Hot stone massage

When in stress, turn to the rocks – and we don’t mean throwing stones on something until you feel better. Go to a spa and ask for a hot stone massage.
Hot stone massage is a massage specialty that uses basalt stones. Basalt stones are volcanic rocks that absorb and retain heat well. This can be very relaxing since the heat helps your tight muscles to release more quickly compared to traditional massage plus the warmth of the stones is proven to calm the nervous system.
The massage therapist sanitizes smooth stones of various shapes and sizes and heats them in 120 to 150 degrees. Oil will be applied to your body so that the stones can glide smoothly along your muscles. The therapist then will warm you up using traditional Swedish massage while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools down the therapist replaces it with another. The therapist can also leave the heated stones along your spine, in the palms of your hand or on your belly to improve the flow of energy in your body. If there is inflammation, cool marble stones will be used.
This is a wonderfully relaxing Luxury massage. This therapy was used over 3000 years ago in India, China and more recently by the American Indians. The native healers used heated stones to ease discomforts.
Benefits include deep relaxation, the warmth relaxes both physically and mentally, circulation is improved and muscles have an increased blood supply improving function and toxins and waste are eliminated more quickly.
Hot Stone therapy can help in the treatment of for following problems; muscular aches and pains, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, back pain and insomnia. It also helps to improve circulation and reduce stress, anxiety, tension and depression.
In some cases cold stones can be used to help muscular injury and inflammation. Warm stones expand the blood vessels, helping to move blood faster round the body, sedating the nervous system. The application of cold stones stimulates the nervous system by causing the blood vessels to contract and increasing the lymph flow of waste materials round the body.
Benefits of thermotherapy include:
- Deep relaxation, the warmth relaxes both physically and mentally
- The heat from the stones is transferred to the body by conduction and it may reach up to 3cm into the muscle
- Stress is reduced, relieving mental and physical fatigue
- Circulation is improved and muscles have an increased blood supply, improving function
- Toxins and waste are eliminated more quickly
- The warmth can relieve pain in muscles and joints
- Tension in connective tissue is decreased
- There is a deep comfort of receiving warmth on the body.
The benefits of cold/cool stone massage:
- Refreshes and stimulates the mind
- Helps to relieve tissue congestion (such as the sinuses)
- Soothes irritation
- Cools down the body on a warm day or during hot flushes.
Hot Stone therapy can help in the treatment of for following problems; muscular aches and pains, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, Multiple Sclerosis, Fibromyalgia, back pain, and insomnia. It also helps to improve circulation and can help reduce stress, anxiety, tension and depression.
In certain cases cold stones can also be used to help muscular injury and inflammation. Warm stones expand the blood vessels, helping to move blood faster round the body, sedating the nervous system. The application of cold stones stimulates the nervous system by causing the blood vessels to contract and increasing the lymph flow of waste materials round the body.
Contra-indications
A doctor’s referral is required for diabetics, high/low blood pressure and heart conditions.
You can not have the treatment in the first 3 months of pregnancy, with high temperature, infectious skin disorders, where there is: acute inflammation or swelling, burns, severe bruising, recent surgery or had botox in the last 3 weeks. Please advise me if you have Varicose Veins, any medication that have side effects to heat, skin conditions e.g. eczema, psoriasis, shingles, dermatitis, acne.
Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are often basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well, but they can be other types. The heat is both deeply relaxing and helps tight muscles release.
Price
What Happens During a Hot Stone Massage?
- Before you arrive, the massage therapist sanitizes the stones (very important!) and heats them in 120 to 150 degree water.
- During the massage, the therapist warms up the body with traditional Swedish massage, then massages you while holding a heated stone. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another.
- The therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, in the palms of your hand, on your belly, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body.
- If you have inflammation or muscle injury, cold stones are sometimes used.
What You Need To Know About Hot Stone Massage:
- The therapist uses many stones of various shapes and sizes.
- The heat of the stones helps muscles release more quickly than in traditional massage.
- You should speak up if the stones are too warm or the pressure too intense.