Months into having a new baby I read the book 'Thrive' by Arianna Huffington, founder of the Huffington Post. I promptly booked a deep tissue massage at a hotel and spa in central London, expressed enough milk for the baby and let the exhaustion of being a new mum melt away. After a 'fourth trimester massage', a long hot shower and a pot of tea, I had a new spring in my step and returned home feeling calm and re-energised.
Massage, for me, is a luxury I won't go without. I feel it's important for my health, it helps me sleep and if I don't doze off during my hour on the massage table, the opposite happens and I often come up with ideas, from a photo shoot to blog post to making weekend plans or thinking of our next weekend away.
Jo at Home Spa London is my regular massage therapist and what's amazing is that she comes to your home. It means I can get the baby ready for bed, put daddy in charge of the babysitting duties and relax. Jo also does a wonderful pregnancy massage and fantastic baby massage course which I would also highly recommend. www.homespalondon.co.uk
If venturing into central London and making a day out of it, the Chuan Spa at the Langham Hotel on Regent Street is something special with a tranquil indoor pool. By booking a massage, you are free to use the spa facilities beforehand, an added bonus.
The Chuan Spa at The Langham Hotel
The SO Spa at the Sofitel St James has the added benefit of a relaxation room where you can listen to relaxing music whilst browsing from an extensive tea menu - bliss!
For my birthday last year I was treated to a massage at the Aman Spa at The Connaught Hotel in Mayfair. It's not cheap but it also has a pool and jacuzzi so you can make an afternoon of it and the setting feels a million miles away from the hustle and bustle of central London.