Hot Stone Massage Therapy

Hot stone massage therapy uses heated stones placed upon the body to facilitate the massage movements.

The heated basalt stones in this health spa treatment relax the muscles while the therapist applies pressure. The stones are a tool used by the therapist to make the massage easier to perform and more beneficial to the client.

The stones are placed along both sides of the spine, or along the chakra centers. The stones provide heat to relax the muscles while the therapist massages the client with firm strokes. The oiled, heated stones are held in the palm of the hand and pressed into the body during the treatment.

Hot stones therapy does not simply the "glide" the stones over of the skin. They are used as tools to deliver effective tissue and muscle massage at a pressure level comfortable to the client. The massage can be light, medium or deep pressure, and the therapist can adjust the pressure as needed for client comfort. The hardness of the stones makes a deep tissue massage much easier for the therapist to perform.

The heat used in this treatment also relaxes muscles and increases the blood flow, which may accelerate healing and aid in mental relaxation. Warm stones can be used to assist the therapist in performing many types of massage, from Swedish and Shiatsu to deep tissue massage.

While massage with heated stones should never be painful, using the stones in a deep tissue massage requires the skills of a licensed massage theraptist.

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