Hot Stone Massage
Hot Stone Massage
Have you ever tried a hot stone massage? If not, it's time to schedule one.
When treating yourself to a massage, you might tend to go for something familiar. Swedish massage is one of the most popular types of massage. It's typically what people think of when they book a massage. But hot stone therapy can add an extra touch to getting the most out of your massage. Not sure what hot stones can do for you? Here's a look at hot stone massage and nine benefits of this type of massage therapy.
WHAT IS HOT STONE MASSAGE?
At first, it might seem weird to have warm, flat stones placed in specific locations on your body. But these are special stones with a purpose.
Massage therapists typically use Basalt river rocks. These rocks are smooth and hold heat well.
Using a stone heater, your therapist heats the stones to temperatures between 110 and 130° Fahrenheit. This is the ideal temperature range to warm your muscles without burning skin.
Stones sit along your spine, on your chest, feet, palms, and even your face.
After the stones heat your muscles, your therapist begins the massage. Taking advantage of warm muscles helps improve the benefits of hot rock massage.
You Relax More
As the warm stones sit on your body, they help put you into a state of relaxation--both physically and mentally. When your muscles are warm, they respond better to massage techniques like kneading and rolling. The benefit of the heat resting on your body releases deeps tension to helps ease sore muscles. When your therapist is better able to massage your muscles, your experience is more relaxing. Hot stones help kick start your total mind and body relaxation.
Your Circulation Improves
Poor circulation causes muscle tension and overall fatigue. A good hot stone massage is a great solution answer to these issues. During the massage, your therapist places heated stones on trigger points throughout your body. The heat from the stones penetrates through muscle to open your blood vessels. As this happens, blood flows more freely through your body for better circulation. As your circulation improves, more oxygen reaches your muscles to help reduce aches and pains.
Your Stress Eases
There's something about warmth and massage that helps stress fade away. The light pressure from the warm stones can be soothing. Hot stone therapy feels like a warm hug in a safe place. Stresses take a back seat while your massage therapist works your muscles. Hot stone therapy can also help with symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Your Sleep Improves
Regular massage benefits you long after the massage is over. Massage helps improve sleep. Pain or anxious thoughts disrupt sleep. Receiving regular massage helps keep those symptoms to a minimum over time. With the added benefits of hot stones during your massage, you'll feel more relaxed, less tense, and ready for more regular nights of restful sleep.
Your Pain Subsides
One reason we get a massage is to relieve neck or back pain. Back or neck pain is often caused by poor posture leading to tight muscles. You might apply a heating pad to a sore low back to help relieve pain. When muscles are extra tight, sometimes a massage alone isn't enough to loosen you enough to relieve pain. That's when heat helps most. Targeted heat from hot stones helps warm your muscles for better manipulation during the massage. Sometimes the pain you feel is deep within your muscles and joints. Heat helps your massage therapist work a little deeper into your tissue.
Your Flexibility Increases
Stiff joints make it hard to move through day-to-day activities. Massage can help loosen tight joints and the muscles around joints. If you have an injury or extremely tight joints, placing hot stones on and around those joints helps loosen those areas better than massage without the use of hot stones. With regular hot stone therapy, you'll notice your flexibility improves over time. Your joints will be more relaxed, and you'll find it easier to move with less friction and pain. We created a soothing atmosphere for you to completely relax during your hot stone massage.
Helps Fight Disease
Massage is one of the most effective ways to treat symptoms of autoimmune diseases. Be sure your massage therapist knows you deal with an autoimmune disease before your appointment. They should take special care during your massage to respond to the effects of your disease on your body. But if you and your doctor agree, hot stone therapy can help ease painful conditions associated with fibromyalgia, lupus, rheumatoid arthritis, and other autoimmune diseases.
Boosts Your Immunity
We're talking about your immune system for this benefit. A scientific study showed an increase in lymphocytes after a single session of Swedish massage. Lymphocytes help white blood cells fight infection in the body. Adding hot stone therapy before your Swedish massage might enhance the effectiveness of the massage to boost your infection-fighting cells.
Your Spasms Decrease
If you've ever had a muscle spasm, you know how painful they are. Some muscle spasms can be debilitating. Other spasms can last for hours. With a hot stone massage, the benefit of heat loosens your muscles more effectively. This technique also helps reduce inflammation common with muscles in spasm.