Oh The Weather Outside is Frightful!

Posted by Judy Moon

But hot stones are so delightful!

I frequently am asked – “what’s your favorite massage?” That’s a tough question to answer.

Anytime someone is placing healing hands on my body – it’s a good thing!

I do have a soft spot though for a hot stone massage – warm basalt stones gliding over your skin, melting tension and aches and pains out of tired over worked muscles – what’s not to like?

I think hot stone massage is sometimes perceived as kind of a “fluffy” treatment or something you do strictly for pampering. I beg to differ.

Don’t be fooled – there are many healing properties and benefits to hot stone massage.

Combining the thermotherapy of the warm stones with massage techniques, using the stone as a massage tool is the perfect duo for allowing greater tissue manipulation and releasing tight muscles with ease and less discomfort for the person on the table.

The natural energy properties of the stones and the geomagnetism have balancing effects of the systems of the body and better opens energy pathways.

Hot stones can also be alternated with cold marble stones to increase circulation and speed injury recovery.

According to Pat Mayrhofer, founder of Nature’s Stones Inc., “both verbal and written history confirm that the Chinese used heated stones more than 2,000 years ago as a means of improving the function of internal organs. Stones were also used for healing work in North America, South America, Africa, Europe, Egypt, and India. These traditions included laying stones in patterns on the body, carrying or wearing stones for health and protection, using stones for the diagnosis and treatment of disease, and for ceremonial uses, such as sweat lodges and medicine wheels.

I will say to be sure that you find someone who has had good training in hot stone massage. I have purposely featured a photo of someone with stones all along their bareback. That shouldn’t happen! Stones on skin should be in motion. Stones placed on the body need a barrier, such as a towel under them to prevent burning the skin.

So next time you are scheduling a massage, think about a hot stone massage.

It’s especially lovely this time of year when there is a little nip in the air. Your muscles will thank you.

*Sources: www.massagemagazine.com

Photo Credits // 1 Earth System Resource Laboratory // 2 The Malton