Longevity Meets Biohacking – For More Healthy Lifespan
Interview with Harald Schopf, Overall Director of Kurhaus Schärding Barmherzige Brüder
Kurhaus Schärding Barmherzige Brüder is a privately managed health center that specializes in holistic healing methods. With a unique blend of traditional naturopathy, modern medicine, and individual care concepts, the center offers its guests an oasis of tranquility and regeneration.
The Schärding Spa, led by Harald Schopf, is part of the Order of Merciful Brothers and combines tradition with modern therapeutic approaches. As a center for naturopathy, it offers private spa treatments for a long, healthy life – longevity. The facility has been dedicated to Kneipp medicine since 1931 and has since evolved with international methods such as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Ayurveda.
Tradition and Innovation
Originally a Capuchin monastery from the 17th century, the building was acquired by the Order after the secularization in 1927 and converted into a Kneipp spa house. Today, the spa house offers 85 rooms. Over the past decades, the range of services has been expanded, paving the way for a modern health facility that combines tradition and innovation. The spa house places special emphasis on the trend of biohacking – a modern health strategy aimed at optimizing personal well-being through targeted measures. "Sebastian Kneipp was essentially the first biohacker," says General Manager Harald Schopf. Fasting and nutrition are essential pillars of the health services at the spa, complemented by traditional healing methods like alkaline and therapeutic fasting, modern Mayr medicine, and Ayurvedic detox treatments.
The exploration of the microbiome is also part of the treatment portfolio. Despite the current market situation, the Kurhaus remains flexible due to its focus on private treatments. "We are 100% privately financed and only offer private treatments," explains Harald Schopf. For the future, modern diagnostics and the use of artificial intelligence (AI) are becoming increasingly important. "We want to use AI in a way that our staff have more time for guests." The Kurhaus is also experimenting with new therapies such as IHHT oxygen therapy, which originally comes from elite sports and allows guests to recover quickly. "However, the art of touch remains a crucial factor, as through touch we can convey emotions," concludes Harald Schopf.