Origin and basic idea
Using warmth to relax the body is not a modern invention. Heated stones have been used against tension in various cultures for centuries, including in Asia and among the indigenous peoples of North America. Today’s hot stone massage is a contemporary further development of this idea and combines classic massage strokes with deliberately applied warmth.
What is a Hot Stone Massage?
Smooth, pleasantly warmed stones are placed on certain areas of the body or guided gently over the skin. Basalt stones are usually used, because this volcanic rock stores warmth for a particularly long time and releases it evenly. The stones do not replace the masseuse’s hands, they complement them. The temperature is important: the stones are warm, not hot. They are heated in a controlled way and always used so that the warmth remains pleasant.
How the warmth works
Warmth stimulates circulation and helps the muscles to loosen. That is precisely the advantage of this treatment: because the tissue is already prepared, the massage strokes can work more deeply without strong pressure being necessary. Many guests describe the effect as heavy and calm at the same time. The body becomes noticeably more relaxed, the breathing calmer, the mind emptier. How intensely this is experienced depends on your own level of tension.
The course of a treatment
Before the massage, there is a brief discussion of which areas should be the focus and whether there are any sensitive zones. The warmed stones are then placed, often along the back, so that the warmth can take effect. After that comes the actual massage, in which the stones are guided over the body with flowing movements and combined with classic strokes. The entire procedure is deliberately kept slow, because the effect arises through calm
Who the hot stone massage is suitable for
The treatment is particularly suitable for people with a stressful everyday life and for anyone who finds warmth pleasant. Those who experience firm pressure in classic massages as unpleasant also often find a gentler alternative here. In cases of acute inflammation, fever or certain complaints, medical advice should be sought beforehand.
