Why let jet lag hinder your trip to Asia's World City, especially during festival season? James Ockenden and Zoe Chan take a look at beating jet lag in the spa.

We've all been there: excited about arriving at a new destination, proud of fitting both your business and bathing suit into your carry-on, then arriving feeling lethargic, petulant, and unable to concentrate, simply wanting to sleep at 3pm because it feels like 3am.

Hordes of visitors arrive at Hong Kong International Airport daily, ready to sightsee and to cut business deals. However, flying across multiple time zones disrupts travellers' circadian rhythms, thus resulting in what is known as jet lag. Contrary to common belief, jet lag is not inevitable. After landing in Hong Kong, seek out a spa that specialises in jet lag treatments that promise to return your mind and body to top form.

Life of Life Healing Spa (10/F & 11/F Continental Diamond Plaza, 525 Hennessey Road, Causeway Bay; Tel: 2838 1661) is an ideal place to treat jet lag symptoms. The spa even has a state-of-the-art biopulsar machine that checks clients' physical and mental status by simply placing a hand on a sensor. This allows the spa specialists to diagnose specific treatments that rejuvenate after a long flight. And don't even try to fool the machine; it's 95% accurate.

Our travelling testers sampled two jet lag relief treatments that proved successful.

Herbal Renewal

Stepping off a plane and heading straight to the office is no one's forte. Often travellers swell up from their face to their legs and are left searching for a cure. As usual, Chinese traditions can help in the return to normalcy. Walking into Life of Life's treatment room for a Herbal Compress Treatment is sensational: the scent of steamed compresses of individually prepared Chinese herbs hints that something special is in store. Sesame seed oil is first rubbed into the skin, followed by a face, shoulder, and neck massage that facilitates a muchneeded lymphatic drainage. Then the warm compresses are placed at different pressure points around the face to hydrate and firm the skin, forcing a small but undoubtedly relaxed and refreshed smile across the lips. Afterwards, the newly-arrived traveller is ready to brave the office, sans the original swollen, jet-lagged look. Compliments from colleagues will definitely ensue, even after a 12-hour flight.

Fire Massage

Imagine six deliciously heavy, steamed towels being laid in layers over your aching shoulders (those aching shoulders already primed with massage oils, a stiff rub with rubber-knobbled gloves and a rare Chinese medicinal lotion). And now imagine a seventh and final towel is laid across the top, doused with alcohol and set alight with the click of a lighter. The fire is said to draw “wetness” from the body and force the Chinese medicine into the organs. When the heat becomes almost unbearable, the flaming towel is extinguished, and the process repeated two more times. The heat (or rather, intense warmth) is constant and strong and it’s a heavenly experience. Few spas in Hong Kong have the training - and ventilation - required to offer this 200-year-old remedy from northern China, and a trip to Life of Life to melt away the airplane aches is highly recommended.

Spas recommend that you book your jet lag relief treatment for the same day as your arrival to maximise its benefits. With these novel and renewing treatments, you will have no excuse to miss out on all of what Hong Kong has to offer.