The Naturhotel Forsthofgut resort has opened a health-focused extension to its existing spa in the forests of Salzburg at the base of the Asitz mountain in Austria.

The 109-key hotel and land has been privately owned and managed for more than 400 years by the Schmuck family, whose hospitality philosophy is ‘harmony with nature’.

The family has expanded its existing 5,700sq m WaldSpa (translated in English to Forest Spa) by transforming 200sq m of unused space into the newly-opened WaldSpa Health.

Developed in collaboration with Dagmar Rizzato of Rizzato Spa Consulting, the new space combines science-based treatments, proximity to nature and personalised health programming. The concept is based on four pillars: roots, strength, breath and mind – based on the parallels between the human body and a tree (with roots, trunk, leaves and crown). This new space will offer lifestyle changes to guests seeking to improve their nutrition, movement and rest.

Therapies at WaldSpa Health

Treatments include cryotherapy within a cryochamber by Druschke that reaches -110 degrees celsius. This therapy is designed to stimulate metabolism, promote blood circulation, strengthen the immune system, improve flexibility and enhance performance.

The spa will also offer guests IHHT training (Intermittent Hypoxic-Hyperoxic Therapy) – a non-invasive treatment that alternates periods of low oxygen (hypoxia) and high oxygen (hyperoxia) breathing. Guests can also receive infusions of vitamins, minerals and amino acids at the spa. The infusions and IHHT therapies are supplied by Mitovit.

Health diagnostics will be recorded using technology from uVida and Technogym Checkup. uVida monitors rest and movement patterns, measuring respiratory gases at rest or during exercise to provide individual data on metabolism and fat burning rates to inform optimum personalised training plans for peak performance. Technogym Checkup analyses body composition, strength and flexibility and various other metrics.

Board of specialists

This more medical area of the spa has been created in consultation with a board of specialists.

These include Dr Andrea Gartenbach, a specialist in internal medicine and a longevity physician. A former professional athlete, Gartenbach is a guest professor at the Geneva College for longevity science.

Breath and development coach, Andrea Guenther, will teach mindful breathwork while physiotherapist Robert Pfund will offer advice on pain management and orthopaedic treatments.

In an exclusive interview with Spa Business, Michaela van Leusen, spa manager at Naturhotel Forsthofgut, said: “The new WaldSpa Health area is an important building block in our continued development towards being a holistic spa. There is increasing demand from guests – not only for relaxation – but also for targeted measures to improve their quality of life in the long-term. The new area complements our wellness concept, offering measurable health benefits and sustainable results.”

Health package

Double rooms at the property are available from €255 (US$288, £215) per person per night, including breakfast, dinner and afternoon tea.

The Health Escape package offers a 3 to 7-night stay, plus access to WaldSpa Health’s facilities, starting at €990 (US$1,117, £834) per person. It includes a cryotherapy session, an assessement on Technogym Checkup and hypoxia session, as well as access to the rest of the spa facilities and the hotel’s itinerary of nature-based activities.

Pre-existing WaldSpa facilities

The new WaldSpa Health complements the property’s relaxation-focused spa areas, which include two-floors of adults-only facilities, such as a sauna, infrared sauna, steambath, ice fountain, 25-metre infinity pool and a hot tub. There are also panoramic views of the estate from a separate sauna and a relaxation room with a fireplace.

Connected via an underground passage, adults can move from the WaldSpa to the Lake House, which is where the spa’s three treatment rooms are located, along with another relaxation room with 50 reclining beds and water beds.

It also has an onsen washing zone that leads to a 42-degree Celsius onsen-style pool, incorporated into the garden’s swimming lake and another infinity pool, hot tub, a floating Finnish lake sauna and natural plunge pool.

A separate spa building is on site for family and children, with two saunas, two pools, water slides and lounges.

Other activities on offer

The hotel is 200 metres from the nearest mountain lift, offering access to the great outdoors all year round for hiking and skiing. The estate also has an 18-person yoga studio, riding stables, a mini zoo, an organic farm with animal-feeding visits, a ski-shop and childcare facilities along with restaurants and bars.