The meaning of the logo: Why the Machapuchare is the heart of HIMALYA

There is a mountain in Nepal that no one is allowed to climb. Not because it is insurmountable. Not because it is too dangerous. But because it is holy. The prohibition has been in place since 1957. Forever.

When I first heard about Machapuchare during my training in Nepal, it never left my mind. A mountain that says “no” to conquest. That draws a clear line. That remains untouched, no matter how much the world wants it.

This is exactly the attitude I learned in traditional massage. And this is why this mountain is our logo.

The mountain that no one can conquer

The Nepalis call it the holy mountain. Climbing it has been forbidden since 1957. A few climbers managed to get within about 50 meters of the summit once. Then they turned back — out of respect. After that, the permanent prohibition was pronounced.

In a world where we want to conquer everything, where everything must be achieved or optimized, this mountain stands there and says: No. You will not reach the summit. Not because it is impossible — but because some things are meant to remain holy. That’s why it is our logo.

What an untouched mountain has to do with massage

I learned in Thailand — at the Wat Pho Temple. Then in Nepal. Then in India. And everywhere I saw the same problem: Traditional massage is being diluted. Sold. Adapted to Western expectations. A healing art becomes “wellness.” Precision becomes “relaxation.” Hours of work are transformed into 30-minute feel-good sessions.

The Machapuchare stands for the opposite. It represents principles that are non-negotiable. Authenticity over convenience. Real healing over quick comfort. When you come to me, you do not get a watered-down version. You get the original. Even if it is intense. Even if it takes longer. Even if it costs more.

Why not Mount Everest?

Everyone knows Everest. Everyone wants to go to Everest. Hundreds line up every year. They pay $100,000. They risk their lives. For what? For a photo at the summit. Everest has become a tourist attraction. Corpses at the roadside. Trash everywhere. The holy has been made into a spectacle.

The Machapuchare is different. It remains what it has always been: Untouched. Respected. Holy. This is what HIMALYA is meant to stand for. No mass processing. No wellness tourism. But real work — for people who understand that true healing takes time.

The shape tells the story

Look at the logo. The Machapuchare has a distinctive fish tail shape — two peaks that look like a tail fin. That’s where the name comes from: Machapuchare means “fish tail.” This shape is unique. It is recognizable immediately. No chance of confusion.

Just as our work should be unmistakable. Not arbitrary. Not interchangeable. Something that is recognized immediately when experienced. The sharp edges. The clear lines. This is not a gentle hill — it is precision, strength, clarity. Exactly what your body needs when it truly wants to heal.

What “holy” means in the modern world

I’m not a deeply religious person. But I believe in a higher power. In energy. In nature. In something greater than us. And I understand what holy means: Untouchable. Non-negotiable. Respected.

The traditional Himalayan massage is based on principles that have worked for centuries — not because they are mystical, but because they are based on anatomy, on experience, on thousands of bodies that found relief. These principles are sacred to me. I do not change them to make it easier. I do not dilute them to make them more marketable. The Machapuchare reminds me of this every day. Some things must remain untouched — even if the world operates differently.

From Nepal to Austria — The values I bring

Before HIMALYA existed, I lived a different life. Jet-set. Overtime. The usual Western madness of working more and feeling worse. In Nepal, I saw something that changed me. The people have very little — but they have values that we have forgotten: Respect for nature. Time for each other. The ability to truly listen when someone is in pain.

A Nepalese master once told me something I will never forget: “We do not just bring our hands to the body. We bring our presence. Our calm. Our time.”

That’s exactly what is lacking in Austria. Everything has to be fast. Every massage has to be quick. Every session has to be efficient. But real healing takes time. It needs attention. It needs respect for what the body is telling you. HIMALYA is my attempt to bring these Nepalese values to you — not as something exotic, but as a real alternative to what is usually offered here.

The decision for authenticity

When I founded HIMALYA, I had a choice. I could have used a pretty, modern, minimalist, Instagram-worthy logo. But instead, I chose a mountain that most people do not know. A mountain with a story. A mountain that stands for something.

This was not a marketing decision. It was a principle. I wanted the brand to be clear from the beginning: We stand for authenticity. For depth. For meaning. When you see the logo and ask yourself: “Why this mountain?” — then you are exactly the right person for us. You understand that the story behind something is more important than the surface.

What you can expect from us

HIMALYA is not a wellness oasis. We are not a spa. We are a place where traditional techniques are respected. Where massage gets the time it needs. Where your body receives the attention it deserves.

This means longer sessions. More intense work. And sometimes discomfort — because real healing is not always easy. Real pressure on trigger points hurts. Real stretching is demanding. True change is rarely “relaxing.” But just as the Machapuchare has remained untouched for centuries, we stand for methods that have worked for centuries — not because they are old, but because the original remains the best.

The mountain as a promise

Every time you see our logo, think of Machapuchare. A mountain that said “no” to conquest. A mountain that preserved its dignity. A mountain that remained holy.

This is our promise to you: We do not sell ourselves short. We do not chase every trend. We remain true to what works — to what is real. In a world full of diluted wellness options, this is perhaps the most valuable thing we can offer you: Authenticity. Respect for tradition. And the assurance that some things are non-negotiable.

The Machapuchare has stood for millions of years. It will stand for millions more. Untouched. Holy. Respected. That is what HIMALYA wants to be.