What it involves

First, I was floored and felt I had found myself on an English countryside odyssey the minute I stepped off the lift onto the second floor of the Soho Square branch of Lush in Central.

The bustle of cool tunes and affable staffers melted away into birdsong in the spa’s welcome area, the design of which echoes that of an English cottage. I was told that the birdsong playing in the background is an original recording by the founder of Lush, Mark Constantine!

I was brought a hot cup of tea as I filled out my details while seated in the spa’s English-themed kitchen. I especially loved the vintage teacups and jars and jugs, and the beautiful glass containers filled with Lush soap bars for various occasions and moods.

The therapist took me through the entire process of the treatment before we started – I am to expect four hands at work on my body throughout the 65-minute treatment.

This is to revive my prana, Sanskrit for “life force”, which is believed in Ayurveda – one of the world’s oldest forms of natural healing – to flow throughout our bodies and is deeply connected with the chakras, or nodes of energy that are interconnected across the body. Its well-being is believed to be crucial for maintaining my inner balance and physical wellness.

What it’s like

I am lying on my front and I am asked to imagine that a ball of white light, which begins from the soles of my feet, is working its way upwards towards the top of my head, and will finally be released at the end of the treatment.

The lights are dimmed and the therapist whispers in my ear, “Slow down to speed up”. Then the music starts. This is no soft strains of spa music – it is full-on, immersing music, which starts with a spiritual tune of a soulful female voice, and then it goes into drums, children’s laughter and sounds that, I found out later, originate from the “desert-dwelling Manganiyar nomads, Bengali virtuoso singers and schoolchildren”, a full-length composition by musicians Sheema Mukherjee and Simon Richmond.

While my feet are cleaned with a warm towel, another therapist places a poultice, replete with the special Lush Karma fragrance, on specific points on my back, arms and legs. This, they claim, can realign the inner balance of the body. Then, the therapists strike the singing bowl several times.

Using warm oil, the massage techniques fuse Abhyanga moves with the flow of the music to create a three-point indulgence that comes with a synchronicity of senses.

I can feel the warmth and moisturising effect of the oil, as well as the comforting touch of the massaging hands and most of all, the music.

The sounds continue to transport me through India, and thoughts of taking a train to frolicking in the mountains of Darjeeling and listening to the crickets of Kerala jungles – all images that are vividly laid out by the chosen tunes.

Although most parts of the massage are quite light to the touch, there are certain moments where the therapists work to stimulate the marma – or pressure – points of the body.

Having turned over onto my back, the massage around the stomach is particularly soothing – I learn afterwards that this is a particular spot of attention because the stomach is believed to be where the emotions are stored.

Massaging this area while I visualise the white light moving away from the stomach area will help to release the stress, I am told. So that is what I do.

Finally, coconut water – yes, real coconut water that I did not have to wash off! – was poured over the third eye (right around the top of my forehead), streaming down the length of my hair. The water washed down the tip of my brows and was incredibly meditative.

This echoes the Ayurvedic Shirodhara practice, which, according to Hannah Lammiman, Lush’s spa treatment developer, “is a unique body therapy from the ancient Ayurvedic system of natural medicine, which has a profound effect on the nervous system.

“It instantly calms and relaxes and has a cleansing effect on the mind and nerves, aiding clarity of thought and concentration when you come out of the treatment.”

I am then left to my own devices for a minute as the therapists leave the room, to allow the full effect sink in.

Then the therapists return with a bowl of water and the Karma soap, which one of them dissolves in the water and says quietly: “Now your karma is released.”

Things to note

I was impressed by how the two therapists’ massage moves and pressures were almost perfectly synchronised. If you are not a fan of loud music booming in your ears then you might want to stay away from this – or perhaps, request that the music to be turned down.

Conclusion

Honestly, I came away feeling incredibly at peace, and I almost got tearful from the gratitude that welled up in me at the end of the treatment.

I have always been one to favour alternative medicine, and I would not hesitate to recommend this treatment to anyone who is feeling a little off or stressed out, or even going through a break-up.

It is incredibly soothing, and when you return that karma back to where it belongs and sever your ties with all that is holding you hostage, psychologically and spiritually, while also getting a great body relaxation massage, it can only be a win-win situation for all, can’t it?

Anything else?

Not convinced? Watch the video below for a sneak peek.

Lush, Soho Square, Lyndhurst Terrace, Central. Tel: 3915 0638

The Lush Karma Spa Treatment is available upon appointment for HK$3,200 for 65 minutes.

Want more stories like this? Sign up here. Follow STYLE on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter