Modern is a word they use a lot here, and you can’t argue with that. The Lanserhof in Tegernsee is a spectacular Christoph Ingenhoven-designed wood-and-glass structure that glints in the Bavarian sunshine. Iodine-sulphur springs have made this valley in the foothills of the Alps a healing hangout for centuries, but here the medi-spa is as futuristic as anything on the wellness circuit. The team works closely with local clinics for the most hi-tech health tests, with the in-house doctors offering a mind-bogglingly thorough menu of diagnostics from endoscopy services and genetic analyses to Doppler ultrasounds alongside specialist urology, neurology and cardiology examinations.
And yet at the very core of this state-of-the-art space are the holistic principles of Dr FX Mayr – detoxing and rest – based on the belief that wellbeing can’t exist without a properly functioning digestive system. This means that food intake is restricted – meals include lots of broths, sheep’s yogurt and steamed vegetables, with the directive to chew slowly and for a long time – in order to re-alkalise and re-energise the body. Weight loss is a given, but this diet also lays the groundwork for treating all sorts of issues, including stress, addiction, exhaustion, skin problems, sleep concerns and illness. It’s as ideal for post-operative rehabilitation as it is for those simply needing a good old-fashioned battery recharge.
