FEELING CHILLY?
Hot Stone Massage
This can be a stand alone treatment or - more usually - incorporated into a sports massage to quickly heat and relax the muscles.
What is it?
Hot stone massage is a speciality massage that uses smooth, heated stones. I use basalt stones, a black volcanic rock that absorbs and retains heat well. The stones are sanitised and heated to 140 degrees Fahrenheit before the start of the treatment.
Stones can be cold, too!
The heat of the stones relaxes muscles more quickly than in traditional massage. It also increases the blood flow to the area, encouraging the healing process to do its bit.
Hot stone massage is great in winter when we’re feeling chilly. It’s also suited for people who have muscle tension but prefer a lighter massage. Sometimes I use contrast therapy – an unusual combination of hot and cold stones to really wake up the body and calm the nervous system.
Hot Stone Sports Massage
The stones are used as tools to deliver an effective massage at a pressure level that is comfortable for you. As the skin is so warm, it is possible to give a deeper massage without the associated discomfort of deep tissue work, and sports massage techniques – such as trigger point therapy – can be done using a hot stone to give a therapeutically delicious experience!