HOT STONE MASSAGE
Massage dates back thousands of years and is the technique of manipulating soft tissue and muscle through pressure. There are references to as far back as biblical times (c. 400 BC) of using hot stones to massage the body with olive oil.
Hot stone massage may have originated as far back as 5000 years ago in India and the ancient healing tradition of Ayurveda, which balances three substances; wind, spirit and air. It is thought that smooth stones were taken from river beds and then warmed or cooled to use in healing and massage. Hot stone massage was considered to help with digestion and improve the function of the internal organs. The hot stones were placed directly on the stomach to ease pain. Hot stones were also used to help promote better energy flow and with Anma, the oldest form of Asian massage.
Native Americans used hot stones during rituals and in sweat lodges hundreds of years ago and are still use them today. Hot stones were used to massage the body and hold heat. The hot stones would help to restore balance to an individual and detoxify the body. During ceremonies, hot stones would be heated using the four elements; water, fire, air, and earth and then passed around to rub against areas of the body with ailments.
Medicine men, or Kahunas, in Hawaii have used hot stones for massage and healing for many years. With traditional Lomi Lomi Hawaiian massage, heated lava stones are placed directly on the body to increase blood circulation. South American healing traditions of past also include using hot stones to alleviate menstrual pain and assist with massage after giving birth.
The premise behind hot stone massage therapy is that the direct heat of the stones relaxes muscles, allowing the therapist access to their deeper muscle layers. Combining hot stone protocols with a full body massage provides a very healing and effective experience. The hot stones also expand blood vessels, which encourages blood flow throughout the body. The hot stones have a sedative effect that can relieve chronic pain, reduce stress and promote deep relaxation.
Benefits of our Sacred Hot Stone Therapy
- Provides relief from pain associated with fibromyalgia, arthritis, carpal tunnel syndrome and other chronic conditions
- Decreases pain and muscle spasms
- Reduces chronic stress and tension
- Increases flexibility in joints, aiding in easier mobility and movement
- Relieves pain and tension created by strained and contracted muscles
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