Feel the warmth
During a Hot Stone Massage, specially selected heated basalt stones are used to massage the body, providing a nurturing and enhanced therapeutic effect. The application of heat not only increases the feeling of well-being but also enables the therapist to work more deeply and more effectively with chronic pain conditions.
Are you a new client?
For New Clients Only: I require your first session to be 90-minutes in length. This 90-minute session includes time to go over your health history with you and assess the underlying issues for your pain to create a treatment plan for you.
Need to schedule an appointment after normal business hours?
For Established Clients Only: Please add a 20% additional charge to current service rates.
What is Hot Stone Massage?
Hearing or seeing the word “hot” in Hot Stone Massage can make you weary of receiving one. But, it’s probably one of the most relaxing and soothing massage modalities that you can ever receive. If you have never received a Hot Stone Massage but are curious to try it, here is everything you should know about this type of bodywork.
A Hot Stone Massage is a modality of massage therapy and bodywork involving the use of smooth, heated basalt stones to massage the body to provide pain relief, relaxation, and therapy.
How Do I Prepare For a Hot Stone Massage?
In preparation for your Hot Stone Massage, your therapist will heat the basalt stones in a professional stone heater with hot water until they are within a precise temperature of 110° to 140° degrees. Basalt stones are chosen because they retain heat really well.
Before using hot stones, your therapist will apply oil and massage the area for a few minutes to warm up the tissue and loosen the muscles before they start massaging you with the hot stones. The application of a massage oil allows for a smooth glide of the stone over your skin to prevent any possible burns.
When your therapist is ready to use a hot stone, they will spoon out a hot stone and place it into a bowl of cool water for a few seconds, then remove the excess water from the stone with a towel to cool the surface off. They should check the temperature of each stone before they apply it to your skin on the inside of their wrist to make sure that it’s not too hot. Also, if you see them unable to hold the hot stone with their bare hands they should not be applying that stone to your skin.
Just like getting into a hot tub of water, the initial feeling may be shocking since your body isn’t used to it, but within a few passes, you’ll start to feel really relaxed. If you feel that the stones are too hot don’t be afraid to let your therapist know so they adjust the stone’s temperature accordingly.
The stones should act as an extension of your therapist’s hands. Your therapist will sometimes use longer stones in order to get deeper into muscles, such as between the scapula or at the base of the neck. The localized heat and weight of the stones warm and relax your muscles, allowing the massage therapist to apply deeper pressure to those areas without causing increased discomfort.
Who Should Not Receive a Hot Stone Massage?
Hot Stone Massage is generally considered safe when performed by a trained and licensed massage therapist, but it’s not right for everyone.
If you have any of the listed medical conditions below please consult your doctor before receiving a Hot Stone Massage.
- Auto-immune diseases
- Cancer
- Decreased pain sensitivity
- Diabetes
- Epilepsy
- Heart disease
- High blood pressure
- Inflamed skin
- Medications that thin the blood
- Metal implants
- Migraines
- Pregnancy
- Recent surgeries
- Skin wounds
- Tumors
- Varicose veins.
Not sure if a Hot Stone Massage is right for you? Feel free to contact Dana for more information.
