Spa Talk: Spa at Kerry Sports

What: Wushu Problem Areas Massage (60 minutes)
Where: The Kerry Hotel Pudong. 4F, 1388 Huamu Lu. Tel: 6169 8888
Why: You like to actively relax
How much: RMB 880 + 15%

Since opening, Kerry Hotel Pudong has been wowing guests with its comprehensive gym – one of the best we’ve ever seen and that’s including non-hotel gyms. An offshoot of the Kerry Sports program, SPA maintains the facility’s athletic reputation by offering signature treatments inspired by Wudang Wushu, a Chinese martial art that utilises holistic principles to relax and restore.

While the idea of a martial art-inspired massage might intimidate, the treatment doesn’t differ that drastically from your typical spa experience, but it does add a whole new element of comfort. After donning the unbelievably soft robe and going through a few stretching and breathing exercises, I settled into the heated massage table and the therapist began to remove the tension from my body with long, focused strokes. A tingling sensation spread throughout my skin, the result of the specially-made massage oils best described as a high-end Tiger Balm. The heating oil stayed with me for hours after my treatment ended, ensuring that my meridian lines and acupressure points don’t close up after my therapist tapped me lightly on the shoulder to tell me the relaxing experience had come to an end.