Move Over Meditation. Brits are Ironing to De-stress

This November, Hilton Garden Inn is launching an Ironing Club for guests, in response to two-thirds of Brits opting for ironing over yoga or meditation in a bid to relax.

Hilton Garden Inn (which welcomes guests at over 800 midscale hotels around the world) investigated Brits' simple pleasures and was surprised to discover ironing amongst the top. So much so, that over a third of those polled? (37 percent) are spending up to two hours a week at the ironing board, with 70 percent wishing they could spend more time to maximise the benefits.

Whilst some may regard it as a dreaded chore, 72 percent of Brits say ironing is their greatest simple pleasure, citing its strangely therapeutic qualities. Almost half (44 percent) say it's the satisfying smoothing of creases, whilst 43 percent say it's the permission to stand still for a while, coupled with the repetitive motion of the iron. Meanwhile, 40 percent say the soothing sound of the steam is what really does it for them.

In response to this, Hilton Garden Inn has launched a special Ironing Club, designed to help guests use their stay to decompress, whilst handily ironing out their packed clothes in the process. Hilton Garden Inn will be launching its first session at Hilton Garden Inn London Heathrow Airport as a pilot ahead of a wider UK rollout.

The Ironing Club will be led by Relaxation Expert Emma Wells, who will be leading a series of ironing moves, all of which have been trialled amongst staff to assess their effectiveness. These include breathing in time with the iron, gliding it in slow-motion, inhaling the smell of fresh laundry and ironing in sync, to smooth out particularly deep creases.

The first 30-minute session will be held on Sunday 18th November at 11.30am, perfectly timed to set attendees up for a stress-free week. Guests are encouraged to wear loose, comfortable clothing, and pyjamas are welcome. Soothing music will be played throughout and lunch will be laid on for when they're finished - the perfect antidote to a busy week.

Tal Shefer, Brand Head, Hilton Garden Inn, EMEA, says, "We know that today's modern travellers are looking for unique ways to unwind. Our research reveals that ironing is one of the nation's top simple pleasures, alongside enjoying freshly-brewed coffee and a lie-in. At Hilton Garden Inn, we're happy to say we've got guests covered for delivering on life's most simple pleasures."

Hilton Garden Inn Heathrow's Ironing Club is free and open to the public, and a slot can be booked via Eventbrite. For further information, email [email protected].

The top five surprising simple pleasures were ranked as follows:

1. Ironing - 72 percent

2. Folding towels - 56 percent

3. Pairing socks - 48 percent

4. Packing/unpacking clothes - 43 percent

5. Tidying - 33 percent