A little over a month ago, I inherited beautiful basalt stones from a massage therapist friend who had recently retired. Basalt is a volcanic rock, which forms when molten lava solidifies quickly under pressure and intense heat. In a bow to its origins, basalt holds onto heat well, making it an ideal rock for hot stone massage. I used to practice hot stone massage when I worked in a spa setting and loved giving these sessions, so I’m excited to be able to offer it in my own practice!
As the name suggests, in this type of massage therapy, smooth, heated stones are placed on specific points of your body, and also used as tools in the therapist’s hands as they apply different strokes and techniques. The heat and weight of the stones warm and relax your muscles allowing for the application of deeper pressure to areas of tension. Most people find hot stone massage to be deeply relaxing, and especially blissful during the cold months. Like all of my sessions, each hot stone massage is tailored to the individual. Some people just want to relax while others prefer to have deep tissue work incorporated into the session. There are many benefits of hot stone massage:
Softens muscle tissues, relieving pain and tension from contracted or strained muscles. As a result, the therapist can often access deeper muscle layers.
Decreases muscle spasm and pain.
Calms sensory nerves.
Increases circulation by expanding blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body.
Quiets and relaxes the body.
Supports immune system function and response.
Relieves pain associated with arthritis, fibromyalgia, and other chronic conditions.
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