SPA DOCTOR: A Meghan-approved massage to banish back pain blues?

It’s not hard to understand why back pain can make you feel low. But can stress and depression exacerbate the problem?

It is widely accepted that mental health issues can exacerbate the way we deal with physical pain, and studies have shown that psychological therapies can help ease the discomfort.

So could a massage treatment solve such a complex problem? Not easy.

But the Ila Only Spa at Lotte New York Palace may be onto something with its Beat The Blues back massage (60 minutes, £165), a stress-reducing and pain-relieving treatment to help ‘when you’re feeling emotionally drained, with stress in your neck and shoulders’.

The Ila Only Spa at Lotte New York Palace may be onto something with its Beat The Blues Back Massage (60 minutes, £165), a stress-reducing and pain-relieving treatment to help ‘when you’re feeling emotionally drained, with stress in your neck and shoulders’

THE TREATMENT

Lotte New York Palace is a gem. Located on Madison Avenue, it exudes old-world New York glamour. Many of the rooms overlook the iconic St. Patrick’s Cathedral, opened in 1879, and it is just steps from Rockefeller Center and the fashionable shops of 5th Avenue.

The spa is Cotswolds-based organic skincare company Ila’s first venture into the US market. Ila is reportedly a favorite of Meghan, Duchess of Sussex. If it’s good enough for her…

The massage focuses on the back of the body, perfect for my stressed neck and shoulders after the flight. The first part is done without oil, through a sheet, focusing on pressure points to release tension and improve circulation – both natural pain relievers.

My therapist then applies warm compresses — cloth sachets filled with Himalayan salt and lavender, which are known to help with anxiety — along my spine.

I leave feeling like a weight has been lifted, ready to take on a day of sightseeing.

Jonathan Neil