What Is a Hot Stone Massage Good for?

If the day is stressful or tensed, then a way of relaxing for many people is to get a hot stone massage. It is a special type of massage where massage therapists use heated smooth stones and either rub or place them on specific parts of the body. The heat from the stone leads stiff muscles to warm up thus giving profound relaxation as the massage therapists perform further procedures.

What are the procedures performed during hot stone massage therapy?

Through a hot stone massage, the massage therapist works on different parts of the body with hot stones that are flat, smooth and generally made of the kind of volcanic rock called basalt. These basalt stones are used since they hold heat for longer periods than any other kinds of stone and they are available with different sizes. For performing rubbing on the specific parts small-sized stones are used and for a long-time treatment, slightly larger sized stones are placed at the precise spot of the body. With the gentle and recurring type of stokes given by massage therapists, you will feel relaxed and comforted. There are also deeper techniques involved where hot stones are placed on the energy lines of the body for stimulating energy. In this method, the energy movement is stirred thereby eliminating the stress effects and encouraging smooth healing. There are also many other benefits such as releasing toxins, reducing pain and improving circulation across the body. With such crucial advantages and healing properties, people who experience the hot stone massage will more likely want to come again.

The stones that are employed for a hot stone massage are kept in hot water to hold heat before the procedure. Later they are placed on the particular areas of the body like back, stomach, face, feet, hands, etc. There are also techniques where the therapists grip the stones with the hands and continue the massage. This creates a different sense of relieving as they can reach to all parts of muscles and create an even experience. But it has to be carried by an expert massage therapy specialist. Especially for parts of the face, after the hot stone massage therapy cold stones are used to relax the swollen blood vessels and have a calming effect on the hot skin.

Major benefits of hot stone therapy:

With the important benefit of providing relaxation, there are many other advantages of getting a hot stone massage. They are:

1. Relief from chronic pain: Hot stone massage has precisely been related to giving relief to people with different kinds of situations, like fibromyalgia and certain autoimmune ailments. Even for people with rheumatoid arthritis who have issues of stiff joints and limited motion, hot stone massage therapy has shown results in reducing pain and improving range of motion.
2.  Reducing stress: It has a huge influence on reducing stress from the body and improves cardiovascular health by reducing anxiety.
3. Improving joint function: Tension in the muscles will make it very difficult and painful to move the joints thereby reducing mobility. Hot stone massage will relax the stiffer muscles and helps in improving the range of motion in the joints.
4. Reduced muscle contractions: In conditions where the muscles are tensed and in a limited range of motion can cause the routine life to be affected severely. With the hot stone massage, inflammation in the skeletal muscles is decreased which thereby eases muscle contractions.
5. Improved sleep: The increase in stress and busy work schedules implies that people do not get an adequate amount of sleep every night either by lack of time or insomnia. With the reduction in stress and relaxed feel, you will lean towards a proper sleeping routine causing improved overall health of the body.

Factors to be cautious before getting a hot stone massage

Heat stone massages are very safe and impactful for creating a relaxing effect, there are certain things to be considered to get a good experience.

• A well trained and license holding therapist equipped with all the necessary techniques is advised for getting a secured and effective treatment. Make sure to visit an authorized massage center where therapists are completely aware of all the effects of the precise therapies. Take a deep look at the hygiene practices of the massage environments and make your decision.
• It is very crucial that you speak to the massage therapist during the procedure about the factors like pressure being too much or very less and even if the stones are very hot to handle. A successful and impactful message is dependent on the communication between the client and the therapists which will guide them to perform the procedure according to the individual needs.
• The massage therapist must be informed of any existing health conditions that may affect the style of massage procedure. There are chances that prevailing skin conditions like eczema, psoriasis or any skin allergies can get aggravated with the application of heat to the skin.
• If you are taking any medicines like antibiotics or any acne-related medicines that are sensitive to skin, then it is better to refrain from heat. Care should be taken to not provide direct heat on any open wounds, varicose veins or any other existing skin issues. Special care should be taken in skin areas that may be numb to any reaction.
• The therapist must be informed about special conditions like pregnancy, impairment in blood glucose and pressure, heart-related problems, diabetes or any type of medical condition that needs to be considered so that you are eligible to be taking a stone massage.

Bottom-Line:

To get the best effect from a hot stone massage, it is crucial to be transparent with the massage therapist. A hot stone massage is a special technique that can give numerous benefits but it completely relies on the experience of the therapist. InBalance Massage treatments in Orem, Utah are specialized in hot stone massages and ensure a smooth procedure with fruitful benefits.