What happens when conventional medicine fails you, and a week at an Austrian clinic finds answers no specialist could?
I guess I wasn't supposed to be alive. Eight years ago, following my second daughter's birth, my body suddenly stopped functioning. It nearly killed me. Multiple surgeries, blood transfusions, organs severely damaged. Saved, yes, but broken in ways the medical system couldn't quite piece together.
What followed was 18 months of what we call in French errance médicale: medical wandering. Endless specialists. Prestigious hospitals. Countless medications. Each expert brilliant in their domain, each unable to see the full picture.
Until one day, doctors said, rather bluntly: "Your metabolism isn't recovering. Six months, maybe. Enjoy them."
That wasn't the plan I had in mind!!
The radical pivot
A few experts had whispered about alternative paths. Arduous, uncertain, but possibly possible. With no miracle cure forthcoming, I had nothing to lose.
I overhauled everything:
- Plant-based, gluten-free, anti-inflammatory diet (goodbye, beloved steak tartare)
- Combined Chinese medicine and Ayurveda
- Daily meditation, Qi Gong, energy work
- Walking, no matter the weather (freezing rain included)
Six months later? My metabolism had restarted!
Today, I'm healthier than I've ever been. Yet I still had lingering issues. Seemingly unconnected problems that would flare up occasionally. I'd accepted them as my new normal.
Until my week at VIVAMAYR.
Why I finally went to VIVAMAYR
Many Serenity Ways clients ask: "Which Mayr clinic is best, Lanserhof, MAYRLIFE, or VIVAMAYR?" (So much that we even made a post about it, here)
For years, I'd researched them all. What drew me to VIVAMAYR Maria Wörth wasn't just their medical excellence. It was the team, responsive, warm, genuinely invested. In wellness, particularly medical wellness, that human element matters as much as clinical prowess.
I wanted to feel seen, not just treated.
So in November 2025, I tested their signature Rebalance & Energy program for one week.
What they found (that no one else did)
Within days, VIVAMAYR's medical team diagnosed blood inflammation with four acidity markers dangerously elevated.
Years of specialists. State-of-the-art hospitals. No one had caught it, nor explained why it mattered.
VIVAMAYR not only identified it, they also mapped concrete solutions. Including the hard truth: I'll likely need a specific supplement for life because my metabolism can't self-regulate acid/alkaline balance.
It's not the answer I wanted. But it's an answer. After 8 years of questions.
The VIVAMAYR reality check
Let's be brutally honest: VIVAMAYR is not a wellness vacation.
It's a medical clinic. It's hard. Physically and emotionally demanding. You'll ride waves of discomfort as your body detoxes, as treatments work deep into systems you didn't know were compromised.
But here's what makes it extraordinary:
The molistic medical approach
Founded in 2004 by Drs. Harald and Christine Stossier, VIVAMAYR builds on principles from early 20th-century Austrian physician F.X. Mayr:
- Healthy gut is the root of well-being
- Toxins and poor digestion make us sick, prematurely old, and yes, ugly
They've married these insights with cutting-edge diagnostics and modern medical protocols. Which was the foundation of VIVAMAYR.
Who should consider VIVAMAYR?
You might dismiss your symptoms as "normal aging" or "just stress." We're conditioned to accept sub-optimal health. But consider VIVAMAYR if you're dealing with:
- Stubborn weight that won't shift despite effort
- Gut health chaos (and let's be honest, digestive issues are so common we barely call them problems anymore)
- Weakened immunity
- Chronic conditions: autoimmune diseases, type 2 diabetes, hormonal imbalances, difficult menopause
- Post-treatment recovery from serious illness, surgery, heavy medications
- Mental health struggles: depression, anxiety, brain fog
- Chronic fatigue or pain
- Loss of mobility or function
- Silent inflammations: migraines, rheumatism, kidney issues, obesity
- Or simply wanting to optimize how you age
I met a Greek woman there who'd reversed her type 2 diabetes and lost 22 kilos over 8 months through repeated VIVAMAYR visits. A gay couple debating which restaurants they'd revisit - carefully - after their 15-day Mayr cure. Everyone had a story. Everyone was seeing results.
Inside the program: what actually happens
Before you arrive
Preparation is crucial. You'll receive guidelines for a progressive food "descent", gradually shifting your diet so the Mayr regimen doesn't shock your system.
There's also comprehensive bloodwork to complete (ideally at home, so results are ready upon arrival).
Day one: Sunday arrival
I recommend arriving Sunday. It's the clinic's quietest day, with reduced staff for a gentler introduction. You'll discover your room (comfortable, simple, some with lake views), explore facilities, review the week's activities, and check tomorrow's schedule.
