Posts Tagged ‘hot stone massage’

Different Ways To Experience Hot Stone Massage

Monday, September 6th, 2010

They say that finding an efficient, professional and trustworthy therapist is the key ingredient to having the best kind of hot stone therapy experience. While this is true, what most people do not know is that the recipient of the massage also plays a major role in making the session a blissful time. Yes, it is true, receiving a massage takes more than just lying down and waiting for the therapist to lay his or her hands on your body.

Here are some tips on how to ensure that you get to experience the wonderful wonders of hot stone massage:

  1. Prepare for your hot stone therapy. Be sure to drink lots of water and avoid eating a full meal before the therapy session. By eating a full meal, you will diminish the benefits of massage because you will feel bloated already. Drinking water on the other hand will help flush out the toxins that will be released from the clogged areas of your muscles.
  2. Read up on hot stone therapy. Knowing what to expect will make you more comfortable with the whole thing. Being self-conscious about your body will prevent you from being relaxed?” or “will the stones scald me?”
  3. Do not be late for your massage appointment. Arrive at the spa or holistic center 15 minutes earlier so you have time to unwind and enjoy the amenities of the center such as the whirlpool, steam bath or sauna.
  4. Discuss with the therapist any preferences that you may have in terms of lighting, music, room temperature or amount of pressure. If you feel the least uncomfortable about anything, do not hesitate to speak up.
  5. Clear your mind before the session. Relaxing is one effective way to enhance the benefits of the massage. You surely cannot enjoy the session if you are thinking about your deadlines at the office or any other stress-related thought.
  6. It is best not to wear perfumes or lotion during a therapy session because it will interfere with lotions for therapy.
  7. During the session, take slow and deep breaths. Try your best to relax your muscles since tensed muscles are more difficult to knead and manipulate.
  8. It is not required for you to engage in a conversation with the therapist. If this will enable you to relax more easily then go ahead but if you prefer to have the session quietly, the therapist will not mind.
  9. After a session, it is recommended that you do not leave the massage table immediately. You may still be a little light headed from the session. It is best to spend a few minutes to chill out.

The wonders of hot stone massage are countless. And with these helpful tips, you will surely get to experience them and have a wonderful massage therapy session.

 

 

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products for hot stone massage such as massage stones, as well as many other many oYtl other accessories for hot stone therapy.

The Many Benefits Of Stone Massage

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

Are you in need of something to help you relax and forget about your stressful family and career life? If so, then a hot stone therapy session might just be what you are looking for. It has various therapeutic benefits and has been around for centuries. Nowadays, spas even offer this massage therapy to rejuvenate one’s body and soul. It was proven to improve one’s mental, spiritual and physical wellness.

Stone for the massage comes in different shapes and sizes. It can be large or small, rough or smooth, dark or light. For larger parts of the body, larger stones are used. These are suitable for some of the sweeping strokes in a Swedish massage. The smooth stones slide along naturally but the rough ones are also useful. Friction that is created warms up the tissues and has exfoliation effects on the pores. Utilizing pointed stones on specific points in the body can be beneficial.

This type of massage is ideal for achieving psychological wellness. Basalt stones or polished lava rocks are heated by water. It is then carefully placed in specific a point which helps to alleviate tension and creates a calming mood. This allows your mind to relax and forget about all of the stress and anxiety you felt before the massage therapy. Your sleeping problem like insomnia can be cured through the use of this method because of its ability to put your mind at ease. Stone therapy is also advantageous to decreasing depression.

You can also be physically relieved by a hot stone therapy. This is a wonderful alternative for pain management. Aches and pain are usually alleviated especially with people who have back pains and arthritis. Good circulation can be promoted by the increased blood circulation due to the heat from the stone. This will also ensure that every cell in the body receives nutrients and oxygen and at the same time toxic materials are removed effectively which increases lymph flow. It also has a calming effect on the nervous system which increases vitality.

