What is Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stone massage is a therapeutic treatment that uses heated basalt stones placed on specific body areas to relax muscles and soft tissue.
Therapists may also hold stones while massaging, allowing deeper tissue access without increased pressure. The heat expands blood vessels, improving circulation and oxygen flow while reducing muscle tension and pain.
Hot Stone Massage – Briefly Explained
Hot stone therapy is a form of massage treatment that uses heated stones. It normally assists you in relaxing and easing stiff muscles. This massage also helps in cases where the soft tissues have injuries throughout your body. It includes your neck and shoulders. In a hot stone treatment, hot stones are put on particular sections of your body that are smooth, flat, and smooth again. The stone’s composition is mainly of basalt, a form of igneous rock that can hold heat.
Warming the stones for a hot stone massage begins with soaking them in hot water for a few minutes before application. They are then applied to certain parts of the body, like the back, abdomen, face, etc.
Some masseuses hold the stones in their palms and massage with them. It enables the therapist to go deeper into the tissues without applying more pressure, assisting their customer to relax even more. It is possible to apply cold stones on the face or after applying hot stones on the body on occasion. Cold temperature may assist in reducing the swelling of blood vessels and cool the skin that has been overheated.
Health Advantages of Hot Stone Massage
Pain Reliever
Heat has been used to relieve muscular tension and discomfort for a long time. It aids in the improvement of blood supply to the afflicted region. It may also help to lessen muscular spasms while also increasing mobility in the joints. Cold treatment can relieve inflammation. Depending on your conditions, it may be beneficial to alternate hot and cold stones throughout your massage session.
Efficient Oxygen Flow
When receiving a hot stone massage, the heated element is the most significant part since the temperature interacts with your body from the outside in. You need the elevated temperature of the stones to start your blood flowing to your muscles since blood is the primary means by which oxygen is carried throughout our bodies.
When the temperature rises, the capillaries widen, allowing fresh blood to flow into the region. It allows lactic acid and other waste products to go out of the body. While healing nutrients such as oxygen and new tissue components are brought in. Heat has also a calming effect from a neurophysiological viewpoint, and it helps us reduce the effects of all of our stresses.
Fewer Mood Swings
Yes, whether you accept it or not, you may find bliss at the, umm, hand of a warm stone. It is important to lay the stones at certain pressure points to reduce tension, improve mood, and battle stress. This physical decrease of pressure aids in reducing mental tension because when the body is rested, the mind can rest as well, and you may emerge from your hot stone massage feeling refreshed and revitalized.
