Massage Therapy Week: Hot Stone Massage

[Guest guest]

Good Morning!

 

This week I am delving into massage and its related healing methods.

I encourage all members, massage therapist or not, to contribute this

week. Let us gather a body of work for the archives with tips, ideas

and ways to heal through touch!

 

Massage Therapy Week: Hot Stone Massage

 

Hot Stone Massage Therapy is a concept that has seemed to come into

popularity within the last 5-10 years. Even within the last four

years, it has become the rage at Spas and Therapeutic Centers all

over the world. Contrary to popular belief, Hot Stone Therapy was NOT

first discovered in the desert of Arizona or by massage therapists'

visions of saints.

 

This is an age old therapy dating back 5000 years to India and most

certainly even the Mayan culture. Ayurveda, the ancient healing

tradition of India, spoke of a universal source of all life. The

energy called " prana " is the energy, or the breath of life which

moves through all forms to give them life. Yogis work with this

energy with breathing techniques, meditation, physical exercise and

massage to produce altered states of consciousness, healing and

longevity. They would not only use their hands for manipulation and

healing but also utilize " tools " the earth would provide such as

herbs, flowers, crystals and stones.

 

Stone Massage Therapy came from the healers using rocks from the

river beds and warming them either in hot coals or hot water. By

placing the hot stones on cloth on the body and arranging them along

the energy centers of the body, a healing process would occur. The

hot stones have a tendency to relax the muscles and " draw out " muscle

pain and discomfort.

 

The hot stones seem to connect the flow or paths of energy together

in order to rebalance the physical body, emotional mind and soaring

spirit as one. As the stones cool the healer replace them with hot

stones again. The feet are extremely energy sensitive and are also

stimulated in Hot Stone Massage.

 

As in Reflexology, the entire body can be seen " reflected " in the

feet. Hot stone Therapy works with tiny River Rocks between the toes

to de-stress and stimulate the nerve endings in the feet. At the end,

the healer would massage the feet and body with the stones and

scented oil. Cool stones could then be placed on the pulse points for

revitalizing and rejuvenating. Stone Therapy was utilized by many

cultures across Europe and within the Mezo-American and Native

American tribes as well.

 

Stone Massage Therapy has found new life in the West within the last

10 years. Since the ever-growing popularity of alternative therapies

channeling into the mainstream, every Spa and Salon has jumped on the

band wagon to meet the growing demand of its consumer.

 

 

 

Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.

http://www.peacefulmind.com/massage_therapy.htm

Therapies for healing

mind, body, spirit