LET'S be honest, even though we live in the most beautiful place in the world, the demands of everyday life can still become overwhelming and exhausting.

So what is the answer? Perhaps the decadently delivered Chi-Omi package at Ikatan Spa Noosa.

It's ideal for anyone feeling overwhelmed, exhausted or who have mental stress and anxiety and its beginnings stemmed from a completely exhausted Ikatan Spa owner Katrina Thorpe's own experiences.

"I went to Chi Spa at a resort in Malaysia and said I can't read the spa menu, I'm too exhausted, tell me what treatment you have to help me,” she said.

"They recommended their Chi massage. The therapists started the massage and I thought 'if she does that move one more time I am going to...' I woke up 1.5 hours later and felt and looked completely different. I can only relate it to general anaesthetic, when they say count... and you are out to it before number three.”

Katrina combined the Chi massage with a few aromatherapy, Balinese and Lomi Lomi moves she had learnt to evolve the Chi massage to an Ikatan Chi massage and named it after the Malaysian spa where her inspiration was sparked.

"I also shared some of my massage techniques with the Chi Spa, which gave them some new inspiration.”

Katrina said the products used for the Chi massage were essential oil blends that she makes herself.

"Each blend balances chi (energy) but in different ways - there's an essential oil for relaxation as a base aroma and then each blend has either upfitting, clearing or releasing essential oils.

"If a person was feeling depressed as opposed to overwhelmed with work load, life or family issues, they would need a different blend to balance their chi.”

How does it work? First a warm herbal compress ball (made in Bali to their own recipe) full of herbs, is used to apply the personal essential oil blend in a specific way. Once the oil is applied, the massage moves are more repetitious and slower as this helps to calm the mind.

The massage also includes a foot massage targeting the meridian lines and reflex points relating to your Chi element of either earth, fire, air, water, wood or metal.

Chi massage has been on the Ikatan spa menu for five years but never in a package with a facial before, which gives extended relaxation and a total head-to-toe experience.

And make sure you allow time to sit in the beautiful garden surrounds after your massage, sipping on a glass of herbal tea and breathing in the fresh air. This in itself is a calming experience.

Chi-Omi is on the Ikatan Spa menu throughout autumn.