Dinner is early (6-7pm, German style), then early to bed. Yes, on retreat you sleep early. Sometimes it's a deliberate sleep cure. Sometimes your detoxing body simply demands it.
A word on screens: skip the Netflix catch-up. Use these days to detox from digital dopamine hits too.
Day two: The deep dive
Extensive medical exams. Fascinating diagnostic tests. Your first consultation with your assigned Mayr physician.
I had Dr. Christine Stossier herself. Yes, VIVAMAYR's co-founder. The privilege was extraordinary, but what mattered more was the depth of listening. She didn't just hear my symptoms; she understood my history, my goals, my fears.
Together, we designed my nutritional plan and treatment program.
The week: roller coaster to revelation
My body reacted intensely. Physical ups and downs. Emotional turbulence (detox alters your brain chemistry ; sadness can surface seemingly unprompted).
This is why VIVAMAYR's psychological support is crucial. Most wellness clinics lack this component, which is a serious gap. Your body is undergoing profound chemical shifts. Having professional support matters.
I also loved the workshops, doctors and patients discussing practical strategies for maintaining these changes at home. The sports assessments didn't just diagnose; they provided concrete exercises I could continue in my regular life.
Daily check-ins with my physician meant constant adjustment, constant optimization. I felt genuinely held by the medical team.
A day in the life
7:00am: I skip the 7:30 morning activation class to swim alone at pool opening, watching sunrise over the lake.
Morning: Choose from activities: pranayama, meditation, Qi Gong, Pilates, relaxation.
7:30-9:30am: Breakfast: egg, smoked fish, yogurt, avocado spread, special house-made bread designed for chewing practice. Yes, you learn to chew—40 to 50 times per bite. It sounds absurd until you realize how it transforms digestion.
12:15-2pm: Lunch: soup plus choice of vegetarian/plant-based or meat/fish dish. Dessert only for returning guests who've met certain goals.
6-7pm: Dinner: soup, bread or steamed potatoes, occasionally a spread.
Beverages: Only 30 minutes before or after meals, never during. It feels restrictive initially, then revolutionary. You're not drowning your digestive process.
The food? Alkaline dishes. Not delicious, not terrible. But your body adores it.
I was hungry initially. After negotiating with my doctor, portions were adjusted. Some guests find it too much food, others too little. Everything's personalized anyway.
Is it worth it?
At VIVAMAYR, you only pay for treatments you actually receive.
It can add up if you maximize diagnostics and therapies. But there's no pressure. No upselling. And compared to other top medical wellness clinics, VIVAMAYR offers exceptional value.
What you're paying for:
- Daily physician consultations (not a spa therapist, an actual doctor, with in-depth F.X. Mayr Medicine expertise)
- Comprehensive diagnostics
- Psychological support
- Highly personalized treatment
- Workshops on sustaining changes at home
- Medical-grade treatments, not cosmetic spa services
Non-negotiables:
- No coffee
- No alcohol
- No exceptions, no substitutes
What makes VIVAMAYR different
The team is genuinely caring. Service is attentive without being intrusive. You feel cocooned.
Holistic but clinical. They consider your uniqueness while maintaining medical rigor.
Solutions over diagnosis. They don't just identify problems—they map actionable paths forward.
The setting matters. Lake views, serene grounds, cozy rooms where you want to curl up with the plaid throw. It's deliberately warm (as I love it).
You learn transferable skills. How stress, medications, and how you eat affect digestion. Why silent inflammations (migraines, autoimmune issues, chronic fatigue) often trace back to gut health.
Moments that stayed with me
A woman shouting with joy - literally shouting - because she'd reached her health goals.
Someone saying quietly: "It's hard, but it's possible."
A workshop leader reminding us: "Beauty comes from within." (Does this resonate with you too?)
My exception theory
Once your metabolism finds its optimal balance, you can allow occasional exceptions. Your body typically tolerates them beautifully.
The key word? Occasional. The exception proves the rule. It doesn't become the rule.
The verdict: VIVAMAYR or not VIVAMAYR?
If I could recommend only one retreat for the rest of my life, it would be VIVAMAYR. Bold, isn't it?
Here is why. Not because it's easy. Because it's transformative.
It ended my 8-year medical odyssey. It's changing the trajectory of how I age. It gave me tools to maintain this health at home, and hopefully for long.
A stay at VIVAMAYR is:
- A turning point when conventional medicine has failed you
- A game changer for chronic conditions
- A gift to yourself. Possibly the most important one
If you're dealing with health issues that doctors can't fully explain or resolve, if you're exhausted from medical wandering, if you want to optimize your health at a cellular level, we should talk.
I'm here when you're ready.
Warmly,
Victoire