Hot stones are added to a massage as an enhancement. The therapist holds a stone in their hand and applies it in gliding motions, inducing relaxation. This is a form of thermotherapy, the practice of using heat or cold in a massage. The origins of hot stone massage can be traced back thousands of years to East Asia and Native American cultures. Women in Eastern Asia used them to alleviate menstrual cramps, and Native American cultures included them in purification rituals and for relaxation.
Hot stone massage became mainstream in the early s and is still popular today. The stones used are typically basalt , which are volcanic in origin. Dense and rich in minerals, they are formed when magma from a volcano eruption cools down. They retain heat well and are smooth, making them the most popular choice for a hot stone massage.
Another popular type of stone is Himalayan salt, which has a slightly rough texture. Despite its name, Himalayan salt is actually mined in the Punjab region of Pakistan. Hot stones are versatile tools that can be used in many different types of massage. Sometimes they might be used in a deep tissue massage to address specific concerns, like pain and stiffness. A session is usually an hour long, but many places offer minute sessions. First, your therapist will ask you questions to determine if hot stones are right for you and tailor your session to your needs.
Your massage therapist will leave the room to let you do that. Depending on their technique, some therapists may request that you begin supine or face-up.
Then, using light pressure, the therapist will hold the stones in their hands and glide them over your skin. The hot stones will be used throughout the session. A complete set of stones might include sizes big enough to be used all over your back and small enough to fit in between your toes. A study found that heat helps to reduce post-workout muscle soreness. Chronic exposure to this type of anxiety can amplify sensations of pain in the body, part of a phenomenon called central sensitization.
