Hot Stone Massage

Hot Stone Massage has been around for centuries, Ancient Cultures and Native Americans used this technique to improve the overall mental, spiritual, emotional and physical well being. Native Americans used hot stones to detoxify and to find harmony and balance. In some European Cultures hot stones were wrapped in cloth and placed on an injury for relief. In China hot stone therapy was used as a method for relieving muscle aches and tension.
Hot Stone Massage is a speciality massage that uses smooth, water heated basalt stones, along various points of the body alongside Swedish massage techniques, which create sensations of comfort and warmth. The heat of the stones help the muscles relax more quickly than in a traditional massage. The stones also allow the therapist to use a deeper pressure on areas that need it, but it is important to give the therapist feedback especially if pressure is too much or the stones too hot.

The stones are used in two ways during the massage:

" One is the heat provided by the stones on specific parts of the body like along the spine, chakra centres, hands and between the toes, these are giving concentrated areas of heat. The heat helps melt away tensions and creates calm and relaxation. It also increases blood flow to the areas being worked on which accelerates the healing process. This increased circulation and the relaxation of the muscles also aids in mental relaxation. Mental relaxation is the key when a therapist is attempting to work into deeper muscles of the body.

" Two is the massage with the stones and oil, giving firm strokes along the muscles of the legs, arms and torso. Sometimes hot or cold stones are used alternately, warm sedate and cold stimulate. The combination of relaxing warmth and refreshing coolness is thought to encourage the body to detox and heal, increasing lymph flow and helping to flush out waste. The body becomes relaxed in a much shorter space of time, and the therapist can focus on a deep working of the tissues using both stone and hand strokes. By using aromatherapy oils it has amazing affects on your mood and physical well being.

Benefits of Hot Stone Massage.

" It is deeply soothing and relaxing.
" The heat helps relax tight muscles.
" It is an effective tissue and deep muscle massage.
" The heat helps increase the blood flow in the area being massaged, which accelerates the healing process.
" It brings mental relaxation which helps the therapist work deeper on the muscles.
" It helps to open up the meridian energy pathways.
" It helps relieve stress, tensions and anxiety.
" It helps release toxins and increase lymph flow.
" Lowers heart rate and can help lower blood pressure.
" It can help relieve pain.
" It can help improve circulation.
" It calms the psyche.
" It helps improve overall mental, emotional, spiritual and physical well being.
" It helps create a meditative state of relaxation, like being in a dream state.
" The oils used can alter moods and help with physical health. They can help to relax us further or revitalise us depending on the oils used.
" A feeling of harmony and balance, general overall peace.
" Increase in the release of endorphins.
" Can help reduce swelling and inflammation with the use of cold stones in the massage process.
" It may help alleviate acute and chronic problems.
" It can help sedate the nervous system.
" It can help with back pain.
" It can help with MS.
" It can help with Arthritis and Rheumatic conditions.
" It can help with insomnia.

" The stones are cleansed and then heated to (50 degrees centigrade) in sanitised water.
" A Client Questionnaire is filled in.
" A range of various size stones in different shapes and sizes are used, these may be used warm or cold, these are placed on various points on and under the body. They are placed along the energy centres of the body (Chakras) creating a state of comfort and warmth. These stones encourage energy flow through the body and open the chakra points. When the chakras are open the body is in balance and harmony. A Swedish Style Massage with oils is given. The stones used to massage the body help release muscular tension and increase circulation of the blood, lymph and digestive fluids. As the stones cool down they are replaced with warm stones.
" Feedback will be given at the end of the session.
Contra-Indications.
" Please note the contra-indications to an aromatherapy massage, as these also apply to Hot Stone Massage.
" Broken skin or skin liaisons.
" Broken bones.
" Intoxification.
" Certain medications which may stop pain.
" Peripheral neuropathy / vascular disease.
" Cuts or surgery where there is a risk of infection.
" Diabetes.
" Neuropathy.
" Uncontrolled hypertension.
" People with skin intolerant to heat or very sensitive skin.
" Nerve damage or loss of tactile sensation.
" Pregnancy due to the fact that during pregnancy the body produces a hormone called relaxin and it makes the ligaments and tendons loosen up to help deliver the baby. If we add heat or deep tissue massage to these already weakened parts we could make them stretch too far, causing problems later on when they try to shrink back to normal.

Price and length of session.
Back and shoulders £25.00
Full Body £35.00
Time 45 minutes - 1.5 hours.
First Session is an extra £10.00 to fill in Client Questionnaire Form.

DISCLAIMER:
THE THERAPIES I OFFER ARE COMPLEMENTARY IN THAT THEY WORK ALONGSIDE MEDICAL TREATMENT; THEY ARE NOT A SUBSTITUTE TO ANY MEDICAL TREATMENT ALREADY BEING RECEIVED. THE THERAPIES ON OFFER STUIMULATE YOUR OWN NATURAL HEALING ABILITY, WHICH WE ARE ALL BORN WITH.

I AM NOT A DOCTOR AND CAN NOT PRESCRIBE, TREAT OR DIAGNOSE FOR SPECIFIC CONDITIONS, SO PLEASE DO NOT EXPECT ME TO DO SO! YOU HAVE GIVEN ME PERMISSION BY SIGNING THE CLIENT QUESTIONER FORM, TO WORK WITH YOU AS A THERAPIST AND YOU HAVE EXERCISED YOUR FREEDOM OF CHOICE IN DOING SO. I ADVICE YOU TO LISTEN TO YOUR DOCTORS ADVICE AND CARRY ON TAKING MEDICATION PROVIDED BY THEM, IF YOU HAVE ANY CONCERNS ABOUT YOUR HEALTH YOU MUST CONSULT A QUALIFIED DOCTOR OR A NATUROPATH, CHIROPRACTOR OR OSTEOPATH.

I AM A HOLISTIC AND COMPLEMENTARY PRACTITIONER. HOLISTIC WORKS WITH THE WHOLE PERSON THE MIND, BODY AND SPIRIT, COMPLEMENTARY WORKS ALONGSIDE YOUR DOCTOR AND A PRACTITONER HELPS START THE PERSON'S OWN NATURAL HEALING PROCESS.