Justin of Shenzhen Zen partakes in a unique ’slimming’ treatment at an upscale Hong Kong spa, which allows its clients to ‘enjoy’ a small bonfire for the sake of vanity.

One the reasons I stay in journalism besides the fact that I’m lousy at math and possess no other marketable skills is that I still the opportunity to do things like getting set on fire in an upscale Hong Kong spa.

I felt a little like a human yule log. Or given that I’d just eaten 20 minutes before and my torso was basted in mysterious Chinese herbal oils, swathed in plastic cling wrap and towels with a fire flickering on my back, perhaps a living boil-a-meal was more appropriate.

It was all part of an “Aqua-Fire therapy” that Life of Life Healing Spa in Causeway Bay promotes as a rejuvination and weight loss treatment.

The spa claims that the fire’s heat hastens the oils’ ability to zap fat cells and detoxify the body….

Mandy Sea, a doctor and nutritionist at Chinese University’s Center for Nutritional Studies begged to disagreee said any perceived weight loss could be attributed to temporary water weight being sweated out and that if someone is obese and/or suffering from high blood pressure they may be playing with fire.

“The heat is not efficient enough to burn away your fat,” said Sea. “And if someone is suffering from hypertension and overweight the heat could raise your blood pressure to dangerous levels.

“The herb oils will not make any chemical changes to your body. There is no chemical data on how much penetration there might be or how it could affect your skin and health.

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