Hot Stone Massage Therapy is a concept that has seemed to come into popularity within the last 5-10 years. Even within the last four years, it has become the rage at Spas and Therapeutic Centers all over the world. Contrary to popular belief, Hot Stone Therapy was NOT first discovered in the desert of Arizona or by massage therapists’ visions of saints. This is an age-old therapy dating back 5000 years to India and most certainly even the Mayan culture. Ayurveda, the ancient healing tradition of India, spoke of a universal source of all life. The energy called ‘prana’ is the energy or the breath of life which moves through all forms to give them life. Yogis work with this energy with breathing techniques, meditation, physical exercise, and massage to produce altered states of consciousness, healing, and longevity. They would not only use their hands for manipulation and healing but also utilize “tools” the earth would provide such as herbs, flowers, crystals, and stones. Stone massage therapy has been used in many different cultures for many years. Healers used rocks from the river beds and warmed them either in hot coals or hot water. Placing the hot stones on cloth on the body and arranging them along the energy centers of the body would help to relax the muscles and reduce pain or discomfort, boosting a healing process. The placing of the stones can be followed by a massage which can be deeper and more intense as heat penetrates the body and relaxes the muscles. Hot Stone therapy can help in the treatment of for following problems; muscular aches, pains, and strains, 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 around 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 around the body.
During a treatment, the client lies on a couch or a series of flat hot stones covered by a thick towel that traces the spine. The therapist applies aromatherapy oils to the skin and glides the stones across the body’s meridian lines. In some treatments, large stones are placed on the body, in the palms of the hands, and coin-sized stones are lightly wedged between the toes. Heated Chakra stones align and balance chief energy centres, benefiting the whole body, not just specific areas. Hot stone massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones. They are basalt, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. It is a deeply soothing, relaxing form of massage. The heat helps tight muscles release.
What Happens During a Hot Stone Massage?
- Before you arrive, the massage therapist sanitizes the stones and heats them in 120 and 150-degree water.
- The therapist uses traditional strokes of Swedish massage 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, or in the palms of your hand, 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.
How Much Does a Hot Stone Massage Cost?
A hot stone massage is more expensive than a basic Swedish massage because it requires more preparation and usually runs longer
The therapist will ask questions about your medical history; general health and lifestyle. This will help her decide which movements are most appropriate for you as an individual. A session normally lasts from 75 to 90 minutes and costs £80.
Other Benefits
There are so many more benefits to Hot Stone Therapy massage and if you’ve never had one before, now is definitely the time to get one. Remember prevention is better than cure. Once you show signs of improvement we will continue to work with you to keep harmony and balance already achieved. A regular treatment, depending on your timetable, will stop future stress from accumulating. We encourage you to have regular treatments to prevent illness and maintain a state of well-being.
Post Treatment Advice
In order to get the most out of your treatment and to aid the healing process, it is advisable to:
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- Drink plenty of water. This helps flush out the toxins that have been released from your cells into your system.
- Eat a light diet. This is to prevent energy needed for healing from going to your stomach to digest a heavy meal! Eat raw foods such as fruit and vegetables if possible for vitality and cleansing effects.
- Avoid tea and coffee. These are stimulants and should be avoided after a treatment. Drink herbal teas or fresh fruit/vegetable juice instead.
- Avoid alcohol and smoking.
- Rest and relax as much as possible. This allows the body to commence healing.