How many of us actually use our lunch breaks? And no – that doesn’t mean nipping out to Pret or sitting at your desk studying the Mail Online.

It means really, properly, switching off. Just for half an hour. In a world where work increasingly encroaches on our ‘me’ time, the opportunity to practice mindfulness and take 10 minutes of pure relaxation has become ever more popular. But how to fit it into our hectic lives? The city’s top spas have caught on. We tried Mayfair’s latest solution – lunchtime meditation at The Connaught.

As if sidling up to The Connaught on your lunch time might not be a treat enough, step down into the basement of the hotel and you soon realise how much more indulgent it can get. The heady holistic scent of the Aman spa hits you the moment you step into the elevator, causing your shoulders to drop before you’ve even reached the ground floor. As the doors open, a cosy feel envelopes you, whilst the spa’s incredibly charming staff welcome you into reception – if you get there early enough, you might be lucky to nab yourself a fresh ginger or lemongrass tea with honey – before taking you through to one of the calming treatment rooms. Here, you’ll be offered a pillow and invited to remove your shoes (and ALL digital devices) before sitting in a comfy position. Then, the meditation begins.

The staff here practice meditation every day at 1pm – sharp. Without it, they say, it would be impossible to perform the high level holistic treatments offered at the spa. The point is to sit still for 20 minutes and focus on your breathing. Thoughts might occur to you, but by letting them pass you by, you begin to focus purely on your body, and how it moves as you breath in and out. Sound simple? Think again: this is tricky stuff. But the timely session offered here means that boredom fails to creep in. Equally, the moment your mind wanders, the wonderful member of staff leading the session softly reminds you what the focus is – and then it’s back to breathing.

The result? You feel grounded, relaxed, and focused. Just 20 minutes of this calming exercise provides a total mental rewind. Now how many people can pack that into their lunch?

Complimentary meditation sessions at The Connaught, weekdays at 1pm. Advance booking required. Please arrive 10 minutes prior.