Hot Stone Massage
Most people have heard of a hot stone massage but there are still many people who do not understand exactly what happens during one. There is a misconception that it is simply a massage with some hot stones placed on your body, when in reality it is a speciality massage that uses the stones in specific ways in order to maximise the benefits received by the client. Hot Stone Massage is a form of therapy that has been used for hundreds of years and throughout various cultures, demonstrating its’ universal appeal both as a form of relaxation and as a way of healing various ailments.
What happens during the massage?
The therapist will use smooth stones that have been heated to the point of being warm on the skin without scalding. The stones will be used in two ways; being placed on the body in particular places whilst other areas are massaged, and by being used as an extension of the therapists’ hands and actually using the hot stones to massage the skin.
Why hot stones?
The hot stones are used to aid the massage in terms of relaxation and healing. Placing hot stones on a person’s body can be deeply relaxing on its own as it focuses the person and allows them to empty their mind of the daily stresses and think only about their body and their relaxation. In addition to this relaxation the hot stones are also used to warm up tight muscles which allows the therapist to be able to work on these areas quickly and with ease. The heat provided by the stones warms the muscles up on average 4 times faster than a standard massage. Having the hot stones therefore means that the therapist does not have to spend time warming up the muscles before the benefits of the massage can be enjoyed.
Hot Stone Massage as a healing treatment
The massage techniques used by the therapists, combined with the thermotherapy provided by the hot stones is an effective form of therapy which can be used to heal in various ways. The specific places that the hot stones are placed can increase circulation of fluids in the body which and can alleviate organ congestion and assist in the dissolution of masses.
Other benefits of Hot Stone Massage include an increase in energy levels and the release of stored tension, as well as the deep relaxation. These benefits mean that Hot Stone Massage is perfect for treating certain ailments. The heat and deep massage techniques can help with muscle pain and rheumatic and arthritic conditions.
If you experience any of the following then Hot Stone Massage could help:
- poor circulation
- muscular pain
- stress
- back pain
- depression
- insomnia
- rheumatic and arthritic conditions