A Few Things to Know About Hot Stone Massage

By Liz Martin

As we move into colder weather, nothing is quite as warm and cozy as a hot stone massage. Here are a few bits of info to convince you to schedule yours today!

A Hot Stone Massage is usually done using basalt stones, which are made from molten lava that has solidified under intense heat and pressure. 

• 

  A rough chunk of basalt rock

  Basalt stones are heavy, smooth and dark, and are excellent at retaining heat, which is why they are ideal for a hot stone massage.

• If you believe in the metaphysical properties of stones, basalt is known for its grounding and stabilizing qualities, which can be beneficial during stressful life changes or when you are feeling depressed, fatigued, or lacking creativity, optimism or courage.

It’s great for relaxation AND to relieve pain

• The heat from the stones stimulates your parasympathetic nervous system on a deeper level than massage alone. This is the part of your nervous system that reduces stress, tension and anxiety.
• The deep relaxation you feel from a hot stone massage can improve sleep, lower our heart rate and blood pressure, improve digestion and circulation, and help you feel rested and revitalized.
• There are massage techniques dedicated just to warming up the tissues – hot stones make this process faster and more effective, so you muscles soften easier.
  

  Basalt Stones found on the beach, made smooth by the ocean

  • This allows for deeper work without having to use extra pressure
  • Heat from the stones helps to provide pain relief, increase joint mobility, and decrease tension in muscles
  • Hot stones can be very beneficial for someone suffering from chronic pain due to injury, arthritis, fibromyalgia and stress

Pregnant clients can get a hot stone massage!

• I use a lower heat setting on the stone warmer for pregnant clients to avoid the client overheating.
• The heat from the stones are great for getting into the low back, hips and glutes without using a lot of pressure
• I don’t leave warm stones on a pregnant client, like I might along the spine with a non-pregnant client, for example.

I can add Hot Stones to any treatment!     

Basalt Stones, seasoned and ready for a massage

• Hot stones can be used during any Therapeutic, Prenatal or Postpartum massage, but can also be a lovely addition to a Reflexology session. The stones can be used to press into Reflexology points, or can be placed on other parts of the body while I work on the feet – such as the chest, abdomen and legs.
• Hot stones aren’t traditionally a part of the Arvigo Techniques of Mayan Abdominal Therapy, but I’d be happy to add them if someone requested it.

I take many precautions to make sure the stones aren’t too hot.

• The pictures you see in marketing materials for hot stone massage often show stones being left directly on the skin. This makes for a fancy photo-op, but in real life, I put at least one layer, if not more, between the stones and my client, depending on how hot the stones are.