Heated Stones Massage

In our world of wellness and relaxation, hot volcanic stone massage is an ancient technique rooted in centuries-old healing traditions from the Far East that has been used for more than 10000 years. The technique combines heat and calming power of touch to create a restorative experience for the body and mind. The hot stone massage techniques invovles the placement and movement of smooth, heated volcanic basalt stones on the body. The stones are warmed to a comfortable hot temperature that is tolerable for the client to avoid burns and used by the therapist in conjunction with traditional massage techniques. 

A question regularly asked is how does heat help whilst massaging? The heated stones help to sooth and provide a a deep soft tissue massage into taught muscles which aids to accelerate the relaxation of tight muscles and tendons, improve circulation and reduce stress. The warmth with massage can offer: 

- Muscle tension relief and pain
- Reduce stress and anxiety: massage is known to lower cortisol levels and increase endorphin levels your 'feel good hormones', thus explaining the physiological action and its effect on pain, stress, and in depression it treats by increasing serotonin (1).
- Boost circulation by improving blood flow and help deliver oxygen nutrients. 
- Improve sleep quality by providing deep relaxation. 
- Massage stimulates a series of local biochemical reactions in the body, which increase the neural activity in the spinal cord which has an effect on the perception of pain and fatigue (1). 

1. Ramova, E. L. P. (2021) Volcanic Stone Massage and Its Benefits, South Asian Research Journal of Applied Medical Sciences, 3; 5: 1-3.