Green Massage

What: Signature Green Bliss (100 min)

Where: Green Massage, Shanghai Centre, West Tower, Rm 202. 1376 Nanjing Xi Lu, near Tongren Lu. Tel: 6289 7776, Web: www.greenmassage.com.cn

Why: Acupressure renewal promises to calm your qi and stimulate your battered body.

How Much: RMB 580

If you’re in need of a temporary detox from the turbulence of fast-paced Shanghai living, there’s perhaps no better place to go than Green Massage. With six different locations across the city, Green Massage has gained acclaim for its traditional oriental acupressure therapies that are designed to tame your inner fire and relax your mind. 

My treatment, the Signature Green Bliss therapy, left me feeling like every stroke made on my body helped to improve my mental clarity and emotional stamina. It was as if I had walked in feeling like a distraught slab of clay, all knotted and clumpy around the edges, only to walk out feeling like the statue of David— strong, upright and ready to take on the world.

My treatment began with a foot scrub and massage to work out the kinks from my stroll around the city. As my masseuse worked her magic, my sense of smell was refreshingly piqued by the scent of the aromatherapy oil that wafted through the air, making the room more alluring and serene. The full body massage targeted points of fatigue and stiffness; from my head to my toes, I felt an exhilarating sensation with every release of pent-up energy, clearly my body was not in the best of states. Amazingly, as the massage progressed, I began to feel dormant areas of my mind being reawakened, thus making me ready and willing to take on my day’s responsibilities with a newfound determination.

As my one hundred minutes of bliss came to a close, I slowly got up and returned to reality. No amount of tasks could ruin my mood, and I drifted around feeling a calm aura of serenity surrounding me for the rest of the day.