What You Need To Know About A Hot Stone Massage?

A hot stone massage is a popular offering at spas and massage therapists around the world

. Since its introduction as a mainstream form of massage therapy, hundreds of thousands of people have been reaping the rewards of this relaxing form of treatment that helps to relieve any physical discomforts while restoring a person's natural harmony. Here's a look at the process so you know what to expect if you decide to try this popular form of healing therapy.

The use of hot stones with massage and as a healing technique dates back to ancient times. However, it didn't really become popular in North America until an Arizona massage therapist named Mary Nelson introduced her version of it called LaStone Therapy, in the early 1990s. While Nelson continues to train other massage therapists in the LaStone technique, many of them have since developed their own version of hot stone massage.

Hot stone massage therapy involves the use of heated smooth, flat stones that are placed on key points on the patient's body. This is designed to promote relaxation and to help open up what are termed "meridians". These are the pathways of "qi", also called "chi", and blood flow through the body. Qi flows continuously from one meridian to another. Any break in the flow is a sign of imbalance. Muscles are pre-treated with the heated stones to loosen them up, thereby allowing the therapist to more easily perform subsequent deep tissue manipulations.

The stones used are usually made of basalt, a hard, dense, dark volcanic rock. Basalt is typically rich in iron which allows it to better retain heat. Basalt is also the most abundant type igneous rock and forms very rapidly and is very easy to find. The stones are placed in water and heated to a temperature range of around 125 - 135C in a roaster-oven or similar electric heating device. The stones may then be placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes.

Rough stones are never used in hot stone massage therapy; rather they are always smooth and flat, almost like glass to the touch, and are about the size of an egg. The therapist should always test the stones first before applying them to a client's body to ensure that they are just the right temperature. A typical hot stone massage session will last between 60 and 90 minutes, and is best suited for those who prefer a lighter massage than is typically provided via other popular massage therapy techniques like Shiatsu for example.

Different stones are used for different things. "Chakra stones" for example are used for bringing "balance" to the Chakra centers (Chakras in traditional Indian medicine are "force centers" that flow from different points of the physical body), therefore some stones are placed on points on the body that are thought to represent these energy centers, while others are used to actually massage the client.

You can also perform a hot stone massage on yourself in the comfort of your own home, since there are massage kits available at health stores and physical therapy centers that include stones, heating or cooling devices, and massage mats to lie on while you're undoing some of the damage that has been done to your muscles and joints.

by: David East

POST COMMENT

Consider Healthy Lifestyle-Not Diet plan concept 2 rowing machine - Full Entire body Training Custom Blankets Are Beneficial For Sleeping Finding a Homeopathic Doctor Who Treats Canine Cancer Basic guide to healthy pregnancy Why You Shouldn't Take In Fat Burners When You're Going To Sleep Maintain Healthy Skin With The Right Anti Aging Products Get Enthusiastic By Having A Great Health And Right Weight Sitz Bath For Hemorrhoids - A No-cost Hemroid Cure Quit Smoking Is Hard - Have You Tried Electronic Cigarettes? How To Make Mango Butter For Skin, Body and Hair Obesity And Fatty Liver Disease: Now The Number One Liver Threat Lower Blood Pressure Immediately Follow These 4 Easy Ways