Hot Stone Massage

WHAT IS HOT STONE MASSAGE?

Hot Stone Therapy is a specialty massage that uses smooth, flat, heated basalt stones positioned along your spine, in your palms, along your legs and between your toes. The basalt stones are used for massage because they have a rich iron content that retains heat. Sometimes cold stones are also used during a hot stone massage to aid detoxification and healing of the body.

The origins of hot stone therapy can be traced back to over 2,000 years ago, when the Chinese used heated stones to improve the functioning of internal organs more than 2,000 years ago.

HOW DOES THE HOT STONE MASSAGE WORK?

Your therapist will heat the stones in water until they are within the exact temperature range of between 120 and 130 degrees Fahrenheit. A hot stone massage can start with a traditional Swedish massage technique to prime your muscles. Your therapist will then place the warm stones on key acupressure points on your body. The stones warm and relax your muscles and allow deeper pressure during the massage.

Using massage oil and a combination of strokes and techniques, your therapist massages your neck, back, arms and legs with and without stones. You should always tell your therapist if the stones are too warm or the pressure is too high.

ADVANTAGES OF HOT STONE MASSAGE:

Therapeutic and relaxing, this treatment relieves stiffness and pain while restoring energy and balance. The heat from the stones relaxes the muscles and has a calming effect on your emotions. At the same time, other stones are placed on the energy points of your body, providing deep warmth to the muscles to relieve tension.

The combination of hot and cold stones stimulates your body to detoxify and heal by increasing your lymph flow and encouraging your body to remove waste products.

Some other benefits of hot stone massage are: