This treatment helps you to relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body. 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.
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.
During a hot stone massage, the therapist will use a combination of techniques such as Swedish massage and use the heated stones as an extension of their hands. The stones may be placed on specific points on the body, such as the back, or held by the therapist and used to massage the muscles. The heat from the stones helps to relax the muscles and increase circulation, allowing the therapist to work deeper into the muscle tissue.
The massage typically lasts for around 60 minutes and is designed to be a relaxing and rejuvenating experience. It can help to reduce muscle tension and pain, improve circulation, and promote relaxation.
It’s important to communicate with the therapist before the session if you have any health conditions or areas that you would like the therapist to focus on or avoid, also it’s good to let the therapist know if you have a sensitive skin or any allergies to heat. The massage will be performed on a massage table with the client undressed, but will be draped with a sheet or towel for modesty and comfort.