subject: Rejuvenate Your Body But Also Fight Pain Using A Soothing Hot Stone Massage [print this page] Hot stone massage therapy provides the ultimate in relaxing and healing massage. After the proper amount of time, the stones are removed and used by the massage therapist to continue rubbing them over your muscles. During a hot stone massage, the therapist is able to apply more deliberate pressure because the stones have been relaxed by the heat.
The points where the therapist places the rocks is very important, as they are the thought to be the energy replenishment areas of the body where the body and mind are realigned.
Hot stone massage therapy is gaining popularity for its ability to provide deeper muscle and tissue relaxation, which in turn releases more potentially harmful toxins and improves circulation. Hot stone massage therapy has also been used successfully in the treatment of symptoms related to:
Aches and pains in the muscles;
Pain located in the back;
Symptoms related to anxiety and stress;
Conditions brought on by arthritis;
The effects of Fibromyalgia;
The annoying effects of insomnia;
Symptoms resulting from depression.
The stones used in hot stone massage therapy are rich in iron and can therefore retain heat for long periods of time, after being heated by a specially designed machine that keeps them at precisely the right temperature. River rocks - with smooth flat surfaces created by the current of the river - provide the perfect tool for hot stone massage therapy.
One of the things that make the hot stone massage so popular is the comfortable and relaxing sensation brought on by the warmth of the hot stones. The technique is particularly popular among those who suffer from stress and tension-related symptoms but prefer a lighter massage, because hot stone massage therapy makes the muscles easier to manipulate.
Apprehensive about the thought of hot rocks being placed on your body? No need to be ... the stones - which are only about the size of a large egg - are always smooth and flat. And the therapist takes every precaution to be sure that the temperature of the rocks is within your range of comfort.
So what is the procedure utilized during a hot stone massage? After lying face down on the massage table, the therapist often begins by applying oil to the skin to aid in the movement of the rocks over your skin. He then rubs the hot stones over your body to relax the muscles, after which he will either use the rocks to continue the hot stone massage before asking you to turn onto your back to apply the stones in your hands and between your toes.
If you are pregnant or are in treatment for any other existing health concerns, please contact your physician before beginning a hot stone massage therapy program. If you are currently undergoing chemotherapy, are prone to blood clots or have open wounds or rashes, you should not engage in hot stone massage therapy.
