From Burj to Bangkok, my fetish for massage has taken me all over. From plush spas to express salons at airports, I can declare to have been there, done that.

But in a rapidly advancing and competitive field such as the spa industry, you can never claim to have had the ultimate treatment, as the next best thing soon catches you by surprise. Just like the Four Hands Massage did for me at the spa at Shangri-La Hotel, Dubai.

The hotel has launched its new spa menu and one of the signature therapies on offer is this soothing and revitalising massage. Its uniqueness lies in the fact that it packs in five treatments and two therapists work on you in tandem, so it amounts to twice the pleasure.

In short, it’s journey to pure bliss.

The one of its kind treatment combines a body massage, reflexology, body brushing, Hot Stone Treatment and an express facial.

I wasn’t aware of the details when I opted for the massage, so the 90-minute treatment was full of pleasurable surprises.

Janylyn, my therapist, ushered me into the treatment room after the initial round of introductions. Back and shoulders were my trouble areas I had specified in the registration form, which Janylyn had studied prior to starting the massage as she exactly knew what to offer.

The essential oils used for the treatments are based on the five elements of nature and are selected as per an individual’s need. The ones Janylyn chose for me were of the Earth element, to induce peace and calm.

No sooner had the treatment started that I realised that there were four hands working on me. The other pair belonged to Chole, who had silently slipped into the room and remarkably I did not see her even once during the massage.

She hid under the table every time there was a possibility of being spotted. This is done to add a certain enigma to the process, I was told later.

Janylyn took control of my upper body and used elements of Swedish and shiatsu massage techniques to gently manipulate the aching muscles and induce relief from stress.

Meanwhile, Chloe pressed the pressure points on the tired soles of my feet as she led me through an express session of reflexology.

This was followed by body brushing using a natural loofah to exfoliate and rejuvenate the skin. The sweeping movements of the two therapists were in complete harmony, as they covered the full length of my body. Not only did it get rid of my dead skin but also enhanced blood circulation, which I could sense thanks to instant invigoration.

Next up was a Healing Hot Stone Treatment, which I opted for, the other choice being a Deep Tissue massage. This therapeutic massage technique uses warm stones to relieve aching muscles and cool stones to balance stress.

By the time this treatment finished, my stressed out body was completely soothed and calmed, the four hands had banished all the aches and tension.

So I just lay back and enjoyed the express deep cleansing facial, which successfully achieved what it was meant to - relax and revitalise my face and eye muscles in addition to leaving me with clearer, brighter skin.

Radiant. Rejuvenated. Ready to take on the world. That was me, on my way out of the hotel.