I’ve been travelling to Austria for the ‘Mayr cure’ since 2009 — an experience that has been pivotal not only in my professional development, but in my own health journey too.
My first visit to the Viva Mayr clinic wasn’t as a guest, but as a student. I travelled with a group of ARCH-registered colon hydrotherapists to study under the then Medical Director, Dr Harald Stossier, one of the top 5 digestive health doctors in the world.
For those unfamiliar, the Mayr cure is a structured medical programme centred on digestive rest, precise diagnostics, personalised nutrition, manual abdominal therapy, colon hydrotherapy, and physician-led supervision. It blends conventional medicine with traditional naturopathic principles in a way that is both rigorous and deeply holistic. You can read more about the clinic and their programmes here.
That initial immersion as a student was genuinely transformative. It marked a turning point in how I understood digestive health – much like when I first trained in colon hydrotherapy – but on a far deeper and more integrated level. The depth of assessment, the discipline of the programme, and the respect for the gut as the foundation of long-term health simply weren’t things I had encountered in the UK at that time – and, in many ways, still aren’t.
Since then, I’ve returned many times as a guest rather than a student.
And each visit has reinforced something I have long believed:
Deep digestive healing and true longevity require structure and supervision – not simply to improve symptoms, but to support a life that is healthy, resilient and independent well into the later decades.
A new chapter: Bleib Berg F.X. Mayr Retreat
This April, I’ll be travelling to a different Mayr clinic, the Bleib Berg F.X. Mayr Retreat in Bad Bleiberg, Europe’s highest level F.X. Mayr retreat.
Why the change?
Because Doctor Harald Stossier, now Professor Harald Stossier runs this clinic, together with his son, Dr. Georg Stossier whom I met back in 2024 during one of my visits to Viva Mayr.
When I heard they had both relocated, I knew I wanted to experience this next evolution of their work.
The principles of the Mayr cure remain the same:
- Rest the gut
- Cleanse the digestive tract
- Rebuild digestion
- Retrain eating habits
But I suspect this clinic may be a little more focused. A little more disciplined. Perhaps even a little more ‘hardcore’.
And honestly, that’s exactly what I want.
Why I don’t want to be mollycoddled
At this stage in my life and career, I don’t go to a detox retreat for spa treatments and green juices. Well, that’s not strictly true, I love those kinds of retreats, but this is quite different – when I visit a Mayr clinic, I go for clinical depth.
I want:
- Proper medical assessments including blood work and scans
- Structured deep detoxification of all organs and systems of the body
- Daily abdominal treatments
- Clear nutritional guidance
- And most of all, expert supervision
I want to properly, deeply detox under guidance from doctors who have dedicated their lives to digestive medicine.
Because as I’ve always said to my Just For Tummies community – superficial quick fixes don’t create long-term gut health. Structure, consistency and expert guidance do.
Why this still matters to me after 30+ years in practice
Some people ask me: “Linda, after all these years, why do you still go?”
It’s because I believe in walking the talk. I will never stop learning, and every time I go through a structured detox myself, it strengthens how I support my clients back home.
The Mayr philosophy has deeply influenced how I think about:
- Chewing properly
- Digestive rest
- Bloating and abdominal tension
- Microbiome support
- And structured gut resets
Much of what I share with my Just For Tummies community and the philosophy behind Just For Tummies is rooted not just in my colon hydrotherapy training and practice, but in those early Austrian study days, and continues with each new visit to a Mayr clinic.
I’ll share the experience with you
Look out for future blog posts where I will talk about:
- What a typical day looks like
- What the meals are like
- The treatments I undergo
- How I feel physically
- And whether this clinic truly is more ‘hardcore’
If you’ve ever wondered what a proper medical detox retreat looks like, I’ll take you behind the scenes.
Sometimes, stepping away from daily life and going deeper is exactly what the gut needs.
