A hot stone massage may be the ideal answer for those suffering from muscle tension but not eager to subject themselves to the sometimes painful methods of a deep tissue massage. Using special stones, heated to between 50˚c and 80˚c, the massage therapist is able to relax the muscles and then work them without the need to apply as much pressure.

Hot stone massage therapy is now being offered in most spas throughout the world. Some of the benefits that are derived from this type of massage include the easing of back pain and sore muscles, increased circulation, reduced feelings of stress, anxiety, tension and even depression. Clients have reported a marked decrease in insomnia resulting from the deep relaxation achieved from these sessions.

So, how exactly are these hot stones used? Different practitioners will employ a combination of various methods. Often the client is instructed to sit up while the heated stones are placed in rows on the massage table and covered with a cloth. The client then lies back down with the stones pressing along the spinal column. The heat from the stones begins warming and relaxing the muscles. The therapist will also use the stones to apply pressure to muscle areas. Using the heated stones requires less pressure to relax the deeper muscles than what would be required through normal massage.

What many believe to be a relatively new technique has actually been practiced for thousands of years throughout India, Asia, the Hawaiian Islands and by our own Native Americans. There are references going as far back as 400 BC to the use of olive oil combined with hot stones for massage.

In the United States, the use of hot stones for massage gained popularity largely due to the work of Tucson massage therapist Mary Nelson in the early 1990′s. Relying on information she received from her Native American spirit guide, she said that she was intuitively led to use the stones in a method designed to open up the body’s Chakras or energy channels. Nelson further developed her technique and it became known as LaStone, which can only be performed by a certified LaStone therapist.

Stress and tension literally cripple many in today’s hectic, non-stop world and the level of relaxation achieved through hot stone massage can not be over-emphasized. However, as with all types of massage, the key is to find a well-trained and experienced massage therapist. A little research in the beginning will greatly enhance the many benefits available to you.

The best advice to keep foremost in one’s mind when doing almost anything is to do your research and be comfortable with your choice in massage therapist. Ask questions about experience and credentials. Only someone with less than stellar qualifications will hesitate to provide you with all of the information you seek.

Once satisfied with your choice of practitioner, familiarize yourself with the tools that she will be using. While most types of massage will be done by the massage therapist using combinations of strokes and muscle kneading using only her hands, hot stone massage adds the use of heated stones. The thought of hot rocks being used on one’s bare concern often creates a certain amount of trepidation!

A skilled practitioner in the art of using hot stones is very precise in how the stones are prepared and used. Before each session, the stones are cleaned and sterilized. They are then heated to between 50 and 80 degrees Celsius but are always checked by the massage therapist prior to use on the client. Higher heat aides in the effectiveness on the muscles but the temperature should never be such that it causes discomfort to the client.

When a stone is removed from the hot water it is allowed to cool for a few moments and then the therapist will hold it in her hands, allowing some of the heat to transfer into her hands. Then the therapist will hold the stone with one hand while using the other hand to start massaging the area where the stone is going to be used. As a result, when the stone is then applied the area has already been somewhat warmed and this makes a nice transition for the client.

Immediately before starting to use the stones in the massage, the massage therapist will apply massage oils to the part of the body on which the stones will be used. Oil is also applied to the stones themselves. This reduces friction and permits the stones to glide across the skin even while pressure is being used to enhance relaxation of the muscle groups.

The entire process of reducing muscle tension and stress and increasing overall well-being and relaxation is accomplished, always keeping in mind client comfort and safety.