Luxury hotel chain Mandarin Oriental has launched a new brand called Intelligent Movement to deliver fitness and wellbeing interventions to guests. The aim of the programme is to help them overcome the impact of a modern, sedentary lifestyle.

By teaming up with Hong Kong-based physiotherapist, Joint Dynamics, and recovery and movement device specialists Hyperice, the programme includes mobility exercises to improve posture and overall movement capability and massage treatments that are designed to improve joint health.

“The Intelligent Movement initiative is designed to help us elevate awareness around the importance of movement in our daily lives and to help our guests improve their own capacity for movement in a highly targeted way,” explained Jeremy McCarthy, group director of spa at Mandarin Oriental, in an exclusive interview with HCM magazine.

“The reality is, one hour of exercise is not enough to undo 8-10 hours of sitting in front of a computer,” said McCarthy. “And unfortunately, most people nowadays are not only sedentary at work, they also spend a large part of their leisure time sitting in front of a screen. Most people can benefit immensely by increasing the total quantity and diversity of movement throughout the day.”

McCarthy says the initiative was born partly because of the benefits he experienced through his own movement practice, specifically of the Ido Portal method. By bringing in Joint Dynamics to train Mandarin Oriental's trainers and therapists, the Intelligent Movement team is now able to recommend stretches and exercises to guests that improve their overall mobility and movement capacity.

Some of these mobility exercises are available through the website, so guests – or anyone who wishes to practice – can do so by visiting: mandarinoriental.com/luxury-spas.

“These treatments and exercises are very accessible to people with different levels of experience and fitness,” says McCarthy. “Anyone who spends too much time sitting and/or using technology can benefit.”

The following Mandarin Oriental hotels are offering the Intelligent Movement programme: Washington DC, London, Marrakech, Hong Kong and Paris, with more to follow.