There are many types of massage therapies offered at today’s modern spas; however, one type that is often misunderstood is hot stone massage. Using hot stones in therapeutic treatments dates back to ancient times, and Native American cultures often heated rocks on fires to cure the sick of illness and disease. This technique was also used for ancient healing rituals in China and India dating back 3000 years ago. A massage therapist in Arizona named Mary Nelson introduced the hot stone massage technique trademarked as LaStone that is often practiced today.
So let’s learn a bit about the benefits, risks, and techniques involved in hot stone massage therapy.
What is Hot Stone Massage?
This type of massage involves placing heated, smooth stones onto key points of the body. These stones are typically flat and made of basalt, an iron-rich rock that naturally retains heat well. Therapists heat up the stones in an electric heater after being immersed in water until they reach the desired temperature.
The most common areas to place hot stones on the body are the back, palms, and feet. However, many professional spas also offer hot stone facials to promote the healing benefits of the stones on the face. Massage therapists choose the placement of the stones based on the client’s health concerns, energy centers, and bodily imbalances.
Benefits of Hot Stone Massage
Hot stones offer many wellness benefits, especially in soothing and relaxing sore, tired muscles. When stones are warmed, they have shown to promote blood circulation and ow down an over-active nervous system.
These are some of the conditions that may be helped with hot stone therapy treatments:
- Back pain
- Arthritis
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Depression
- Poor blood circulation
Risks of Hot Stone Massage
Understandably, some people are concerned with the risks of having hot stones placed directly onto their skin. Make sure to visit a spa that uses a thermo-regulated electronic machine to ensure that the stones are heated to a temperature that won’t harm your skin.
It’s important to note that hot stone massage isn’t for everyone, and that you should consider consulting your doctor before starting any type of new treatment. As a general rule, avoid hot stone massage if you’ve very recently had surgery, if you are pregnant, if you have an infectious skin disease, or if you are prone to blood clots. Don’t plan to eat a heavy meal right before your hot stone massage, and arrive to the spa in advance of your appointment so that you can ask as many questions as you’d like about the treatment.
Hot Stone Massage NYC
At Aura Wellness Spa, we offer a wonderful 60-minute hot stone massage that will relax and soothe your tensions away. Talk with your massage therapist about the benefits of applying oil to the body before placing hot stones to allow them to glide smoothly along your muscles and massage into your skin. Located in Midtown Manhattan, we are experts in hot stone massage and would love to personally introduce you to its benefits when you book an appointment at our spa!
Fill out our easy to use reservation form and we’ll get in touch to help you.