Park Igls ParkZeit summer 2017

Park Igls Guest Magazine

Miracle herbs RECIPES FOR THE HOME MEDICINE CABINET

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FASCINATING FASCIA The body's largest sensory organ

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ENDOSCOPY SCREENING Don't give disease a chance

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FAT So much better than its reputation

Summer 1/2017

Park Zeit

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Fascinating fascia The body's largest sensory organ

Miracle herbs ecipes for the home R medicine cabinet

Take

a walk on the wild side!

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Hiking's triumphant comeback

Hypnoacupuncture

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The perfect blend

Now even more comfortable

Park Igls' new interior

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Short Stay Our popular summer offer

Breakfast like a king?

Comments by Dr Peter Gartner

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Endoscopy screening

Don't give disease a chance

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The Mayr way to better golf

By Minty Clinch

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Fat

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Did you know that...

So much better than its reputation

Dear Guest,

T

his year, Park Igls has again made it into the handpicked, elite group of the world’s best spa hotels as chosen by UK prestigious international Spa Guides Condé Nast Traveller and Tatler. This is the fifth year in a row!

The reviewers were particularly taken by the lovely atmosphere at Park Igls, as well as the excellent medical diagnostic services that our guests enjoy within the scope of their Mayr programmes and treatment modules. They even described us as ‘The Most Comforting Medi-Clinic in Austria’!

This is a portrayal that I am particularly pleased with as it highlights the human skills of our highly specialised team of doctors and therapists who, of course, also provide excellent medical skills and infrastructure: after all, people skills are crucially important when it comes to health.

As you have come to expect, the summer 2017 edition of our ParkZeit magazine is jam-packed with interesting articles and news about us and Modern Mayr Medicine. We wish you an enjoyable read!

Andrea Gnägi (Mag)

An instruction manual for life

Get out of your comfort zone

Offers & treatment modules overview Contents & editorial

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Fascinating fascia It envelops muscles, bones and organs, providing both protection and shape from head to toe. The fascia is the body's shock absorber, but its significance for health and fitness has long been underestimated.

Now, though, things are beginning to change, and many physicians, therapists and researchers are describing fascia tissue as the body's largest sensory organ. What’s more, they recommend regular training and an alkaline diet to protect against a loss of elasticity due to over-acidification.

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eeled oranges and raw sausages are helpful tools for explaining how fascia works. Dr Robert Schleip, lecturer at Ulm University and a worldwide leading fascia researcher, opted for sausages and compared fascia to sausage skin.

When removed, the interior falls apart. Others prefer the orange analogy and liken fascia to the thin, net-like skin which protects the fruit.

Whichever illustration you prefer, the reality is that our entire bodies are criss-crossed with elastic connective tissue called fascia. These tissues are between 0.3mm and 3mm thick and consist of collagen fibres, water and fibroblast cells. Their primary task is to envelop and connect all organs, muscles, bones, joints and nerves. Fascia was long regarded as relatively useless and uninteresting ‘sheath tissue’. Now we know that it contains over 80 % of our free nerve endings and pain receptors – far more than any muscle. Adhesions and hardening of the fascia are guaranteed to result in ailments.

‘Regular training, either using a fascia roller or targeted, dynamic exercises, is important for this,’ explains Alexander Ataii, Park Igls’ physiotherapist.

Alexander leads the regular fascia training modules that you see advertised in our daily programme, and knows from personal experience that poor posture, inactivity and stress not only affect musculature; they also affect the fascia.

Finally recognised by conventional medicine, this insight is leading to a slow but steady shift in thinking. Whereas we used to believe in a strong skeleton that could be reset, today we focus on the much more complex and dynamic model of tensegrity.

Fascia contains over 80% of our free nerve endings and pain receptors.

4 Fascia

Fascia training Three exercises from Park Igls’ physiotherapist Alexander Ataii For best results, add these three exercises to your daily routine and do them when you can, whether it's during a break at the office or in the evenings in front of the television. Three sets of 20 is perfect!

Bounce, hop and jump on a soft surface. This works best on the kybun® mats in our gym, but you can also use an exercise mat or blanket as a base layer at home. Whether you move up and down, left to right or do jumping jacks like when you were a child, there are no limits to your imagination when it comes to this exercise. Just make sure that you always have a soft, springy landing.

This exercise requires a fascia roller, which is inexpensive and available from most sports shops. Position the roller on the wall and lean against it with all your weight. Begin to move the roller up and down by gently bending and straightening your knees. Change the position of the roller a few times to exercise your whole back.

We finish with a non-roller exercise to strengthen the muscles which are often weakened by sitting for long periods. Stand with your feet hip-width apart. Tilt your torso forwards and place your hands over your knees for support. Transfer your weight to one side and extend your other leg. Switch sides.

Fascia

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Even though fascia disorders are only just starting to be researched, it is already becoming clear that they are responsible for the majority of unexplained back pain – which is 80% of all back pain – so clearly a groundbreaking discovery! In this context, Dr Schleip speaks of ‘the body’s domino effect’ and points out that a knee injury, for example, can trigger shoulder pain several years down the line. ‘Think of it as a stretchy, skin-tight leotard: pull the bottom and you can feel it at the top,’ he explains.

Dietary over-acidification in particular wreaks serious fascial damage.

INACTIVITY AND POOR NUTRITION LEADS TO ADHESIONS Alongside over- or under-exercising, significant causes of fascial adhesions include stress, surgical scars, radiotherapy, bones that have too much time in a plaster cast and poor nutrition. Dietary overacidification in particular wreaks serious fascial damage. Why? Due to its high liquid content, fascia is particularly susceptible to any acid contained in extracellular fluid. Over-acidified connective tissue causes hardening, thereby impairing muscle activity, blood circulation and lymphatic flow. Acid also stimulates sensitive tissue and nerve endings to the point where inflammation and unexplained pain can be caused throughout the entire body.

Alkaline foods as offered by Modern Mayr cuisine at Park Igls can have direct and preventative effects.

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Fascias – it’s what’s inside that counts The entire human body is criss-crossed with elastic connective tissue called fascia.

Fascial adhesions can cause pain, which may become chronic if left untreated.

BACK

SHOULDERS

NECK

The lumbar fascia is the most likely cause of unexplained back pain.

Sitting at a desk for long periods carries a risk of neck and shoulder fascial adhesions and pain.

Thickened fascia tissue and adhesions, rather than muscles, are often the cause of pain.

GUT

HEAD

The gut contains an impressive fascial network. Research indicates that fascia may be linked to irritable bowel syndrome.

Three layers of connective tissue with many nerve endings and receptors make the skull extremely sensitive to pain.

HIP

HEART

The largest joint in the body is surrounded by a particularly complex network of connective tissue.

An excessive increase in the heart's connective tissue blocks muscle elasticity and can result in heart failure.

ACHILLES TENDON Adhesions in this region indicate strain or misalignment.

HEELS Heel spurs – a common complaint – are frequently associated with inflammation of the plantar fascia.

HANDS Rheumatoid arthritis in the knuckles often stems from localised fascia disorders.

Fascia

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A

Miracle

herbs From mugwort to birch to nettles, many herbs, wild plants and even tree leaves have incredible healing properties – and there is an abundance of them here in spring and summer. This is a great opportunity to put together your own natural medicine cabinet ready for when you get home. Park Igls herb expert Alexandra Federa tells us about her favourites.

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Miracle Herbs

lexandra Federa gently plucks the delicate daisy flowers from their stems and places them in a jar. ‘It’s amazing how many different ingredients they contain: bitter compounds, minerals, vitamins, tannins and, of course, chlorophyll, the energising antioxidant!’ explains the 41-year-old.

In 2015, the trained nurse qualified as a herbalist, and she now enjoys leading Park Igls’ guests on herb walks in the surrounding area. Interest in these walks, which generally last an hour, is growing, says Alexandra. With each walk, more and more people discover the centuries-old knowledge about the healing power of nature for themselves, and can begin applying it to their daily lives.

GREEN AND SO HEALTHY! Alexandra uses the plants foraged from her tours or grown in the garden to make teas, oils, tinctures, herb salts and ointments for use at home. They also make great gifts. Some recipes are complex and time-consuming, and better left to the professionals. Others are easy and straightforward for beginners to make. A good one to start with is delicious and healthy daisy butter made from foraged petals: carefully pluck the daisy petals, combine with softened butter and spread onto a slice of fresh farmhouse bread. Et voilà! Here are three more recipes from Alexandra’s herbal medicine cabinet…

Calendula

Common nettle

Calendula contains essential oils, bitter compounds, flavonoids and carotenoids. It eases swelling and has antibacterial, cleansing, wound-healing and warming properties. The pretty and easy-to-grow plants are therefore the perfect ingredient for a universal body oil that is as effective on dry, cracked skin as it is on small wounds or for soothing massages.

Nettle contains a number of flavonoids such as vitamins, iron, potassium and calcium. It is a diuretic, stimulates the metabolism and purifies the blood, making it perfect for spring! Don’t worry: the leaves lose their itchy, skin-irritating effect as soon as they hit the hot water.

NETTLE SPINACH Sauté an onion in oil, add half a glass of stock and 500g nettles. Cover and simmer for ten minutes, stirring occasionally. Season with salt, pepper and nutmeg, then purée with a hand blender. Garnish with a swirl of cream.

Tip: you can also blend the nettles with dumpling mixture to make light nettle dumplings.

Dandelion Dandelion is a truly magical herb which regulates digestion, purifies the system, cleanses the liver and gallbladder, promotes detoxification and mitigates rheumatic disorders. Dandelion is also the perfect all-round tonic. It contains high quantities of bitter compounds, vitamins A, C and E, as well as magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.

DANDELION TINCTURE Dig up young dandelion plants with their roots and wash thoroughly.

Use the fresh leaves in a salad (they contain nine times as much vitamin C as lettuce!). Cut the roots into small pieces and add to a screw-cap jar. Pour 2/3 alcohol from the pharmacy (70 %) onto 1/3 dandelion, and leave to steep for around four weeks. Strain. Take 20 drops of the tincture three times a day to help with rheumatic disorders and as a fortifying tonic.

CALENDULA OIL Remove the calendula petals and pour over virgin olive oil or almond oil in a ratio of one to three. Seal the vessel and leave to steep for four to five weeks.

Strain (a coffee filter works well), and then store the oil in a dark bottle.

Miracle Herbs

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Take a walk on the

wild side!

From rambler’s delight to in-demand trend sport: hiking is making a triumphant comeback and it’s mobilising the masses. Around 60% of Germans regularly lace up their walking shoes and grab their rucksacks, and this figure is set to rise!

We talked to our sports scientist Teresa Wiedemayr about why walking works, and how to get started.

‘

The faster the world turns, the more we crave slowness.’ Teresa Wiedemayr is convinced of it. This is why it is no surprise to her that interest in her guided Sunday walks is growing in these fastpaced times. ‘Things have changed in recent years,’ says Teresa, an East Tyrol native who has been our sports therapist and hiking guide since 2014. ‘I haven’t just noticed it on my Park Igls tours, but also when I'm with friends and family. Walking

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has now reached all social strata and age groups, and people are taking it more and more seriously.’

Her observations are in line with the latest results of a study by the German Sport University Cologne, which concluded that the average German walker is 42 years old, generally very well-equipped, and goes walking several times a month. Anyone who still thinks that walking is just for pensioners or school trips is labouring under a misapprehension.

Regular walking prevents diabetes, rheumatism, arthritis, venous diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and more.

WALKING EQUALS PROGRESS Walking doesn’t only express a desire for a slower pace of life – it's good for you too! Regular walking prevents diabetes, rheumatism, arthritis, venous diseases, high blood pressure, obesity, cardiovascular diseases and more. It is also a gentle yet effective form of endurance training, which works virtually every muscle group when hiking poles are used.

ing k l a W ons i t s e sugg T PAGE NEX

→

Finally, walking strengthens the immune system and is a silent killer of calories! Moderate to tough mountain walking burns around 400 calories per hour – more than cycling and almost as many as jogging. ‘Walking is gentle on the joints and suitable for beginners or anyone wanting to get moving again after a prolonged period of inactivity.

This is something I see all the time with the guests at Park Igls. Once they’ve been bitten by the bug, they tend to keep at it and really enjoy their new, healthy hobby,’ explains Teresa Wiedemayr. Regular walking not only helps you to get the better of your inner couch potato: it reduces stress, prevents burn-out, promotes the production of serotonin and can help to dispel chronic fatigue and depressive moods.

Are there any risks or side effects? Just aching muscles if you overdo it at first, and maybe a few blisters if your shoes don't fit well. In common with laughter and a healthy diet, it looks like walking is the best medicine…

Hiking

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Teresa's

favourite walks Looking for walking routes to explore during your next stay at Park Igls?

Our hiking guide has four suggestions.

Glacier views Start and end: Park Igls Distance: 5km Elevation difference: 80m Time: 1 hr 15 mins Difficulty rating: easy

A walk over the Igls Kurpark spa gardens along the Gletscherblick path towards Patsch. A simple route which can be extended. No steep inclines.

Across the moor to Lake Lans Start and end: Park Igls Distance: 4.5km Elevation difference: 70m Time: 1 hr Difficulty rating: easy

On the health retreat’s doorstep, Viller Moor offers stunning views of Lake Lans. If you still have energy when you get there, head on to Lanser Kopf (additional elevation gain: 100m).

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The villages Start and end: Park Igls Distance: 13km Elevation difference: 290m Time: 3 hrs Difficulty rating: easy

Take the Gletscherblick path towards Patsch into the Rosengarten nature reserve, then head through the Ullwald towards Sistrans and over the fields towards Lans. Walk past Lake Lans and continue via the Lans and Viller Moor back to Park Igls.

The Zirbenweg trail Start: Park Igls End: Tulfeinalm Distance: 7km Elevation difference: 300m (incl. 200m descent) Duration: 2 hrs 30 mins Difficulty rating: challenging

Take the Patscherkofel cable car to the upper terminus (the cable car station is a 10-minute walk from Park Igls).

From there, the well-signposted and stunning Zirbenweg trail runs above the tree line of the Tulfeinalm. Then head downhill on the Glungezer cable car, and take the bus back to Igls.

Hiking 

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Hypno-acupuncture The perfect blend The combination of medical hypnosis and acupuncture is a new form of therapy with impressive treatment outcomes, especially when it comes to long-term lifestyle change. Hypno-acupuncture at Park Igls is performed

by Dr Peter Gartner.

