Getting a massage is an excellent way to reduce tension in both the body and the mind. Add hot stones to the mix, and you’ve got a highly effective form of treatment against body pain. When heated stones are placed along the body’s pressure points during a massage session, it activates a wide range of healing properties.
Are you thinking about getting a hot stone massage? This article will explain what a hot stone massage is, how it works, and what you can expect when you book a treatment session. Lastly, we’ll review some of the most significant benefits of this age-old massage technique.
What is Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stone massage is a special form of massage therapy that uses smooth, water-heated stones. During a massage session, these hot stones are strategically placed on key areas of the body, providing the recipient with relaxation and pain relief.
Most hot stone massages are done using basalt river rock stones, as these stones have smooth surfaces that can rest against areas of the body most easily without falling or slipping. They also have the ability to retain heat for long periods of time. At gesund, we use hand-selected stones picked from Lake Superior.
How Does It Work?
The heat of the stones is transferred to the body, helping relax the muscles and allowing an enhanced manipulation of the underlying tissues compared to a regular massage.
These hot stones also help expand the blood vessels, increasing blood flow and helping promote the release of unwanted toxins and waste materials from the body. Not only does this process help sedate the nervous system, but it also allows the body’s cells to be better enriched with nutrients. An increase in lymph flow also helps remove any waste from the body more quickly and effectively.
What Can I Expect From My Treatment?
Before the massage session begins, your therapist will heat the stones until they reach a temperature between 110°F and 130°F. This will be done using a special heating device to ensure the therapist’s safety during the heating process.
To officially begin your session, your therapist will then place the heated stones onto key areas of your body. Chosen areas will include pain points or areas of intense muscle tension, as well as areas that will help balance your body’s energy levels. Commonly selected areas for stone placement include each side of the spine, palms, stomach, feet, and legs.
It can take some time before you start feeling the effect of the hot stones in your muscles, but a sheet or towel will be used with the stones to determine whether the heat levels are comfortable enough.
Your therapist will also apply massage oil onto your skin to help them glide the warm stones across your body smoothly. Using Swedish massage techniques, the therapist will then apply light pressure to the back, shoulders, neck, legs, and other areas where your body feels the most tension.
What Are The Benefits of a Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stone massage benefits range from physical pain relief to mental and emotional stress relief. Most people who experience a hot stone massage report feeling soothed and comforted by the heat of the stones, which is a great way to reduce mental exhaustion.
Generally speaking, heat is an excellent way to promote muscle relaxation. By placing the hot stones at key pain or pressure points in your body, your therapist is helping alleviate muscle tension even before performing any massage techniques. This physical reduction of pressure helps both the body and mind relax, reducing symptoms of both mental and physical stress.
The heat of the stones also helps your blood vessels expand, which allows more oxygen to reach your muscles and greater levels of toxins to exit your bloodstream. Muscles that receive higher levels of oxygen will experience lower levels of pain, as well as shorter recovery times after suffering any type of injury.
The heated stones are also effective in treating chronic pain, as the high temperature can permeate deeper muscle tissues. This can lead to deeper levels of muscle relaxation, fewermuscle spasms, and increased range of motion.
Try Hot Stone Massage With Gesund Today
At gesund, our team of registered massage therapists provides relaxing hot stone massage services to clients who may be experiencing chronic pain or excessive stress. Our therapists are experienced professionals who can help you achieve a pain-free and tension-free life with the help of hot stones and skillful massage techniques that will relax both the mind and the body.
To book an appointment, call us at 416-913-5170 or visit our online booking link to check if our doors have reopened by the time of your chosen appointment. We look forward to seeing you and helping you experience the full benefits of hot stone massage soon.
