A hot stone massage is a great way to relax and calm the body. It is also great for easing muscle tension. Native Americans used to give hot stone massages by putting several basalt volcanic stones that had been heated on fire on sore parts of the body.
You can put the stones on your back (in the area of your spine), torso, chest, feet, palms, and toes. Today, Spa Vela will help you understand how hot stone massage works. See how it can also benefit you and help you achieve your wellness goals!
How Does Hot Stone Massage Exactly Work?
During a hot stone massage, the same massage techniques are used. But the therapist also uses hot stones that are put on different parts of the body.
The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that is smooth and flat. Because they keep heat in, these stones are chosen.
The stones are warmed up in hot water for a hot stone massage before being used. Then, they are put on certain parts of the body, like:
- the back and the belly
- the front
- hands and feet.
Some massage therapists use the stones by holding them in their hands and massaging them. This lets the therapist work deeper into the muscles without putting more pressure on them, which helps the client relax even more.
Sometimes, cold stones can be put on the face or used after the hot stones. Cold helps to calm swollen blood vessels and cool down skin that is too hot.
It is thought that this type of therapy using hot stones started in China almost 2,000 years ago. Since then, people from many different cultures, like the Americas, Africa, Egypt, and India, have used stones to heal.
What Can This Massage Do For You?
As was already said, hot stone massages are a type of alternative medicine that involves massage. A lot of famous people love this kind of massage. Here are some other ways to get a hot stone massage that is good for your health.
1. Eases Muscle Pain and Tension
As we’ve already said, a hot stone massage involves putting stones on different body parts. Practitioners of preventive and healing medicine have told us for decades that putting heat on a sore part of the body can help.
The stones keep the heat for a longer time. The heat from the stones not only eases pain and tightness in the muscles but also makes the joints more flexible and increases their range of motion.
Heat also increases the flow of blood to the sore area, which helps it heal. A hot stone massage combined with a cold stone massage can help reduce inflammation even more.
2. Promotes Better Sleep
Did you know that studies have shown that massage therapy is an excellent alternative to sleeping pills for people who have trouble sleeping?
Back massages are suitable for adults, children, and even babies. A study found that even a 15-minute massage can help someone fall asleep faster.
The heating properties of the stones and the circular motions of the massage can help you get a good night’s sleep and wake up feeling more energized, positive, and alert.
3. Decreases Cancer Symptoms
A study found that this massage, especially the Swedish method, helped cancer patients deal with depression, anxiety, pain, nausea, and trouble sleeping. Even when cancer is in its later stages, massage therapy has been shown to help patients.
Research has shown that the combination of the therapist’s touch and the soothing and warming effects of the stone made a massive difference in the patient’s overall health.
4. Reduces Anxiety and Stress
This shouldn’t come as a surprise since we all know how good it feels to get a massage. Several studies have found that massages make people feel calmer and more relaxed immediately.
When a massage therapist works on a person’s pressure points, the pain and muscle tension disappear immediately. Studies have also shown that people who get a massage right before surgery are less worried and feel less pain afterward.
Overall, the body can better deal with stress after a massage.
5. Relieves Symptoms of Auto-Immune Disease
After a lot of research, it has been found that hot stone massages can help people with fibromyalgia feel much better.
Fibromyalgia is an autoimmune disease that causes pain all over the body and lasts for a long time. A study found that people who got a 30-minute massage felt less pain, had fewer trigger points and slept better.
They also found that these patients had less Substance P, a natural neurotransmitter in the body that sends pain signals to higher brain centers, than patients who only got relaxation therapy.
6. Boost Immunity Levels
As has already been said, massages can help reduce stress and the body’s production of stress hormones. In short, massage helps the body deal with stress healthily.
A study found that a single Swedish massage session helps boost the body’s immune system and reduces ongoing inflammation.
It also lowers the hormone called vasopressin, which controls blood pressure and keeps salt and water in the body.
In conclusion, the hot stone massage benefits people who have been in pain for a long time. I hope that what you read today gave you a lot of reasons to make an appointment for yourself soon. Make sure you talk to a doctor first.
Risks & Warnings
Most of the time, a hot stone massage is safe when done by a trained therapist. There are some times when you should not do it. Before getting a massage, you should talk to your doctor if you:
- A condition that causes you to bleed or take medicines to stop it.
- Blood clots in the past, surgery in the last six weeks, a broken bone or severe osteoporosis,
- The low number of platelets (thrombocytopenia)
A prenatal massage could help reduce stress and make pregnancy less painful. Most massage therapists still won’t use hot stones on pregnant women.
If you’re pregnant, you shouldn’t get a massage unless your doctor says it’s okay and the person giving you the massage is trained in prenatal massage. There should always be something between the hot stones and your skin, like a towel or sheet.
Talk to your therapist about how the stones are heated. It is best to use a massage stone heater made by a professional.
Schedule Your Hot Stone Massage Treatment Today!
To have an excellent hot stone massage, you should only go to a massage therapist who knows how to use hot stones. You might feel sore during or the day after your massage.
This could be because of pressure and manipulation of the deep tissues. You should not be hurt. Call us and book an appointment here at Spa Vela! We’ve got other services to help you work on your goals, like dermal fillers.
Reach out and visit us here in our clinic today! We can’t wait to see you here.