14  Hypno-acupuncture

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ne plus one equals two – but what adds up in maths doesn't seem to apply to hypno-acupuncture.

‘Hypno-acupuncture doesn't just add the two components together – they seem to multiply!’ explains Dr Peter Gartner, who is a qualified hypno-acupuncturist. The Medical Director started offering the revolutionary treatment at Park Igls in early 2017.

tiredness. However, the patient always remains in control of his or her senses and free will,’ explains Dr Gartner, who recommends carrying out a simple yet impressive experiment at home. ‘At night time, when you’re lying in bed and feeling relaxed, concentrate on the exact time you would like to wake up in the morning. Nine times out of ten, people wake up at the right time without an alarm.

That’s thanks to self-hypnosis.’

But what exactly is it? ‘While acupuncture accesses the physical body, and activates its self-healing abilities by stimulating specific points, medical hypnosis focuses on controlled access to the subconscious to bring about positive changes.

Hypno-acupuncture enables us to combine the two methods and intensify the results. Imagine hypno-acupuncture as a new bridge over a river.

Until it is built, everyone potters about on their own side. Then, suddenly, there is interaction and mutual support,’ explains Dr Gartner.

Hypno-acupuncture is especially useful for patients who are looking to change their lifestyle for the long term. ‘Giving up smoking and losing weight are the most popular reasons for trying hypno-acupuncture, but we achieve impressive results in combatting phobias and anxiety too.

Hypno-acupuncture can also help with tinnitus, irritable bowel syndrome and therapy-resistant pain,’ adds Dr Gartner. What’s more, it generally only takes two 60-minute treatments to fundamentally change behavioural patterns or eliminate triggers.

Hypno-acupuncture at Park Igls Hypno-acupuncture is available as an individual service and is particularly effective for: ∞∞ Smoking cessation ∞∞ Weight loss ∞∞ Treating anxiety disorders, phobias and therapy-resistant pain

Professional medical hypnosis is about placing patients in an inward-looking state.

∞∞ Tinnitus ∞∞ Sleep disorders ∞∞ Irritable stomach and bowel syndromes

Each hour-long treatment costs €248.

People often ask about the hypnotic trance states familiar to us from TV, because these images of vacant, passive subjects make many of us feel rather uncomfortable. ‘Professional medical hypnosis bears absolutely no resemblance to this gimmickry. It’s about placing patients in an inwardlooking state, and there is no loss of control at any point. The trance induced by medical hypnosis creates a feeling of deep relaxation and pleasant

Hypno-acupuncture

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Park Igls – now even more comfortable

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NEW INTERIORS

Our entrance lobby has had a gentle facelift, the Medical Reception has been revamped, as has the entrance to the Medical Department.

You’ll love the dining rooms’ fresh new interior design and lighting concept, which preserves the welcoming and relaxed atmosphere of these airy spaces with their wonderful views.

NEW INTERIORS

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Escape from the daily grind Switch off for a few bright summer days. Settle your body, mind and soul. Breathe in the clear air of the Tyrolean mountains and be well looked after at Park Igls. Our Summer Short Stay Programme is perfect for guests who don’t have time for a longer stay, or for those who simply want an effective rejuvenation treatment and an opportunity to get to know our ‘house in the park’.

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Short stay

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s it worth staying at Park Igls for just four days? Resident Medical Director Dr Peter Gartner is often asked this question. His response is clear: ‘Don’t expect intensive regeneration and long-term lifestyle change from such a short time, but four days are enough to get you away from the stresses of everyday life and your normal environment and to absorb some new ideas. A change of scene and climate benefits us on every level. Problems and worries recede, and the new surroundings as well as the pleasant mountain temperatures help us to sleep better at night and be more active during the day.’

‘Four days are just enough to lift you away from the stresses of everyday life and for absorbing new ideas.’

A short stay is the perfect way to brush up on the things you learned on your last Park Igls holiday.

‘This is especially important for guests who have been with us for longer stays and who recognise that they have fallen back into unhealthy eating habits. A few days of Modern Mayr cuisine can help to put them back on track,’ explains Dr Gartner.

The Summer Short Stay Programme is also a good starting point for a first visit. ‘Four days are ideal for new guests who are unfamiliar with Park Igls and unsure whether a longer stay would be right for them. A short break gives them the opportunity to get to know us and ask questions.’

Although short and sweet, a lot can be achieved in just four days at Park Igls!

y 4 - da r offe

Summer Short Stay Programme 1 June to 30 September 2017 ∞∞ Basic services including daily Kneipp treatments, personal Modern Mayr cuisine diet plan, mineral water, herbal tea and base broth, exercise sessions, active and passive anti-stress exercises, group lifestyle management and mental coaching sessions, lectures & presentations, use of swimming pool, sauna and gym. ∞∞ Initial examination – integrated 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 full body exfoliation 1 heat pack (moor or hay flowers) 1 Cleopatra pack 1 nourishing body pack 1 continuous shower massage 1 metabolic detox bath 1 liver compress with beeswax

€805 f or 4 days, excluding accommodation (from €148 pp/pn in a double room)

Short stay

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Breakfast like a king?

A book by a British biochemist has caused something of a stir by challenging a long-established principle of nutritional medicine. Breakfast, the sacred cow of dieticians, could be much less healthy than we previously thought. Our morning meal may, in fact, cause all kinds of diseases, from diabetes and arteriosclerosis to heart attacks. In other words, ‘breakfast is the new smoking’. Dr Peter Gartner subjects the book to critical review.

O

COMMENTS BY DR PETER GARTNER

ur common understanding of health has been gathered together in aphorisms and proverbs for hundreds – no, thousands – of years. Generations have heeded advice such as ‘an apple a day keeps the doctor away’, and The Yellow Emperor's Classic of Internal Medicine, or Huangdi Neijing, parts of which date back to 2700 BC, counsels: ‘Give your supper to your enemy’. This is also a Russian folk proverb: ‘Eat your breakfast yourself, share your dinner with a friend, give your supper to your enemy’. Contemporary nutritional science also recognises many reasons for prioritising breakfast over other meals.

In his latest book, Breakfast is a Dangerous Meal, British biochemist Terence Kealey posits the theory that breakfast could be the unhealthiest and

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Breakfast like a king?

most harmful of our daily meals. A diabetic, he bases this assertion on the blood sugar readings he takes regularly.

After breakfast – lo and behold – he found his blood sugar levels to be astronomically high. Based on this single observation – and in a somewhat adventurous scientific manner – Kealey developed his anti-breakfast theory and simultaneously declared all previously published studies on the subject to have been carried out on behalf of the (breakfast) food industry.

Here are the facts: a diabetic discovers that his blood sugar level increases after breakfast – what a surprise! No less surprising: the discovery that this fails to happen when he skips breakfast – a scientific genius! Surely?

So, what is the truth? Should we strike breakfast from our daily routine?

Or is doing away with supper, as recommended by Modern Mayr Medicine and supported by most health and anti-ageing experts, the healthier option? The answer lies in the interplay between three biochemical substances that significantly influence our lives: sugar, insulin and growth hormone.

A slightly reduced level of blood sugar – or insulin – triggers a silent alarm in the body. Everything switches to survival mode as old cell material is eliminated and the pituitary gland secretes growth hormone.

