WHAT’S IT LIKE? Sutherland-Chan Centre has been offering bespoke clinical massage therapies since 2005 and is the branch of a school and teaching clinic in Canada. The facility is in a great location and caters to office crowds, shoppers and residents of posh districts Mid-Levels and the Peak. Inside, the spa feels spacious – a stark contrast to its neighbourhood which is dotted with closely built residential and office buildings.
WHERE IS IT? The spa occupies the entire 15th floor of Capitol Plaza in Central business district. Central MTR station is a few minutes walk away. Party hub Lan Kwai Fong is in the vicinity.
THE TREATMENT All of the centre’s therapists are soft tissue specialists who have been rigorously trained in Canada.
Treatments last for an hour each and are tailored individually, combining relaxation, clinical, therapeutic and sport massage therapy techniques such as trigger point massage, myofascial release (for treating neck and back pains, for example), lymphatic drainage, deep tissue and Swedish massage.
I arrived a good few minutes before my massage. I was asked to fill in a questionnaire of a few pages long to determine where I would require attention before meeting my masseuse, Starry. Soon after, I was led to the massage room.
Starry was very hospitable throughout the whole treatment. Since it was my first visit, she walked me through the treatment before setting me down for my “warm-up” or slow breathing exercises while she assessed my muscle tension by touch.
The massage was mind-numbingly Zen, and for the best part, heat packs were applied to relax my muscles, which made it even more enjoyable. The kneading of my limbs was systematic and consistent.
Fact File
PRICES HK$650 (US$83) for a 45-minute session, HK$800 (US$103) for an hour and HK$1,200 (US$154) for 90 minutes. Course packages are also available.
CONTACT 15/F Capitol Plaza, 2-10 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central, Hongkong, tel 852 2544 5838, www.sccentre.com.hk
VERDICT The relaxing effects of the massage lasted two more days after I had the treatment. Although prices are slightly higher here than at your average massage place, the service quality is high and worth several repeat visits.
Liu Hongzuo