Spiritual wellness can be attained through stone massage therapy. The mind can be moved into a profound and pensive state when the body is relaxed by the heated stones. Through this, the mind is energized and strength is regained. It allows your body to gives off a positive energy flow that gives a balance between the mind and body. This therapy is like going to a personal vacation and is a wonderfully refreshing experience.

An amazing treat for your body and mind is stone massage therapy. It has numerous benefits and is accessible in spas all over the world. Everyone can use a break from their busy daily life to enjoy some stone massage. Taking a stone massage is worth the time and money. After your session, you will surely feel rejuvenated and refreshed.

 

 

“Mary Singleton regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as basalt stones for hot stone massage, as well as many other many other oYtl accessories for hot stone therapy.

Stone Massage: Luxury Or Necessity?

Tuesday, August 31st, 2010

The reason why some people are not fond of getting massages is because they think this is just an unnecessary luxury that only the rich and famous deserve to have. Hot stone therapy is not a luxury, it is a necessity to keeping a healthy body, and being physically and mentally well.

Still not convinced? Here are the top reasons why a massage such as a hot stone therapy should not be considered an extravagant indulgence but is indeed a necessity:

For one, massage is a great way to beat stress. Various studies point out how stress contributes to many types of physiological and psychological disorders. A regular session of hot stone therapy is an excellent preventive measure for stress related health problems.

And in today’s world, when office work or household chores pile up so high and you are tempted to scream that you want to get off this world, a relaxing therapy will surely give you a few hours of peace of mind. This would be an gigantic difference in the level of stress in your life.

Second, it is known to be an effective part of many medical treatments. Hot stone therapy can alleviate many health problems and conditions, such as Fibromylagia, Arthrities, Insomnia, circulatory problems, back aches, muscle spasms and other health problems. This is again an important reason why you cannot consider massage as a luxury.

Third, it provides you with the much-needed break. As they say, all work and no play makes Jack a dull boy. It’s the same with adults. When it’s constantly all work, work, and work, there will come a point when our minds and bodies will just suddenly bail out on us. Of course, we certainly do not want that to happen. To avoid that unfortunate event, a regular hot stone therapy is a great idea.

Fourth, it is amazing in the amount of anxiety and tension it reduces. Tension and anxiety are always present in our lives. To enable us to get a hold of our lives better without always being too anxious and tense, a treatment will surely do wonders in calming our psyche.

Fifth, it is a good way to prevent yourself from getting depressed. There are times in our lives when things don’t seem like they are going our way. When this happens, a soothing hot stone massage will surely lift up a bruised spirit.

You won’t be able to call it a luxury if it doesn’t include spending lots of time and money in it. A hot stone massage is not that expensive. Instead of taking an extravagant vacation, one can have a massage treatment for a lost less and at home. It is widely available at most spas and holistic centers and can also be done right inside the comforts of your own home.

Some will still think that massage is a luxury and stay away from it. But what they do not know is that they are missing many of the positive effects of hot stone therapy for our mind and body.

 

 

“Mary Singleton regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as basalt stones for hot stone massage, as well as many other many other oYtl accessories for hot stone therapy.

How To Buy And Heat Massage Stones

Saturday, August 28th, 2010

One of the most popular forms of massage today is stone massage. A variation of the classic Swedish massage, this kind of therapy incorporates the use of basalt stones, which have the innate ability to absorb and retain heat well.

This intensive treatment which allows for deep tissue and muscle penetration is often what people go for after a stressful day or when they just want to relieve their aching bodies or when they are just yearning for a break.

Hot stone massage is widely available in most spas and holistic centers. If you’re going on a vacation, you will find that most beach resorts and hotels also offer this kind of service to make your trip even more memorable.

But of course, you need not travel far to experience this wonderful treatment. Even at home, given the right kind of equipment and massage stones, you will be able to enjoy the remarkable benefits of this therapy.

To help you buy and heat stones, here are some useful tips.