This stimulates the development of fresh cells, ensures their growth and initiates the body’s revitalisation. In other words, regular fasting periods are rejuvenating; experiments on animals indicate that 14 hours per day are sufficient.

Loosely based on Terence Kealey’s work, you could now argue that it doesn't matter which meal is missed as long as the fast lasts 14 hours. However, this is not the case: our pituitary gland will only produce growth hormones between midnight and 2am. Forgoing breakfast may well result in old cells dying, but there is no new growth or

‘

Eat your breakfast yourself, share your dinner with a friend, give your supper to your enemy.’

RUSSIAN PROVERB

rejuvenation. Only skipping the evening meal leads to the increased, anti-ageing secretion of growth hormones.

So, what does this mean in practice?

Simply this:

1.

Cancel dinner whenever you can do this without dramatic withdrawal symptoms – two or three times a week should do it.

2.

When a generous dinner is unavoidable, skip breakfast the following day.

The word ‘breakfast’ literally means ‘to break a fast’, so we should breakfast after a fasting period of at least 14 hours as a fast cannot be broken without first fasting! If breakfast is the new smoking, we could argue that supper is the new cannabis!

Breakfast like a king?

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Endoscopy screening Don't give disease a chance Bowel cancer is the second most common type of cancer in Europe, reflux is practically a pandemic, and the Helicobacter pylori bacteria is a contributor to stomach and duodenal ulcers. Endoscopies assist in the prevention or early detection of these diseases.

22 Interview

ENDOSCOPY (From the Greek: endo – within – and skope – to view or observe) and literally means ‘to look inside’.

In medicine, the term refers to scrutinising the recesses of the body with the help of a tubular optical instrument (endoscope).

I

n our conversation with Asst Prof Dr Franz Aigner, surgeon and consulting physician at Park Igls, and our Medical Director Dr Peter Gartner, we have focused on endoscopy, the procedure that allows us to explore the digestive tract from above – gastroscopy – and from below – colonoscopy.

These methods offer a simple, painless and vital approach to prevention. The experts also share their tips on preventing oesophageal, stomach and bowel diseases.

We’re onto something when we talk about having ‘gut feelings’: ‘The link between digestion and the psychovegetative system is even part of colloquial speech,’ says Prof Aigner at the start of our interview, as he stresses the importance of a healthy gut for the entire body’s wellbeing.

Diseases of the large intestine Prof Dr Aigner: After breast cancer in women and prostate cancer in men, colon cancer is the second most common type of cancer for both sexes. The good news is that in 95% of cases, there are recognisable, benign precursors – polyps – although one type – adenomas – has a tendency to malignancy.

Dr Gartner: Polyps often cause no symptoms, so patients tend not to be aware of them. This makes colonoscopy even more essential after a certain age.

Aigner: A colonoscopy enables me to determine whether a patient has polyps, and a biopsy clarifies their status. The stool guaiac test, which forms part of preventive medical examinations, tells us whether blood is present in a patient's stool; although this can also be the case if they took iron tablets or ate red meat a few days prior to taking their sample. A colonoscopy to examine the intestine is the only way to be sure.

history of bowel cancer, their first examination should have taken place before the age at which the affected family member was diagnosed.

Patients with inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis or Crohn's disease should be examined for potential malignant development within ten years of the first symptoms occurring, with follow-up examinations every five to seven years. I recommend follow-up examinations every three years for adenomas, and every five years for polyps and patients with family history. Polyps grow extremely slowly, so endoscopists can only identify them around three years after they develop.

Gartner: Many different factors determine how and when we proceed with further bowel cancer screening measures. This is why I value my collaboration with Professor Aigner so much. He always assesses the histological results before recommending when further tests should be conducted, and makes his recommendations in a way that is clear to the patient. The initial consultation is also important, which is when we cover a patient’s medical history and clarify medical and financial details. The preparation for the colonoscopy is also important to remember – this is often the most unpleasant part of the process from the patient’s point of view.

‘Polyps often cause no symptoms. This makes colonoscopy even more essential after a certain age.’

Prof Dr Aigner

How often should you have a colonoscopy?

Aigner: I’d say people should have their first examination when they reach 50, unless they belong to a risk group. If a patient has a family

Interview

23

‘Early detection gives bowel cancer patients a much improved survival rate and a better quality of life.’ Prof Dr Aigner

Aigner: The patient is given a special laxative to clear the intestine in preparation for the examination.

Gartner: Our guests are on the Mayr programme, so they have less of this drink as their intestine is already relatively clear.

Preventing bowel cancer and polyps Gartner: We know that the genetic information in intestinal bacteria stimulates the growth of polyps, but the causes of polyps and bowel cancer are still not entirely clear. Foods high in calories and low in fibre combined with alcohol, nicotine and excess weight are some of the established risk factors involved in stimulating the development of bowel diseases.

Aigner: Western lifestyle habits, which include nutrition, stress and lack of exercise, can also lead to bowel cancer. The number of new cases in Austria has dropped by around 25% over the last ten years, and the mortality rate has been reduced by at least 35%. Early detection gives bowel cancer patients a much improved survival rate and a better quality of life. Nevertheless, the numbers are still too high.

The rectum and haemorrhoids (piles) Gartner: Haemorrhoids are rarely anything to worry about, but one in two of our patients reported having them. A conservative treatment that I recommend reduces pressure in the abdomen with high-fibre, low-calorie foods that deal with constipation. Avoid toilet paper as far as possible, and keep the area clean with soap and water.

24 Interview

Aigner: I advise against operating at an early stage because the healing process takes a long time. I tell my patients they should take their time – and a newspaper – when they go to the loo, as bowel function only engages when we are relaxed. Having a hip bath once or twice a week combined with regular bowel movements will also help to alleviate symptoms.

Diseases of the small intestine Aigner: Food intolerances originate in the small intestine. As there are no interior pain receptors in the intestine, discomfort only occurs when its exterior – the peritoneum – becomes inflamed.

Complications following surgery or injury can therefore lead to painful peritonitis that affects the exterior of the small intestine. Carcinomas, lymphomas and neuroendocrine tumours (NET) are rare, likewise adenomas. Juvenile polyps, which cause pain and bleeding, are also rare.

‘Foods high in calories and low in fibre combined with alcohol, nicotine and excess weight are some of the risk factors.’

Prof Dr Aigner

Reflux – a pandemic Gartner: Roughly a third to a quarter of our patients report that they suffer from some type of reflux.

Aigner: Reflux used to be described as heartburn – which is actually one of the symptoms – and is a common complaint that is primarily triggered by fatty foods. A certain amount of gastro-oesophageal regurgitation is normal, but when this is healthy, the movement of the oesophagus allows the chyme to return to the stomach. If the oesophagus does not move sufficiently, or too much chyme travels back up from the stomach, the result is discomfort and reflux.

Distinguishing between discomfort and disease

↓ COLONOSCOPY is a painless procedure that doesn't take more than half an hour.

Aigner: We speak of gastro-oesophageal reflux disease when stomach acids attack the gullet’s mucosa. This is treated by reducing the stomach acid. When symptoms are present, but the endoscopy has failed to reveal anything, further investigation is called for. It may be a case of a particularly sensitive oesophagus. On the other hand, the pain could also be caused by the heart.

