The Peninsula Spa is giving new meaning to the expression "hot and cold all over" with a holistic treatment designed to balance the body and mind. It's similar to a traditional hot stone massage, but alternates the use of hot and cold stones — the idea being that hot stones relieve stress, and the cold ones reduce toxins.
The treatment begins with a soothing ritual footbath and a gentle assessment by the therapist. Having rushed in from the heat and pollution of Tsim Sha Tsui, and lacking sleep, my main concern at this stage is whether I'll be able to stay awake long enough to remember any details. But I'm soon reassured on this account when I spot a rather ominous looking tray full of ice and chilled stones.
These turn out to be special basalt stones from Mexico, which supposedly deliver more powerful therapeutic results in fewer strokes than a manual massage. The therapist explains that the treatment is more balanced than a regular hot stone massage, as it helps to regulate body temperature, improve circulation and prevent overheating, which can leave you feeling groggy.
A jojoba and coconut oil is applied to prep the skin for the treatment, then I lie down on my back with a series of hot and cold stones neatly lined up under my spine and shoulders, my body cocooned in towels.
The contrasting temperatures — apparently the hot ones are yang in nature, while the cool ones are yin — feels unusual, slightly similar to that of using mentholated heat patches.
The therapist uses the smooth stones to massage my arms, and legs, before turning me over, and focusing on my back. At first, the touch of the cold against my legs and arms give me a bit of a jolt, but once I get used to it, it's refreshing. She eases out some of the knots in my back and shoulders by rolling the thin edge of the stones up and down. Then she places cold stones on the base of my neck, hot ones on my shoulders before using more for a lymphatic facial massage.