What: A little bit of everything under the massage sun

Why: Because procrastination is the new black

How Much: InterContinental Signature Massage, RMB 1180 (+ 15 per cent) for 90 minutes

Where: InterContinental Puxi Hotel, 500 Hengfeng Lu. Tel: 5253 9999 x 6233

Walking into the InterContinental Spa is a bit of a daunting experience, as you enter through a hallway which is almost pitch black, with the sound of running water greeting you as you emerge into the light on the other side.

The treatment rooms are far less dramatic. Clean, modern and no-nonsense, with no muzak to speak of and a massage table in the centre. The massages also come with little pomp, but a lot of variety, even within the same treatment. Their signature massage is actually a number of massages rolled into one, including traditional Chinese, Thai, Balinese, Swedish and Hawaiian Lomi Lomi.

Most people living in Shanghai will already be familiar with traditional Chinese massage techniques, they focus on the energy centres and acupressure points of the body and attempt to ‘unblock’ negative energies which are causing pain, lethargy and any number of other side-effects.

Balinese massage is closely related to the Chinese in its focus on acupressure points, but usually includes the use of aromatherapy oils (which are left out of basic Chinese massages). Both could be described as relaxation massages with attitude.

The Thai version involves more stretching (and usually no oil), Swedish massages generally focus on long, relaxing strokes (with oil) and Lomi Lomi goes beyond the use of therapists’ hands, often incorporating forearms and elbows into the kneading action, in order to really get those kinks out.

When these techniques are combined into one 90 minute massage, you get each part of your body pressed, poked, kneaded, stroked and elbowed in a systematic fashion. Starting with and focussing most of their attention on the back and shoulders, the therapist uses aromatherapy oils, which makes the process more relaxing, and is careful to ask how the pressure’s feeling at regular intervals.

As well as being a nice way to kill a couple of hours, it’s also an education in the massage techniques of the world, and isn’t a bad way to work out which style personally suits you best. And besides, there’s no such thing as too much massage.