November 2009 Newsletter Article

Hot Stones - What is the Benefits?

Over the past few weeks we have had a significant increase in the number of hot stone massages being booked at Pax Massage. With the cold weather and additional stress of the holidays upon us, we thought what better topic to educate our customers on than hot stone massage!

The therapeutic benefits of a hot stone massage have been around for centuries. Ancient cultures and Native Americans used this technique to improve overall mental, spiritual, and physical wellness. Native Americans used hot stones to detoxify and to find harmony and balance. In some European cultures, hot stones or bricks were wrapped in cloth and placed over a person’s injury for relief. In China, hot stone therapy was used as early as 1500 BC as a method for relieving muscle aches and tension. Mary Nelson, a native of Tucson, Arizona is credited with bringing hot stones to the U.S.

So what exactly does a hot stone massage entail? The “hot stones” are basalt stones that were formed millions of years ago during volcanic eruptions that took place mainly near coastal areas. Basalt stones are used in hot stone massage because they contain magnetic or titanic iron which retains heat. Most basalt stones appear grey or greenish when dry and turn black when wet.

The stones are heated by water up to 120 to 150 degrees Fahrenheit and placed on focal points of the body. Great care is given to placing the stones on the chakra points of the body along the spine, which are the body’s energy center. The therapist will lay these stones out before your massage, so that when you begin the massage you will be lying down on these stones, face-up. Lying on these warm stones will stimulate your chakras, which in turn balances the energy flow throughout the body. Balancing chief energy centers will benefit the whole body, not just specific areas. There are seven primary or main chakra points on the body, starting at the base of the spine and going up through the top of the head. We also have about a hundred smaller secondary chakras; the secondary chakra points are influenced with action and physicality while the seven primary chakras deal with emotions and spirituality.

The heat of the stones releases the energies of the body that are blocked by fatigue and stress, allowing these energies to flow more freely through the body. The nervous system is put into a calmer state and thus relieves the mind of anxiety. These stones are believed to not only promote deep relaxation but also to remove negative energy from body, mind and soul.

Hot stone therapy is considered a more gentle approach to massage as the practitioner uses the stones instead of their hands to massage. Yet in doing so the therapist is able to facilitate a much deeper and intense massage for the client.

The idea behind hot stone therapy is that the heat emanated by these warm stones penetrates deeper into muscle tissue, helping them relax more quickly and therefore having a more profoundly relaxing effect than in traditional massage. The heat loosens up muscles tightened and tensed by stress, thus taking away the pain and the cramping. Moreover, the heat from these stones encourages the blood to circulate more properly within the body to provide more nutrients to individual cells. At the same time, the heat of the stone also stimulates the lymphatic system into transporting waste materials coming from individual cells more efficiently.

Benefits of hot stone therapy massage include muscle relaxation, easing stress and recharging your energy levels, releasing toxins, and improving blood circulation. It is also said to improve health conditions such as:

• Back pain and muscle aches
• Poor circulation
• Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
• Stress, anxiety and tension
• Insomnia
• Helps to alleviate depression

Today, hot stone therapy is used much in the same way as it was centuries ago and for the same benefits. One session can help you to relax, release, and rejuvenate. Hot stone therapy is a wonderful treat for the body, and is very rewarding with lots of benefits. Stress, deadlines, anxiety, and other life annoyances disappear long enough for your mind to relax at the deepest level. This therapeutic massage creates a deep sense of well being – be sure to give this rewarding treatment a try, you will be happy you did!