SPA DOCTOR treats... ANXIETY

THE number of people suffering with anxiety is soaring, with a recent YouGov survey finding that half of people wish they could be less anxious while one in five say they worry a lot of the time.

Many sufferers find complementary therapies help them to relax and reduce anxiety, so writer SARAH LAWSON, 39, tried out a spa treatment that promises to calm the mind...

WHAT’S THE PROBLEM?

I often feel anxious, whether about real and pressing problems or simple decisions.

But while I recognise that I worry too much, I don’t wish to medicalise the issue so deal with it through self-help strategies like exercise and eating well.

Organisations such as MIND suggest massage and relaxation can help so I’m keen to try a spa treatment – though such is my anxiety, I worry how I’ll handle all that thinking time!

WHAT’S THE SOLUTION?

A signature treatment of the Four Seasons Spa in London is the Eastern Elements ritual, which is designed to relax the mind through relaxing the body.

‘This uses Eastern-inspired techniques to relax you, focusing on those areas of the body which hold the most tension: the feet, the back and the head,’ says spa director Sheron Boddy.

‘We apply heat to the body as it can have a powerful calming effect on the mind.’

WHAT’S THE TREATMENT?

This two-hour ‘journey’ begins with a foot soak and scrub, which I’m surprised to find is actually so relaxing in itself that I immediately stop worrying about the treatment – or anything else.

There’s also something nice about the rooftop spa and its views across London which mean I can see the buzz and traffic far below me but can’t hear it – I feel I’ve escaped.

Then a series of different methods are used to relax the body through warmth, starting with large heated pads that are placed along my back and pressed into my body. The heat feels very comforting.

A deep, long massage concentrates on where we tense up when anxious – the back and shoulders – followed by an oriental scalp massage.

Then the therapist uses reflexology on my feet, applying pressure at certain points and massaging them for an extremely long time.

The entire experience is incredibly relaxing and I realise the benefits of giving my body TLC and downtime rather than my usual tactic of running off my anxiety.

I feel very calm afterwards and sleep really well.