Gartner: We prefer to treat this complaint without resorting to drugs. Switching to a diet based on

Overview INTESTINAL MICROBIOME The term microbiome describes the entirety of all microorganisms that can populate the skin’s surface, the mouth and the intestine.

Microbiomes are currently subject to intense scientific study and we still have much to find out about them. ‘It will be extremely interesting to see what science uncovers in the next 20 years,’ adds Dr Peter Gartner. What is already known is that the gut alone houses around 2kg of microbiomes – millions of different species, billions of individual microorganisms – that are essential to health and wellbeing. Gartner continues, ‘All bacteria are made up of genetic material. As this is not known to us, the causes of diseases such as bowel cancer remain outside our grasp for now.’

SMALL INTESTINE The small intestine is several metres long and extremely elastic. This is where most of the end absorption of food takes place, and only those substances – both nutritious and harmful – that penetrate the intestinal lining enter the bloodstream. ‘The small intestine feeds us,’ is how Prof Aigner explains the function of this part of the gastrointestinal tract. Around 70% of the cells that are responsible for our immune system are to be found in the intestine, primarily in the small intestine. Although the small intestine is often thought of as a ‘black box’, its length means that only around 40–50cm of it can be examined by gastroscopic means.

LARGE INTESTINE This is where the water is extracted from the chyme that has passed through the small intestine. The mucosa of the large intestine is even thinner than that of the small intestine, and the large intestine is where 95% of the type of polyps (adenomas) that are responsible for bowel cancer develop. The final 30cm of the large intestine make up the rectum. This leads to the anal canal and finally the anus. The term haemorrhoids refers to swelling of the rectal venous plexus around the anus. There are no pain receptors inside the intestine, which is why screening is so important.

Interview

25

‘People who suffer from reflux should stop taking food or drink three to four hours before they go to bed.’ Prof Dr Aigner

Mayr Medicine reduces pressure in the abdomen.

Reflux tends to occur when people are lying down, because in this position the lower part of the oesophagus is higher than the upper part. A second pillow or propping up the bed frame at the head end can be very helpful.

Aigner: People who suffer from these complaints should stop taking food or drink three to four hours before they go to bed. Reducing stomach acid with medication does not change the reflux mechanism, but it does remove the acidity from the ructus, thereby protecting the oesophagus.

The issue can only be resolved fully by means of lifestyle changes.

‘Lifestyle is integral to prevention, symptom relief and healing.’ Dr Gartner

.

26 Interview

Helicobacter pylori Aigner: This bacterium is commonly found in the stomach, where it lives under the mucus but outside of the mucus membrane. Helicobacter pylori causes ulcers; sores on the membrane that can even cause perforations – holes – in the membrane wall. It is interesting that Helicobacter pylori only appears in the stomach, and yet it is a primary cause of duodenal ulcers. The answer to this riddle is probably found in pockets of stomach lining inside the duodenum.

Gartner: Helicobacter pylori can be identified before an ulcer forms, but the only way to obtain certainty is by conducting a gastroscopy and taking a small tissue sample. Neither a breath test nor a blood test is suitable for reliable ulcer identification.

Aigner: A gastroscopy, which is entirely painless, is not part of routine screening unless a patient is suffering from symptoms or has a family history.

However, we recommend diagnostic testing by means of a gastroscopy for gastritis-type complaints such as nausea, ructus and pain. A breath test is most useful to check whether treatment has been

successful. Contrary to common practice, I recommend waiting two or three months after treatment before conducting a breath test. This is the only way to be sure that the bacteria are actually eliminated and not merely suppressed.

Treating and preventing Helicobacter pylori Aigner: A medication-based combination therapy with a 70–80 % cure rate is recommended, since reinfection after successful elimination of the bacteria is extremely rare. This is why Helicobacter pylori-associated diseases are in sharp decline here.

Gartner: We don’t know if there is a link between Helicobacter pylori and diet.

Aigner: We are certain, however, that the risk increases as we get older. We also know that alcohol and nicotine stimulate acidification and the corrosion of stomach lining. And Helicobacter diseases are also linked to poor oral hygiene.

Conclusion Gartner: We have investigated the digestive tract from top to bottom, and always come to the same conclusion. Aside from risk factors such as family history and external influences, lifestyle is integral to prevention, symptom relief and healing.

A healthy diet – rich in fibre, low in calories, digestible evening meals, a break of three or four hours between eating and going to bed – is vital. As is taking good care of our teeth. Aerobic exercise such as walking, in combination with sensible stress management – which includes preventing constipation by taking our time over bowel movements – are small changes to our everyday lives that improve our health.

Asst Prof Dr Franz Aigner From 1982 until 2013, Dr Aigner was a consultant at Innsbruck University Hospital’s Department for General and Transplant Surgery. Starting in 1985, he also ran the outpatient clinic for surgical endoscopy (diagnostics and therapy). In 1990, he introduced minimally invasive surgery at Innsbruck University Hospital, a first for Austria. Prof Aigner also founded the working group for obesity surgery in Innsbruck back in 1996, and ran it until 2013 when he retired from Innsbruck University Hospital. Since then he has been running a surgery in Innsbruck with in-patient beds at Sanatorium Kettenbrücke for endoscopies and surgery.

Interview

27

The Mayr way

to better golf

By Minty Clinch

T

hanks to Tiger Woods, professional golf is no longer a game where heavyweights routinely win major championships. In his magic spell between 1997, when he ran away with his first Masters title at Augusta, and 2008, when he won his last US Open, the American re-wrote the rules for physical fitness on the course and moderation off it. In the millennium years, when billionaire entrepreneur, J. P. McManus, regularly invited top players to enjoy hospitality in his native Ireland before the British Open Championship in July, Tiger would come face to face with his rivals as they returned from the pub during his morning run along the shore. While they slept, he'd join his host in his helicopter, playing three or four links courses a day.

Small wonder he was a winner.

Fifteen years later, his fitness routines are standard practice at the top of the game. And, as champions are role models for lesser mortals, at the bottom is where I am. Tiger would certainly approve of the Park Igls, a luxury Kur cocoon with sophisticated health procedures, a golf programme and no alcohol licence. Hang on a minute before you write it off. Getting lighter, healthier and fitter is never a quick fix: you have to make a habit of it. Many Europeans take an annual week's Kur (cure), then incorporate what they've learned into their daily lives. Provided they have the dedication, they may also play better golf.

With this in mind, I check into the Health Retreat Park Igls, a resort village above Innsbruck. Sparkling white inside and out, with spacious rooms and suites overlooking impressive Alps, it is

28 Golf

dedicated to detox as prescribed by Franz Xaver Mayr, an early 20th century Austrian proselytiser whose doctrines sprung from his belief that 'the gut is the root system of the human body'. A century later, Dr Peter Gartner has taken up the torch as the Park Igls prepares to celebrate 25 years in the Mayr business in 2018. 'Not obese', he pronounces with a wide smile as he measures height, weight and bmi (body mass index) during my first check up. As obesity begins at 30, 29.4 is a close call so I'm not surprised to find myself on a level four food combining diet when I join my fellow guests in the dining room.

‘

Getting lighter, healthier and fitter is never a quick fix: you have to make a habit of it.’ MINTY CLINCH

On the Mayr scale, level zero is fasting and level seven the most lavish so this sounds relatively generous, but my pumpkin soup comes in a tiny china bowl, with a spoon so shallow that it takes ten minutes to finish it. As it should because the first lesson according to Mayr is eat super slow. Next up, two crispbreads and a ball of trout pate, which I conscientiously chew to pulp before swallowing. The theory that the gut likes this pre-digestive technique

because it leaves it with less work to do certainly passes the logic test.

As this phantom feast must be consumed by 7pm, it's a long time till breakfast. After a walk up to the viewing point in the recreation park, I virtuously pick a glass from a row labelled bitterwasser and watch television in my room. Most guests are German, Swiss or Austrian but growing British interest over the last three years is reflected in a variety of English-language channels.

The bitterwasser, diluted with hot water and drunk half an hour before breakfast as instructed, is a cataclysmic purgative from the Epsom Salts school.

Anticipate a couple of hours of speedy exits as it rampages cleansingly through the guts. For most, the morning is a time for pampering, but don't book the Terra-Vit full body wrap, a treatment that requires head to foot incarceration in wet bandages for an hour and a half, until the salts have had time to accomplish detoxification via liver and gall bladder. A body massage is a much safer starting point: therapists and masseurs are accustomed to pauses for urgent need so it's not embarassing to ask and exit fast.

The core of the Park Igls agenda is the basic seven day programme, with three medical assessments, daily Kneipp treatments (body part baths at contrasting temperatures), a diet plan, use of swimming pool, sauna and panoramic gym, plus a wide selection of group activities and lectures (with simultaneous English translation). In a single day, I had the choice of aqua aerobics, Nordic Walking, gymnastics for the feet and skills training – tips on how to overcome my lack of will power.

And golf, of course. In line with my mission, I zoned in on the 50 minute introductory session, its emphasis on perfecting the short game on the well prepared putting green next to the chef's herb and vegetable gardens.

Hanni Gartner, therapist and athletic 15 handicapper, displayed commendable patience and enthusiasm as she

demonstrated chipping basics to me and my four fellow students. She may not have been optimistic about what she saw, but my chipping has been unsually accurate since I returned home.

The following day, we tried to up our levels with her pre-shot preparation for a proper golf swing, something I've never managed to achieve. She also introduced routines using therabands (colour-coded resistance strips as used in physiotherapy) and large rubber balls to strengthen swing planes and improve balance.

Those who want to spend more time on their game can sign up for a dedicated golf add-on to the basic package. Golf@Mayr, available between June and September, includes three green fees at neighbouring Rinn and Lans courses, body massages and a beeswax liver compress. TheMedGolf® takes a more physical perspective, with golf-specific functional analysis and coordination training, pre-shot exercise modules and lessons with a pro. The Park Igls is promoting two and three night Girls-Only Golf! weekends between June and October, with packages that cover

green fees, body massage and a therapeutic treatment of choice.

Experienced players often book a final Friday tee time at Achensee, the oldest course in the Tyrol dating back to 1934. Despite being surrounded by mountains, it is very walkable, with lush fairways winding along the valleys. Best avert your eyes from the 19th hole, a clubhouse loved by the members for its excellent food. As far as the Park Igls guests are concerned, this is the no chance saloon: your minder will have you back in the minibus long before you can say 'Ein grosses Bier, bitte', let alone 'Wiener Schnitzel mit Pommes (chips)'.

Park Igls’ extensive portfolio has male and female health check weeks.

Individual services range from physical therapies and pampering treatments to diagnostic heart and cancer screening.

Supplementary activities (extra charges apply) include an Innsbruck city tour, a visit to the Riedel crystal factory, Modern Mayr cookery courses on site and evening outings to the Tyrolean State Theatre – Oliver was the production during my week.

Book whatever takes your fancy – but don't miss lunch. This is the main meal of the day, a showcase for the considerable talents of Markus Sorg, the 31-year-old head chef who learned his trade during his teens as an apprentice in his grandmother's Tyrolean restaurant in Innsbruck. His tasty take on food combining may mean rare sliced duck breast or grilled char accompanied by assorted minature vegetables. The results are mouthwatering, but portions disappoint. Gratifyingly, my final medical check revealed a weight loss of 2.10 kilos. So lucky I'd never dared ask for more.

‘

Book whatever takes your fancy – but don't miss lunch.’

MINTY CLINCH

Golf

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Fat

So much better than its reputation

Avocado, nuts, seeds and salmon provide valuable vitamins, as well as Omega-6 and Omega-3 fatty acids.

30 Fat

Fats protect blood vessels, keep cells elastic, are involved in the production of vital hormones, are an important source of energy and ensure that vitamins A, D, E and K and carotene can be absorbed by the body. We need fats for our survival – and they are healthy. But it is, of course, important to eat the right types and the right amount of them. We have compiled the key fat facts to help you get enough of the healthy kind.

F

at is not just fat. According to the formula, fat is glycerol + fatty acids. Fatty acids are molecule chains of varying lengths that consist primarily of carbohydrate atoms. Unsaturated fatty acids are characterised by the number of carbohydrate atoms and the number and position of the double bonds in their structure. Saturated fats have a different number of carbohydrate atoms and do not have any double bonds. The latter are present in particularly high concentrations in foods such as meat, sausages, bacon, rich cheese and cream.

Saturated fats are a problem, as they not only accumulate visibly around the hips, but also increase LDL cholesterol levels in the blood. The consequences include blocked arteries and arteriosclerosis, as well as higher heart attack and stroke risks. Furthermore, fatty tissue can become inflamed, which has wideranging consequences, from metabolic syndrome to liver Saturated fats are cirrhosis. Nevertheless, saturated fat is not necessarily bad. The not a problem as nervous system, for example, such; but consuming uses it as a messenger substance. large amounts can Saturated fats are not a problem as such; but consuming large damage health. amounts can damage health! No more than 10% of our daily calorie intake (around a third of our daily fat intake) should be made up of saturated fats. That’s 27g for an average total energy requirement of 2,400 kcal per day. The remaining 53g of the daily fat allowance can then be in the form of unsaturated fats, such as those often found in liquid vegetable oils.

The body can process and digest unsaturated fats much more easily.

SATURATED OR UNSATURATED? MONO OR POLY? The body can process and digest unsaturated fats much more easily. Sources of simple unsaturated fatty acids include healthy olive oil, rapeseed oil and nuts. Unsaturated fats keep cell membranes elastic and are good for the metabolism. Moreover, simple unsaturated fats can also lower cholesterol levels.

The body uses polyunsaturated fatty acids (which are extracted from food rather than produced by the body itself) to produce hormonelike regulators that perform many vital metabolic functions. Depending on their chemical make-up, these are called either Omega-3 or Omega-6 fatty acids. Salmon, tuna, mackerel, herring, rapeseed oil, walnut oil and linseed oil are particularly high in Omega-3 fatty acids. They lower triglyceride levels in the blood, protect against arteriosclerosis and reduce inflammation caused by rheumatism.

Higher concentrations of good Omega-6 fatty acids, which can also help to lower cholesterol levels, can be found in vegetable oils such as safflower, soya, peanut, corn and wheatgerm oils.

As most people lack Omega-3 and have too much Omega-6 fatty acids, it is vital to get the right balance. The ideal ratio is one to five, so please eat less Omega-6 fatty acids and more Omega-3!

Fat 

31

It is vital to get the right balance between Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids.

