subject: Fight Stress And Combat Pain Using A Soothing Hot Stone Massage [print this page] Hot stone massage therapy - the strategic placement of heated rocks on key points of your body - is a variation of traditional massage and has been proven to ease tension, eliminate muscle stiffness and improve circulation. The key points targeted with hot stone massage are located in the toes, back and hand, and the temporary placement of heated rocks on these areas relaxes the muscles in preparation for deeper pressure by your massage therapist.
Your massage therapist will administer a customized hot stone massage, by rubbing the body with stones to create the ultimate healing and relaxing experience. Because the warm heat from the stones helps to relax the muscles, it allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure. Strategic placement of the rocks during the hot stone massage is important, as they are thought to be the energy centers of the body that returns balance to the mind and body.
Not only is hot stone massage therapy so popular because it allows for deeper muscle and tissue relaxation, but because it aids in flushing out toxins, while improving circulation. Hot stone massage is also used in treating the following ailments:
Muscular ache;
Back pain;
Stress and anxiety;
Rheumatic and arthritic conditions;
Fibromyalgia;
Insomnia;
Depression.
The stones used in stone massage therapy are actually river rocks, whose surface has been smoothed over time by the flow of the water in which they were found. These stones are able to retain heat for long periods of time because they are rich in iron and heated by an electrical device that brings them to just the right degree of warmth.
Stone massage therapy continues to grow in popularity - especially in these trying times - among those suffering from the effects of stress. It is especially popular among those who want the benefits of a deeper massage delivered with a lighter stroke.
Some people may be turned off by the thought of hot rocks on their body. But there is no need to worry ... the stones are always smooth, flat and only about the size of a large egg. The heat is not a concern either, as the hot stones are warmed under the strictest precautions in a unit that carefully monitors the degree of warmth. And while everyone has their own comfort range, your massage therapist will always hold the stones in his hands before applying them to your body to make sure that they are not too hot.
To begin your hot stone massage session, your therapist will ask that you lie face down on the table so that he/she can place the hot stones on the key points on your back. When the muscles have been sufficiently warmed, the therapist will continue your hot stone massage by removing the rocks and using them to rub your back with just the right amount of pressure needed to provide complete relaxation. Most massage therapists like to incorporate some type of cream, oil or lotion into hot stone massage therapy to allow the stones to run smoothly over your skin. Your massage therapist will then ask that you lie on your back so that he can address the front of your body, by placing the hot stones on the palms of your hands and between your toes.
People should not engage in hot massage therapy if they have open wounds or rashes, are currently engaged in chemotherapy or are knows to be prone to blood clots. And if you are pregnant, as with any other procedure, you should contact your personal doctor before beginning any massage program.
