Despite the fact that I don't have them half as often as my body probably needs, I've always loved having a good massage. After attending a week-long intensive fitness camp press trip last summer, I decided to swap the usual relaxing style for a sports massage and while it did hurt, after a few days my body definitely thanked me for it.

But there lies the problem. Generally speaking, you have to choose between going for full-on relaxation or something more intensive that actually hits those tense spots. Luckily, though, The Metropolitan London's signature Como Shambhala massage delicately balances both elements.

COMO Shambhala Urban Escape, their in-house spa, is located on the second floor of the  much-loved hotel (Nichole Scherzinger and Lewis Hamilton were there the last time I stayed) and is open for both guests and non-residents of the hotel. The minimalist decor and relaxing music instantly transport you to a different place, far from the pressures and strains of every day life and the hustle and bustle around the hotel's central location. On arrival you are instantly greeted with a homemade cup of ginger and honey tea, specially made each day by the chefs downstairs to help relax you before the treatment. To get a flavour of what they had to offer, I opted for their signature Shambhala massage.

Meaning 'sacred place of bliss', the Asian-inspired treatment was incredibly calming and rejuvenating but more that that, like their other treatments, it's instantly apparent that it's driven by results. Over the course of the 90 minutes, every part of my body from upper and lower legs, back, feet, shoulders and hands were focused on and really worked.

After I finished I was off to a photo-shoot and was met with a barrage of emails as soon as my Blackberry was switched on, but in my new found zen state of mind, I was ready for it.

The COMO Shambhala massage is £130 for 90mins but for more information about the treatments on offer, click here.