Hot stone massage, as the name implies, uses heated stones as part of the massage. This type of massage is thought to stimulate the body’s own internal energy. Before the hot stone massage starts, the muscles are pre-massaged by the therapist with oils to invoke a better response from the hot stone therapy.
Like other forms of massage, hot stone massage offers benefits that go beyond relaxation. The hot stone massage relieves stress, tension, reduces pain, and removes toxins from the body. In addition, the massage increases blood flow throughout the body, which promotes better health. This therapy is often used to relieve the painful symptoms of arthritis, anxiety, back pain, depression, and sleeplessness.
Hot stone massage is not a new therapy and has been in existence since about 1500 BC. Volcanic basalt stones and hardened lava stones are typically heated and used for the treatment. In today’s modern world the stones are warmed in an electric heater with water, up to 150 degrees Fahrenheit. Once the stones reach the desired temperature the therapist places the stones in strategic areas of the body. As a result stress is quickly relieved as heat travels deep into the muscles. The therapy leaves the customer completely relaxed and stress free.
There are different massage types which can accompany the hot stone treatment; however the most popular massage is the Swedish massage. The therapist uses her fingers, hands, wrists, elbows, and upper arms to deliver the massage. The Swedish massage is more physical than other massage types, but the stress reduction and loosening of stiff and tense muscles makes this type of massage very effective.
Worldwidehealth.com says the Swedish massage offers many health benefits of its own, however when accompanied with hot stone therapy the heat travels deep into muscle tissues allowing them to release their toxins and rejuvenate sore muscles. As a result the Swedish massage becomes much more effective when hot stones are added. Anyone suffering from aching joints, sore muscles, multiple sclerosis, anxiety, or depression will feel like a new person after receiving a hot stone massage.
If you own or manage a massage spa and do not offer the hot stone massage, your business needs to begin offering this therapeutic service. Every spa in town offers the Swedish massage, but they may not offer the hot stone treatment. This added specialty will have stressed out executives clamoring for more, once they have been indulged with heated rocks.
In the end, the health benefits of massage are becoming well known and are now accepted by the medical community at large. As a spa owner you must offer specialty services that other spas may not offer, such as the hot stone massage. The hot stone therapy is typically used in conjunction with a physical type of massage called the Swedish massage. However, it is the hot stones which perform the true magic.