We should try to avoid trans-fatty acids altogether, even though they also belong to the unsaturated fatty acids category. They are the result of industrial vegetable oil hydrogenation and are popular with food producers because they make their products longer-lasting, pliable and heatstable. Trans fats are present in almost all convenience foods – from your breakfast cereals in the morning to instant soups in the evening – but they can also be found in baked goods and deep fried foods. Consuming too much trans fat increases the risk of raised blood fat levels and the chance of developing cardiovascular diseases. It is no surprise, then, that nutrition experts and consumer advisers have both called for a ban on trans fats. Unfortunately, it is not easy to avoid them when shopping as there are currently no legal requirements for food manufacturers to label trans fats. However, the term ‘hydrogenated fats’ on a list of ingredients is a sure indication of cheap, unhealthy fats. Keep away from them!

CHOLESTEROL – UNFAIRLY FROWNED UPON Caution is also required when it comes to cholesterol, which is a fat-like substance. Twothirds of it is produced in the liver, while the remaining third should come from our daily nutrition. For years, cholesterol in food was thought to be much more dangerous than recent research has established. Despite this, we are still told not to have too much of it. Fatty meat, sausages and dairy products are key foods to avoid, as the saturated fat they contain is highly calorific.

FAT FACTS The belief that fat is bad and makes us fat (the clue is in the name) has led to a proliferation of low-fat foods and ‘light’ products in our supermarkets and kitchens. The consequences of this change should give us plenty of food for thought, as there have never been so many overweight people as there are today. Unfortunately, these touted ‘light’ products can damage our health because they generally contain synthetic fats, which are proven to increase both appetite and weight.

So how do we identify genuinely good, healthy fats? Healthy fats are derived from healthy plants, and are mostly cold-pressed and processed very gently, as this is the only way to preserve their concentration of nutrients. Moreover, the source of a healthy fat leaves its signature behind. You can literally smell it: a top-quality, first-press olive oil smells of olives. Only if the smell is right can you be sure it will deliver its many benefits. Incidentally... high-quality olive oil is not only delicious, but its oleuropein content means that it has antimicrobial effects, lowers blood pressure and sugar levels, widens blood vessels, reduces inflammation and regulates the heart. This small Mediterranean fruit really packs a punch!

Healthy fats are derived from healthy plants, and are mostly cold-pressed and processed very gently.

32 Fat

Cold-pressed vegetable oils are a source of high quality fats but mustn't be overheated during cooking.

GOOD SOURCES OF FAT Another excellent source of fat is the avocado. It provides the body with vitamins A and E, and is a great source of energy. Alternatively, you could turn to nuts and seeds, which also offer a quick and easy source of healthy fats. Their fat and nutrient content will vary depending on the type, so it's best to either mix them up yourself or have a handful of good old trail mix.

Just have a handful of good old trail mix.

Fat 

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An instruction manual for life Whether we are looking to maintain diet success, overcome challenges at work or follow through on good intentions, our personal victories and defeats are often decided in our heads. Mental coaching as provided by Park Igls can help you define and achieve your goals. This summer, we are offering the Detox & Mental Coaching & Feldenkrais® @Mayr package for anyone wishing to really get to grips with this beneficial process. Our in-house Clinical and Health Psychologist Thomas Blasbichler explains how positive belief systems can change your everyday life, and gives us his ten golden rules of motivation.

W

hat is essential for my happiness and contentment? What are my objectives? In what ways do I self-sabotage? These are some of the questions that Thomas Blasbichler discusses with the participants of his weekly mental coaching modules at Park Igls. His goal: ‘I aim to show that anything is possible with a modicum of mental strength, discipline and clearly defined targets. ‘Get out of your comfort zone and start a new life’ is the byword.’

What may at first glance seem radical and difficult is in fact easy to put into daily practice at home with simple techniques. ‘Take the struggle with weight loss, which is a major and enduring issue for many of our guests.

The first step is to work together on finding out whether there is an underlying problem. Does the guest eat more when frustrated or stressed?

Could boredom or overwork be the culprits? Are there unprocessed emotions and experiences that cause him/her to slip back into old, unhelpful patterns of behaviour? This gentle approach to enquiry is important before we can progress to the next stage, which is when we identify individual risk and protection factors. From there, we move on to developing effective methods to improve how certain situations or stimuli are dealt with in future.

One method is visualisation.

Memorising particularly pleasant images that you can quickly recall in stressful situations will help you calm down and direct your mind away from the stress trigger. It could be a mountain meadow in bloom, a deserted beach with crashing waves or a forest with chirping birds and the wind rustling through the treetops – basically, any image that evokes a sense of beauty and serenity.

‘Get out of your comfort zone and start a new life!’

If snacking is a problem, stick a picture of a beer-bellied man on the fridge door as a reminder to your resolve. Alternatively, use this triedand-tested psychological trick: ‘If you are struck down with a ravenous craving for food or a cigarette, one response is to give in to it. On the other hand, you could replace the feeling with another strong stimulus like a strong mint or some chilli-spiced nuts. This often represses the original desire,’ Blasbichler explains. It generally takes around 30 days to rid yourself of bad habits with this kind of method. Although you will not be immune to relapses, ‘You should factor them in and stay relaxed as you deal with them. Relapses are simply part of life,’ he says.

‘You should factor them in and stay relaxed as you deal with them. Relapses are simply part of life.’

Whether you seek to improve your work-life balance, increase motivation levels or give up bad habits, mental coaching can achieve astonishing results – especially if you work on it more intensively. ‘Detox & Mental Coaching & Feldenkrais®@Mayr offers a great opportunity as it includes two 50minute one-to-one mental coaching sessions. This module also takes an interdisciplinary approach, which means that, the Feldenkrais® therapist may provide advice on physical blocks, that can help me identify issues more quickly, and tackle them in greater depth,’ explains the mental coach.

Thomas Blasbichler has set out ten golden rules of motivation for those looking to work on their own mental coaching. Our tip: make sure they’re always to hand by keeping a copy in your bedside cabinet, purse or wallet!

Thomas Blasbichler (MA) CLINICAL AND HEALTH PSYCHOLOGIST, COACH Thomas Blasbichler is a clinical and health psychologist who has specialised in prevention and stabilisation of mental health disorders. He is also a qualified sports psychologist and focuses primarily on dealing with injury (mental processing procedures and coping strategies), dealing with stress and anxiety (stress processing mechanisms) and motivation.

An instruction manual for life

35

10 golden rules of motivation THOMAS BLASBICHLER (MA)

1 BE AS SPECIFIC AS POSSIBLE. ‘I want to eat more healthily’ isn’t a good resolution because it is too vague.

How exactly do you want to eat more healthily? When? What do you need to do to achieve it?

2 WRITE IT DOWN. Resolutions are quickly forgotten when you get back to everyday life and don’t get daily reminders of your aims and objectives. A note in the bathroom or on the fridge can be really helpful.

3 A PROBLEM SHARED IS A PROBLEM HALVED. A training partner, a comrade-in-arms, a friend to support you when you’re struggling can help ensure success.

4 DOCUMENT YOUR PROGRESS. There is no greater motivator than success, so keep a food or training diary in which you only record progress and positive interim results.

