GERMANY: DR. HAUSCHKA THERAPIES
by Beth McBlain
What does rhythm have to do with skin care? That question goes to the heart of the Dr. Hauschka spa experience.
The History: The Dr. Hauschka holistic concept of wellness was conceived and created in 1967 when the doctor's colleague and pioneering esthetician Elisabeth Sigmund recognized the importance of the skin's natural rhythms. She recognized the 28-day cycle of renewal by which the skin is constantly recreating and balancing itself. Sigmund made the connection between this rhythm and the rhythmic cycles of the moon. "Healthy rhythms create a state of balance, encouraging a return to health and bringing forth a radiant beauty both inside and out," stated Sigmund. This “rhythmical process” became the basis for Dr. Hauschka's healing remedies and later for Dr. Hauschka Skin Care and Dr. Hauschka's holistic body treatment and signature spa treatment.
The philosophy encourages a client to connect with his or her own inner and outer rhythms and to establish healthy patterns in life including a well balanced diet, adequate sleep, physical exercise, fresh air and moderate exposure to the sun.
The Spa: Dr. Hauschka Holistic Spa in Bad Boll
The Location: Bad Boll is located at the foot of the Swabian Alps (32 kms) near the city of Stuttgart, Germany and close to the place where the ingedients for Dr. Hauscka products are grown, hand-picked and processed. Nestled in a beautiful valley, lined with vineyards and not far from the legendary Black Forest, Bad Boll is famous for spectacular biking and hiking trails. The Goppingen railroad station is 11 kms away on a picturesque and weaving road.
The Experience: As the Dr. Hauschka philosophy embraces nature's healing forces, and the premise that 'rhythm is the carrier of life,' I was asked to visualize the sunrise and sunset, the moon's phases, the four seasons and then the star constellations as my esthetician quietly prepared the room for my Dr. Hauschka Signature Treatment which began with an aromatic sage footbath. During the 90-minute treatment, my certified Dr. Hauschka esthetician applied very specific techniques of rhythmic touch massaging my entire body. The strategy was to stimulate lymph flow and to awaken and renew my energy. A deep cleansing and purifying facial, a cooling toning mask, a soothing scalp message and eye treatment followed.
A stimulating massage and a generous array of aromatic natural oils and moisturizers were applied gently to my back, arms and legs. My esthetician said is a soft voice, "the skin must be encouraged to produce its own oils and to balance its own breathing." The rhythmic quality of her touch from head to toe created a flowing movement throughout my body encouraging a calm and peaceful state of mind. (Editor's note: Cost at the time of our visit was about $180 Cdn. Please confirm a current price when you book a treatment.)
Accommodations: The closest accommodation to the Dr. Hauschka Holistic Spa is the Seminaris Hotel Bad Boll. I found the concierge at the Seminaris was happy to make all the arrangements including transportation to and from The Dr. Hauschka Signature Spa. The 160 room, full-service hotel offers non-smoking floors, wireless Internet, numerous outdoor activities with a focus on health, wellness, swimming pool, Finnish sauna, tennis courts and bike rentals. Service is provided in both German and English.
Where to eat: The Seminaris hotel offers three restaurants. At the Pavillon & Ambience, the Schabenstube or the Intermezzo bar you'll find everything from local fare, regional beers and regional wines, organic menus to simple soups and sandwiches. There are also many nearby local pubs including Henri's Pilsbar in Goppingen.
Beyond the Spa: The Wala Heimittel plant, the manufacturer of Dr. Hauschka Skin Care products is nearby and open to visitors. I learned that all plants here are harvested from biodynamic gardens, grown organically or picked from environmentally secure wild areas, near the village of Eckwalden. The manufacturing takes place on 11 acres of garden where more than 150 different medical plants and herbs are grown. The harvesting takes place just before sunrise as this is the time when the plant vitality is the strongest and its rhythms are at rest. The picking is done by hand and the plants taken straight to the processing plant.
For more info:
Dr. Hauschka
The Seminaris Hotel
The Wala Foundation