degenerative diseases can originate in the
intestines. This programme is often booked by people with
the following indications: neuro-degenerative diseases
such as Parkinson’s or multiple sclerosis as well as strokes
with late effects such as residual paresis and motoric
impairment.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 diagnostic physiotherapy session (50 mins)
• 2 training sessions (25 mins each)
• 3 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 3 one-to-one Feldenkrais ® lessons (50 mins each)
• 2 talk therapy/coaching sessions (50 mins each)
Will take place from 4 through 11 September 2022.
Take a deep breath, find your balance and gain new
energy thanks to a combination of yoga and Modern Mayr
Medicine. This programme offers a revitalising timeout.
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 4 Yoga group classes (80 mins each)
• 1 one-to-one Yoga lesson (50 mins)
• 5 partial body massages (25 mins each)
• 1 detox compress with beeswax
1,666 excluding Mayr medication and accommodation
2,790 excluding Mayr medication and accommodation
2,257 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation, each additional week 2,068
42
HEALTH IS CENTRAL
HEALTH IS CENTRAL 43

Fit after Covid
Our special diagnostic and therapy programme
will help to determine your current health status
and promote regeneration. Diagnostic measures
include blood tests as well as physiotherapy and
exercise therapy assessments.
This programme is often booked by people
with the following indications: Long Covid
with decreased performance capacity, fatigue,
smell and taste disorders, irritating cough.
Prevention: decreased performance capacity
and chronic infections
New Year’s Eve
Programme
For 7 nights – arrive on 26 December 2021
After the decadent Christmas holidays, your
body needs time to rest and recover. Take
this time and recharge your batteries for a new
and healthy year with our detoxification
programme. Our special programme will set
the festive holiday scene.
7 NIGHTS INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 5 full body massages (50 mins each)
• 2 personal training sessions (25 mins each)
• 1 full body exfoliation
• 3 detox compresses with beeswax
• 1 metabolic detox bath
1 WEEK INCLUDING MAYR BASIC
• 1 individual performance diagnostics session
(50 mins)
• 2 personal training sessions (25 mins each)
• 1 physiotherapy session to assess muscle
function (50 mins)
• 1 spirometry
• Expanded laboratory blood tests including
cardiac muscle blood test
• 3 full body massages (50 mins each)
• 3 fortifying infusions
• 3 detox compresses with beeswax
2,561 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation
OUR SPECIAL NEW YEAR’S PROGRAMME
• ‘Stars & Diamonds’ New Year's Eve party with
Modern Mayr cuisine buffet. Subsequent
torch-lit walk and fireworks at midnight
• Cinematic transmission of the Vienna
Philharmonic's New Year's concert
• Celebrate New Year's Day with a long walk
• A winter wonderland walk
• Hike around the Bergisel ski jump
• Winter hike on the Patscherkofel mountain
We can organise tickets for the New Year's
concert of the Innsbruck Symphonic Orchestra
or for the qualifying competition at the Bergisel
ski jump (part of the Four Hills ski jumping
tournament) on request.
1,995 excluding Mayr medication and
accommodation
prices in euro
Park Igls | Gesundheitszentrum Igls GmbH | Igler Strasse 51 | 6080 Innsbruck-Igls | Austria
Tel +43 512 377 305 | Fax +43 512 379 225 | info@park-igls.at
www.park-igls.at