A great holistic health treatment

Have you ever felt so tired you just wanted to sit down on the sidewalk?

Have you ever had such a terrible headache, even your eyes and teeth seemed to pound?

Not a good feeling, is it? A lot of our clients have high-energy, demanding careers and lead urban, fast-paced lifestyles so they often feel that way—and we always suggest something from our extensive massage menu at Aura Wellness Spa.

One of our massages is the Japanese Hot Stone Massage. It not only feels great, but is really an exceptional holistic health treatment; yet, there does seem to be a little bit of mystery surrounding that technique, with images conjured up of volcanoes, lava and ash.

Since we’re all about service at Aura Wellness Spa, we wanted to put those thoughts, questions and concerns to rest—once and for all.

Although “stone therapy” is a modern massage treatment, the technique dates back centuries; in fact, it can be linked to ancient healing rituals used in China and India at least 3000 years ago. In North America, the use of hot stones was practiced by Southwestern Native Indians as a health and wellness treatment.

We practice “Japanese Hot Stone” massage. As a volcanically formed island, Japan has held a long tradition of utilizing the healing mineral hot springs since ancient times. Along with the healing properties in the hot mineral water, the springs contained volcanic stones such as basalt which absorbed and retained heat leading to the practice of using the smaller hot stones to massage the areas of the neck, and shoulders to relieve tensions.

In 1993, an Arizona massage therapist named Mary Nelson introduced her hot stone technique, calling it “LaStone” therapy and, ever since, hot stone therapy has enjoyed a rise in popularity.

What, exactly, are the stones?

The “stones” are made of basalt, a type of rock that is rich in iron, so they retain heat. The stones are never rough, but are round and flat like an egg. River rocks are normally used because they have been smoothed over time by the current.

The stones are first immersed in water and then heated until they are within a certain temperature range. The therapist will usually hold the stones before applying them to your body to be sure the temperature is comfortable—but do speak up if it’s too hot. Oil is applied to the body, which will allow the hot stones to glide smoothly along the muscles. Then they are placed at specific points on the back, in the palms of the hand, or between the toes. The heat warms and relaxes the muscles, which allows the therapist to apply deeper pressure, if desired, and it’s especially effective for those who always feel chilly. Some massage therapists even place stones on points that are thought to be energy centers of the body to rebalance the body and mind.

After the hot stones have relaxed the muscles, the massage therapist may put down the stones and use his or her hands to directly massage the skin.

The warmth of the hot stones has many health benefits including:

• Back pain and aches
• Poor circulation
• Osteoarthritis and arthritis pain
• Stress, anxiety and tension
• Insomnia
• Depression