Chinese wellness methods and beliefs culminate in an extraordinary jade stone treatment at the Four Seasons. Vanessa Ko takes the heat

Jade is a much revered stone in Chinese culture as not only is it beautiful and valuable – the highest quality jade is carat-for-carat more expensive than diamonds – but it is believed to protect its wearer. The stone is also known to produce negative ions when heated, helping to boost the immune system. As one of the Spa at the Four Seasons’ oriental treatments, the Jade Stone Therapy ($1,888) utilises these beliefs as well as traditional massage techniques to relax and detoxify.

The 90-minute full-body massage is based on the Chinese practice of gua sha hot stone technique and the purported healing properties of jade. Gua sha is traditionally used to help cure ailments by rubbing the skin with a smooth object (in this case, round and smooth jade stones) to release toxins. Stone massages are especially effective in relieving muscle tension, as the hard and smooth stones are used in place of the therapist’s thumbs to massage firmly into the tissue. In addition to a deep-tissue massage effect, another purpose of the hot stone massage is to increase blood circulation – the stones are typically placed along the spine and in the palms to facilitate blood flow and help relax muscles.

For Four Seasons' jade stone therapy, some of the stones are heated to a high temperature for a hot sensation, while others are left at room temperature and are cool to the touch. The therapist glides the stones firmly along the body smeared with the spa's custom-blended signature oil – a heavenly concoction of jasmine, cedarwood, vanilla, ylang ylang and mandarin orange. The treatment also employs stretches and acupressure, all the better to perform a detailed loosening of nearly every muscle in your body.

And there is plenty more to the spa experience than the treatment alone. From the moment you enter the spa lobby, the spacious and bright surroundings already help put you in an uplifting spa mode. The attentive service is both friendly and sincere. The inside of the spa reflects the contemporary opulence of the Four Seasons, with a simple design that uses natural elements and earthy colours, accentuated with gold-toned fixtures that add a sense of formality.

The labyrinthine hydrotherapy area is a spa enthusiast’s amusement park. A walk-through for first-timers reveals the extensive range of facilities, including a soft sauna and a steam room with a large amethyst crystal (believed to relieve headaches) on the women’s side, and a Finnish sauna and steam room for men. After you’ve worked up a good sweat, the “experience” showers with different jets and ice chips provide relief from the heat. The vitality pool is impressively large with powerful water jets for back, foot and shoulder massages. These facilities, along with herbal drinks and snacks, are all available for visitors’ use when enjoying a treatment.

6th Floor, Four Seasons Hotel, 8 Finance Street, Central. Tel: 3196 8900