Between work pressures, an active social life, a busy family and the ever-insistent demands of technology, finding time to relax is harder than ever.

New to Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong -the next-best solution to taking a holiday away from it all, with the aptly-named 90-Minute Day Off treatment at The Mandarin Spa.

"Priced at HKD1,250, the 90-Minute Day Off is a one-and-a-half hour body and face programme that includes treatments such as soft tissue massage, conservative stretches and lymphatic drainage techniques, all designed to nurse the overstressed body back into comfortable functionality. If you don't have the time to relax on the beach every week then this is the perfect treatment to bring you back into balance," says Director of Spa, Lynsey Hughes.   

"We're seeing ever-increasing numbers of stressed executives looking for a ‘quick fix' solution to their aches and pains, all caused by stress. While nothing other than a lifestyle change can totally remedy health problems caused by stress, this treatment goes a long way to addressing some of the key problems associated with overwork in everyday life."
  
About the 90-Minute Day Off: The rise of computer use and flat, light-touch keyboards have resulted in an epidemic of injuries of the hands, arms and shoulders. To help relieve these symptoms, the treatment begins with a hot compress, hot stones and heated towels placed on the back to release tension in the shoulders and neck. Myofascial release, stretch release techniques, pressure-point attention and massage movements on the back all help to release stress and remove muscle aches and pains (sure indicators of poor working postures).

Opening the spaces between the spine with finger pressure and releasing the scapula helps aid relaxation and allows the body to unwind. The treatment uses essential oils of eucalyptus, pine and tea tree clear the head, stimulate the senses and boost the immune system, thereby supporting the body's ability to heal itself from the constant attack of air conditioned or heated environments.      

This is followed by polarity balancing (stretching of lower limbs and feet) to ensure the body is in equilibrium. These stretches help lengthen muscles that shorten when seated for long periods of time. After this comes a lymphatic drainage massage on the face using a rose hydrating serum to hydrate the skin and stimulate fluid retention due to hours staring at a screen. Neck and scalp massage eases away any remaining stress, and an arm and hand massage soothes those with repetitive strain issues such as "BlackBerry thumb syndrome".   

Finally, the treatment ends with a few moments of foot reflexology targeting the digestive system, prone to sluggishness due to sitting for long periods, and the spine and head areas where other tension is located.