Buying tips

  1. Look for a reputable stone supply store. Online, you will find many stores that sell massage stones. Because many people offer high quality and effective products, one must be careful in making a choice. Make sure the store you visit to pick up products is adept with the overall rudiments of this therapy. In short, it shouldn’t just be a store per se but also an expert when it comes to hot stone therapy.
  2. Cheap stones will be obvious in their quality, stick to high-quality stones. Polished and treated stones of high quality cost a little more than those of poor quality but you can be assured that the amount is truly worth it.
  3. Opt for stones that are sold in kits or packages for these cost a lot less than when you buy the stones individually. Aside from that, when you purchase a complete kit, your whole body (and not just a few parts) will benefit from the therapy.

Heating tips

  1. Choose the right kind of heater. You can opt to use a shallow pan, which allows the rocks to reach an even temperature. You can also use a crock-pot or other similar electric cooking basin.
  2. Make sure that the heating device you use gives a steady controllable temperature.
  3. Be careful not to overheat rocks because they take a long time to cool.
  4. Test the stones by lightly touching it against your skin to make sure it’s not too hot.
  5. You can set a wet towel at the bottom of the basic to prevent scalding.
  6. Clean the stones as well as the heating device with an antibacterial soap before and after heating. Make sure it is dry before storing.

Hot stone therapy is truly a wonderful form of massage that can give your tired aching body a relaxing break that it deserves. Given the right massage stones, you can enjoy one of the most gratifying experiences there is.

 

 

“Mary Singleton regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as basalt stones for hot stone massage, as well as many other many other oYtl accessories for hot stone therapy.

Sweedish Massage

Friday, June 12th, 2009

With the increased interest in complementary alternative medicine, CAM, there has been a surge in massage therapy practices around the country. Each state chooses whether or not to impose certification standards, so massage can be very different from place to place. That said; massage, from a trained therapist, can be very helpful in treating aches and pains, whiplash, stress and a number of other medical conditions. If you are seeking medical massage, make sure that your therapist and doctor work together to formulate a plan that will work best for you.

When considering massage for stress relief there are a number of techniques that are commonly utilized. A Swedish massage is a gentle treatment that focuses upon relaxing the client through long strokes, kneading and friction. Therapists trained solely in Swedish massage are likely to be working in spa settings; however every therapist learns Swedish techniques as part of their basic training. Hot Stone massage is another popular type of massage. Stones, usually basalt, are heated in water and then used to perform the massage. The combination of heat and massage is profoundly relaxing. Aromatherapy can be included in any massage to increase the relaxation effect.

Relaxation is the primary goal for both hot stone and Swedish massage. If you are in need of pain relief you want to try Deep Tissue massage, also known as Trigger Point Therapy or Neuromuscular Massage. Points in our muscles that are not relaxed are often called trigger spots. Knots send pain to other areas of the body. A Neuromuscular therapist knows how to get these areas of tension to release; allowing the muscle to return to normal function, alleviating your pain.

Another effective massage for pain relief is Myofascial Release. Much gentler in nature than Neuromuscular Massage, myofascial release is best suited to areas that are very tender, for example the lower back and glutes. Although myofascial techniques can be used anywhere in the body, the work is slow by design, making it virtually impossible to do an entire massage utilizing the technique. Therapists trained in myofascial release will usually incorporate it in a massage where needed.

Specific complaints are treated with specific techniques, for example, facilitated stretching is indicated for sports injuries. The more you can tell your therapist about your health history the better the treatment plan will be. Many common ailments, like carpal tunnel syndrome and tendonitis can be treated with massage therapy. It is always good to involve your physician in treatment plans; your results will be better if everyone is working toward the same goal.

Research into the effects of massage therapy continues constantly. Studies have shown that regular massage can help lower blood pressure, improve immune response, help manage back pain and improve range of motion, among a number of other benefits. If only for the reason that massage is such a pleasure, you should include it in your life from time to time. A massage just might surprise you in how good you feel afterwards.