The earliest use of hot stones to improve health and relaxation took place in India. The practice began among the Hindus in India approximately 5,000 years ago, and was called Ayurveda. This involved the placement of stones on the body to relax tense muscles and relieve related pain.
Hot Stone Massage Advantages
A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy. It’s used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. Here are some advantages of getting a hot stone massage:
Helps relieve muscle tension and pain. Heat has long been used to ease muscle tension and pain.
Reduces stress and anxiety.
Promotes sleep.
May help relieve symptoms of autoimmune diseases.
May help decrease cancer symptoms.
May boost immunity.
What to Expect
During a hot stone massage, smooth, flat, heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains heat. According to the University of New Hampshire Health Services, hot massage stones are heated to between 130 and 145 degrees.The stones may be placed:
along your spine
on your stomach
on your chest
on your face
on your palms
on your feet and toes
Massage therapists may hold heated stones as they massage your body using Swedish massage techniques such as:
long strokes
circular movements
vibration
tapping
kneading
Sometimes, cold stones are also used during a hot stone massage. Cold stones may be used after hot stones to calm any engorged blood vessels and to soothe the skin.A full body hot stone massage or placement of hot stones over the abdomen is not recommended during pregnancy, however a massage therapist trained in prenatal massage may be able to do a spot treatment for certain areas of muscle tension. In pregnancy, the core body temperature should not be raised during treatment.
