Spring is awakening in the Kufsteinerland region of Tyrol. While the mountains are still snow-capped, the first buds appear on the trees in the valley, and crocuses, daffodils and snowdrops stretch their little heads towards the light. Lake Thiersee shimmers in shades of green and blue in the rays of the spring sun. It’s no wonder that this region attracts holidaymakers from all over the world. Here in the middle of the Alps, the Tyrolean heart beats a little faster. And that’s exactly where you’ll find the European Ayurveda Resort Sonnhof in Hinterthiersee. The hotel radiates a feeling of being welcome and of having finally arrived. An individual treatment plan is drawn up for each guest here, so that Ayurveda can unfold its full effect. On top of that, the hotel has developed its own concept for its guests, one that adapts entirely to their needs. But wait a moment: how does this originally Indian healing philosophy come to be in Tyrol? We spoke with hotel owner Elisabeth Mauracher about the power of Ayurveda, the effect of scents on body, mind and soul, and AROMEA scent marketing.
Ayurveda in the middle of the Tyrolean mountains: at first glance that’s a very unusual combination. How did it come about, and why does it fit so well here of all places?
Mauracher: Around 20 years ago we were still a traditional inn and hotel. But even then, we sensed that there was a need to create something lasting in the world. A friend of my mother’s regularly travelled to India. She suggested we might do Ayurveda in the mountains. The idea immediately struck a chord. So we put it into practice in our hotel. That was the birth of the EA Resort Sonnhof. Ayurveda is a tradition more than 5,000 years old that can actually be applied anywhere in the world. It’s about people having a healthy and happy life. And I believe that’s something people here in Europe very much want too, so it fits this environment beautifully. European Ayurveda® is a holistic principle that can be integrated anywhere.
European Ayurveda® is the name of the concept with which you’ve been delighting your guests so successfully. What’s it all about?
Mauracher: It’s about having tailored Ayurveda to European life and its needs. We asked ourselves what needs a guest from Europe has. How do they live? What do they need? Based on that, we adapted the European Ayurveda® concept. Whether it’s nutrition, massages, yoga or mental coaching, we adapt to our guests’ needs on several levels.
The EA Resort Sonnhof offers its guests various treatment programmes. Which one would you recommend now in spring, and what does it involve?
Mauracher: Now in spring I’d recommend the Panchakarma programme. It’s a deep-cleansing programme that helps to detoxify the body. Over the year, numerous waste products, toxins and poisons build up in our bodies. Poor diet, stress, heavy metals and much more contribute to these toxins accumulating in the body’s tissue. The Panchakarma programme gets all of that out. On the cleansing day, all of it is flushed out. The diet is adapted as well, and with yoga and other treatments, detoxification takes place on every level. It’s a physical, mental and spiritual cleanse. That’s very important to me personally, because in today’s world we’ve also become more receptive, more ready to open up to certain topics and to heal.
Bringing body, mind and soul into harmony: in Ayurvedic healing philosophy, that also includes aromatherapy with various scents. An AROMEA scent concept fits in nicely with this. How did the collaboration come about?
Mauracher: Scents are very important in Ayurveda too; each has its own effect. Just think of citrus scents, for example. When you notice these aromas, everything immediately seems happier and brighter. Scents have a subconscious effect. When you enter a room and it smells good, you can relax so much better straight away, and of course that helps with the therapy too. So it was a good fit that we can easily scent the rooms with the AROMEA No 2 towers.
Which scents are now pampering guests and staff?
Mauracher: Our staff and guests are pampered with the fragrances “Happy Day”, “Harmonie” and “Relax”. The citrus scents spread positive energy and joie de vivre.
Which aromas best describe European Ayurveda®?
Mauracher: I’d associate European Ayurveda® with something joyful like orange, something mystical like cedarwood and patchouli, but also something delicate like jasmine or ylang-ylang.
How is the scenting going down?
Mauracher: The scenting is going down very well. The scent is also the first thing people associate with the EA Resort Sonnhof.
Thank you for talking to us!
Elisabeth Mauracher on the effect of scents in European Ayurveda®
