Hot Stone massage is a deep massage that uses soothing oils, warm basalt and sometimes cold marble stones to relax your muscles.
What is hot stone massage good for?
Hot stone treatments alternate warmth and cold -- a technique which has proven beneficial to soothe an aching body.
There's a method behind the madness of leaping from a toasty sauna into
an icy pool, and hot stone massage uses the same principle.
Hot stone massage combines relaxing warmth and refreshing coolness to encourage the body to detox and heal. This also increases lymph flow and helps to flush out waste.
Heat relaxes your body in a short space of time, so your therapist
can focus on a deep working of the tissues using both hot stones and
hand strokes.
Hot stones also increase your sense of relaxation and calm.
They are coated in fragrant oil which is smoothed gently onto your
body, and each stone in turn is worked by your therapist's hands.
Hot stone massage can:
boost your circulation
release stored tension
recharge your energy levels
Hot stone massage is said to have health benefits for people with:
muscular pain
poor circulation
rheumatic and arthritic conditions
fibromyalgia
back pain
stress
insomnia
depression
As with all spa therapies, never underestimate the feel-good factor. Hot stone massage will help you feel nurtured, pampered and special.
What to expect from hot stone massage
Hot stone massage begins with placing warm, oiled stones on multiple acupressure points
around your body, perhaps even tiny ones between your toes. You may
drift off into a dreamy state and lose track of where the hot stones are
arranged.
Hot stone massage employs a variety of strokes and techniques using
the stones and hands, working over kinks in your muscles. You are
unlikely to feel the intensity, since your muscles will be relaxed by
the heat of the stones. Your therapist may alternate between hot basalt stones and much colder, marble stones. As your body sinks further into a state of relaxation, you may even stop noticing the extreme changes in temperature.
Hot stone massage should trigger a deeply relaxed, blissed-out and meditative state.
Some people have reported closing their eyes and seeing bright colours.
Enjoy the afterglow -- float slowly back to the real world and
re-hydrate your body by sipping plenty of water.
Hot Stone tips!
Hot stone massage is a treat, so indulge as much as you can. Arrive early
so you have time enough to relax and absorb your surroundings. It's not
a good idea to eat a heavy meal or drink alcohol in the hours
beforehand.
Your hot stones treatment is likely to last about an hour; plenty of time for melting away all your knots, aches and worries.
Always tell your therapist about any medical conditions
you have. They will take your medical history into account when
choosing the right stones and techniques for your body. For similar
reasons, tell your therapist if you are, or think you might be,
pregnant.
Don't be afraid to tell your therapist if the stones are too warm for
you. You'll relax much more quickly and start enjoying that delicious feeling of total well-being if you're comfortable.
We recommend you should book hot stone treatments on a day when you
won't have to rush out somewhere afterwards. You'll feel so relaxed and
soothed after your treatment, jumping in the car and tackling the rush
hour traffic might seem sacrilegious.