5 FACTOR IN SETBACKS. Resolutions are made quickly, and without recognising that there will be difficulties, problems and setbacks along the way. Factor in the unexpected from the start. This will make it easier to take issues in your stride when they arise.

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An instruction manual for life

6 BECOME A CREATURE OF HABIT. A new resolution must be worked on daily for 30 days before it becomes a habit that you no longer need to think about.

7 HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOUR. If you take a grimly determined attitude towards achieving your goals, the likelihood is you won’t stick at it for long. A bit of humour and self-deprecation considerably increases the likelihood of success.

8 GET YOUR NEAREST AND DEAREST INVOLVED. Fancy exercising more? OK, but that also means having less time for your family and friends. To avoid annoying your nearest and dearest, why not get them involved too?! Give them tasks! Make your environment a part of your goals.

9 INCORPORATE YOUR GOALS INTO EVERYDAY LIFE. Don’t plan your resolutions for the weekend or evenings; work towards them throughout your daily life.

Choose the vegetable basket over the biscuit tin, take the stairs rather than the lift. It’s so easy to change small aspects of your everyday routine.

Detox & Mental Coaching & Feldenkrais®@Mayr 11 to 18 June 2017 ∞∞ Basic services including daily Kneipp treatments, personal Modern Mayr cuisine diet plan, mineral water, herbal tea and base broth, exercise sessions, active and passive anti-stress exercises, group lifestyle management and mental coaching sessions, lectures & presentations, use of swimming pool, sauna and gym. ∞∞ Initial examination – integrated health check (30 mins) ∞∞ 1 medical examination – manual abdominal treatment (20 mins) ∞∞ Concluding examination (30 mins) ∞∞ 5 Feldenkrais® group lessons (60 mins each) ∞∞ 2 one-to-one mental coaching sessions (50 mins each) ∞∞ 5 partial body massages (25 mins each) ∞∞ 1 liver compress with beeswax

10 BUILD ON YOUR KNOWLEDGE. Studies on motivation and behavioural psychology have shown that making and keeping resolutions is much more difficult than people think. If you really care about your resolutions, learn more. There are currently around 25,000 books on the subject of motivation.

€1,560 per week excluding accommodation.

Add-on service: €503 5 Feldenkrais® group lessons (60 mins each) and 2 one-to-one mental coaching sessions (50 mins each)

Did you know that... ... our MEDI BLOG is on the new website?

This is where you can read about current medical issues and we share our delicious Modern Mayr cuisine recipes.

You’ll also find us on Facebook! ... we have a new website?

Find our brand new Internet presence at www.park-igls.at In addition to the latest information about offers and services, you can now book treatment modules online.

IMPRINT Responsible for content: Gesundheitszentrum Igls GmbH Igler Strasse 51, 6080 Innsbruck-Igls Tel +43 512 377 305 Fax +43 512 379 225 info@park-igls.at www.park-igls.at CONCEPT AND DESIGN Studio Roth&Maerchy AG, Zürich

38

Did you know that...

... everything you need to play Bridge is available in the library? Members of Innsbruck’s Bridge Club will be delighted to make up a Bridge party with you.

... JOGGING IS NOT THE ONLY WAY TO WORK UP A SWEAT? TABLE TENNIS IS A HIGHLY EFFECTIVE FORM OF EXERCISE AND IS NOW PART OF OUR EXERCISE ACTIVITY PROGRAMME.

EDITORIAL Andrea Gnägi (Mag), Dr Peter Gartner, Asst Prof Dr Franz Aigner, Thomas Blasbichler (Mag), Alexander Ataii, Alexandra Federa, Teresa Wiedemayr, Claudia Reichenberger, Michael Weiss, Helene Forcher (Mag), Ingrid Striednig, Minty Clinch PHOTOGRAPHY Jack Coble, Ingrid Striednig, Martina Meier, Klaus Defner, Fred Einkemmer, Maricruz

Aguilar, Innsbruck Tourismus (picture p. 12 / 13), TVB Tirol West / Daniel Zangerl (picture p. 10) COPY-EDITING Erika Krammer-Riedl, Mattsee 3,000 copies © April 2017 Printed on Cyclus Print made from 100% recycled fibres In compliance with RAL UZ 14

Accommodation rates Single rooms Double rooms* Suites* Park Igls Suite (for up to 5 people)

€153 – €345 €148 – €250 €273 – €392 €1,190

Prices are per person per night; treatments are not included. * For single occupancy on request. Discounts: 5 % for stays of 2 weeks or more, 10 % for stays of 3 weeks or more.

Therapeutic modules THE BASIC PROGRAMME Forms the basis of our treatment service and an integral part of every treatment module

€907

MAYR CLASSIC Get to know Modern Mayr Medicine

€1,171

MAYR INTENSIVE For a thorough detox and optimal health results

€1,588

MAYR DE-STRESS Slow down and restore your energy flow

€1,750

MUSCULOSKELETAL SYSTEM Treatment of back disorders, restores mobility

€1,542

HEART & CIRCULATION Positive effect on risk factors such as stress, obesity and high blood pressure

€1,652

METABOLISM AND DETOX For food intolerances, allergies, burnout and sleep disorders

€1,757

Special offer DETOX ON THE RUN

€1,454

Special offer KYBUN®@MAYR

€1,347

Special offer MODERN MAYR MEDICAL CHECK

€3,676

Diagnostic module SUPER MEDICAL CHECK

€2,078

Diagnostic module MEN'S MEDICAL CHECK

€2,448

Diagnostic module PREVENTATIVE ULTRASOUND

Medical team at Park Igls

€998

Prices are per person per week and exclude room rates.

Prices for additional weeks on request.

Prices and services valid until 16 Dec 2017.

Offers & treatment modules overwiew

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Offer

Girls-Only Golf!

1 June to 31 October 2017 ∞∞ 1 or 2 green fees

LADIES FIRST

A ladies’ weekend of golf at Park Igls

∞∞ 1 full body massage (50 mins) ∞∞ 1 treatment of your choice: - Terra-Vit full body wrap - Body wrap - Thalasso pack -F ull body exfoliation or nourishing body pack ∞∞ Exercise and relaxation classes

On your own or with your besties: enjoy a fabulous girls’ weekend away at Park Igls! Green fees, spa, exercise classes, relaxation sessions, and healthy and delicious Modern Mayr cuisine are all included! These healthy golfing breaks are available from Thursdays or Fridays to Sundays.

∞∞ Daily Kneipp treatments (leg, arm or seated contrast baths)

Thanks to our on-site chipping green and two nearby golf courses in Rinn (18-hole championship course) and Lans (9-hole course), Park Igls is simply the perfect setting for your ladies’ golf weekend. During your stay, enjoy the use of all the facilities at our internationally renowned and award-winning medi-spa, as well as the beauty treatments and massages that are included in the offer package. Our talented Head Chef Markus Sorg indulges your taste buds with the variety of our Modern Mayr cuisine.

∞∞ Modern Mayr cuisine

Tip: book lessons with our pros for an extra charge.

∞∞ Use of swimming pool, sauna and panoramic gym

∞∞ Mineral water, herbal tea and base broth

€1,118 3 nights (Thursday to Sunday) Includes additional partial body massage (25 mins), 2 green fees and 3 nights in a superior single room

€759 2 nights (Friday to Sunday) Includes 1 green fee and 2 nights in a superior single room

Health Retreat Park Igls | 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