What Is Hot Stone Massage? How Do You Get Benefit From It?

Your body needs care and treatment as it needs food and relaxation. In today’s time, multiple therapeutic solutions relieve soreness and muscular tension. The hot stone massage is a therapy that many experts recommend.

Therapists usually place hot stones on different parts of your body. Then, they warm the stones in hot water before placing them on your body. If you are taking a hot stone massage for the first time, this article can help you.

What Is A Hot Stone Massage?

Hot stone massages are the same as regular massages but with the use of volcanic stones. The therapists apply hot stones on different parts of your body.

The stones used for massage using hot stones are basalt stones. These stones are volcanic rocks, and they have flat and smooth surfaces. The reason behind choosing these stones is for their capability to retain heat.

First, the therapists heat the stones in hot water. Then, they place the stones on different parts of your body. Here are the different parts of your body where you can place a hot stone –

• Back
• Stomach
• Hands
• Face
• Feet

How Does Hot Stone Massage Work? 

Placing the hot stones on your skin allows the therapist to reach the core of your muscle without applying much pressure. The clients can relax since the pressure is medium, while the mild heat of the stones also feels soothing. They heat the stones from 130 to 145 degrees (as per the University of New Hampshire Health Services). 

Sometimes, after using hot stones, therapists also apply cold stones on your face. This is because swollen blood vessels can feel at ease once cold stones are placed on your skin.

Hot stone massage therapists use different Swedish massaging techniques. Here are some techniques that your therapists might use –

• long strokes
• Tapping
• Vibration
• Kneading 
• circular movements

Origin Of Hot Stone Massage

The history of hot stone massage dates back thousands of years ago. This therapeutic treatment has its origin in China, presumably 2000 years in the past. The technique then passed on time forward and across multiple cultures and countries like Africa, America, India, and Egypt.

However, according to some other popular consensus, this massaging therapy dates back 5000 thousand years ago in India. According to Ayurveda, the Hindus in India practiced massaging the body using hot stones in ancient times.

This hot stone massaging therapy helps relieve muscle tension and heal damaged soft tissues within your body.

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Hot Stone Massage Benefits You Did Not Know About 

Massage and other similar treatments are undeniably important and beneficial. The hot stone massage is equally beneficial for your health as other popular forms of massage. Here are some must-know benefits of stone massage that you did not see coming.

1. Relief From Muscle Tension

You can say bye-bye to muscle tension with hot stone massaging working its charm on your body. The stones help increase blood flow in the areas affected. As a result, muscle spasms get reduced while also increasing the flexibility of the muscle helping your movement easier. The therapists may alter between hot stones and cold stones depending upon your health condition.

2. Reduction Of Stress & Anxiety

Massage therapy can improve cardiovascular responses like stroke volume. Fifteen minutes of massage helps reduce stress by a maximum potential compared to a 15 minutes break. This was revealed in a study help in 2017.

3. Hot Stone Massage Promoting Sleep

Hot stone massage also helps with promoting sleep. If you are already on pills for insomnia, a massage using hot stones is recommended. According to a 2015 study, children can sleep better and feel more rejuvenated after waking up if they have a stone massage.

4. Helps Ease Autoimmune Diseases

Hot stone massage can often help minimize symptoms related to autoimmune diseases like fibromyalgia. According to a study conducted in 2002, people with fibromyalgia slept better with 30 minutes of hot stone massage. It helped the patients minimize the trigger points and decrease the level of substance P compared to people receiving relaxation therapy. 

Also, patients suffering from rheumatoid arthritis can feel more at ease with the hot stone massage. 

5. Helps In Boosting Immunity

Several studies claim that Swedish massage therapy can help improve immunity in your body. The 2010 study revealed that a single session of Swedish massage therapy can boost your immune system. This is proven by medical tests.

Blood samples taken before and after massage therapy shows a decrease in the amount of arginine-vasopressin. It is a hormone regulating water retention and blood pressure in the human body.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):

If you are fond of hot stone massage, then these popularly asked questions might prove helpful. 

The End!

According to several medical studies and surveys, body massaging itself has proven to have various health benefits. But hot stone massage offers some similar benefits while also giving the comfort and relaxation of a unique massage.

If you want to ease the stress stored for months, then it is the right time to look for “hot stone massage near me” on Google. I think this article was helpful; you can reach out to us if you have any similar queries. We will try to answer as soon as possible.

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