Should you be so lucky to stay at Stanglwirt, the famous family-operated five-star wellness oasis and resort in charming Tyrol, Austria, you absolutely must book as many spa treatments and wellness experiences as your schedule allows. For starters, there is absolutely nowhere else in the world as tranquil and unique as this awe-inspiring wooden biohotel at the foot of the Wilder Kaiser mountain range, which has been impressively in operation since 1722. Encompassing over 12,000 square meters, the sprawling organic farm and luxury resort features saunas, steam baths, indoor and outdoor pools, natural swimming lakes, grottoes, and water features, all designed to immerse guests in relaxation and alpine vitality, which makes for the ideal once-in-a-lifetime spa experience you’ve always dreamt about.
I’ve enjoyed countless massages in my time, but the Wavebalance Massage at Stanglwirt is a treatment I still think about as a singular euphoric moment never to be replicated anywhere else. The treatment takes place on a special Wavebalance water lounger, a unique water bed of sorts, designed to mimic the spiral motions of natural waves to align with the human musculoskeletal system. Filled with around 500 liters of water, the lounger creates an enveloping sensation of weightlessness that cradles you like a baby.
Lying down, I immediately felt the water shift in soft, undulating waves beneath me, and I felt the gentle pressure and motion quickly melting away any and all tension from my tired joints and muscles. The massage also incorporated warm oil, so in what felt like seconds, I was ethereally calm and coaxed into a total state of bliss. I’ve never quite described a spa treatment as nurturing before, but if ever there was a time to do that, this was it.
While at the Green Spa, be sure to book The Good Conscious Effect Facial, which is another signature treatment using the in-house line of skincare created by cosmetic expert Michaela Stieber with spa director Maria Hauser. The line emphasizes high-quality, clean ingredients and is vegan, free from parabens, mineral oils, silicones, PEGs, GMOs, and common allergens, and in turn, leaves your skin in far better condition than you ever thought possible.
