Would you like a massage? Ask ten people this question and its a good bet that at least nine of them would immediately accept the offer, but ask the same ten people would you like a hot stone massage? then theres a good chance a few would hesitate before they agreed. This is because most people have no idea what a hot stone massage involves, or even if it would be of any benefit to them.
There are many different forms of massage, and not all of them are suitable for everyone. Pregnant women, people who have recently undergone surgery, babies and elderly people all have very different needs. However, everyone can benefit from some form of massage, and thats why as a therapist, its important to be able to offer different treatments to take into account your clients needs and preferences.
What is a Hot Stone Massage?
Hot stones have been used for centuries as a relaxing therapy to help aid circulation and reduce stress, but it wasnt until Mary Nelson, a massage therapist from Arizona, introduced a new hot stone massage technique, called LaStone Therapy, that using stones as a massage tool really caught on. Her original idea was to use hot and cold stones to provide a treatment that both relaxed, and re-energised the body. She found that this benefited the therapist as much as the client. This is because massage practitioners often find that hands and wrists ache after hours of doing deep tissue massage. With the new treatment, the stones themselves did most of the work, preventing the therapist from becoming fatigued, yet the client still received a valid, holistic treatment to rejuvenate mind and body.
What Does a Hot Stone Treatment Involve?
Treatments usually use a combination of both hot and cold stones. Thermotherapy (the use of hot applications) is combined with cryotherapy (the use of cold applications) to provide a treatment that improves circulation and detoxifies the system.
Flat stones of varying sizes are placed in a special purpose built stone heater and gently warmed in water. Once the required temperature is reached, the stones are applied to specific points on the body, or held by the massage therapist and used to work the muscles. Sometimes beneficial oils are used to enhance the treatment experience.
What are the Benefits of Hot Stone Massage?
This type of massage is particularly useful in reducing muscle pain for people who have sports injuries or are suffering from painful conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis. As the treatment improves blood circulation, it helps to release toxins and improve overall wellbeing. This type of treatment is deeply relaxing, and so is particularly beneficial to people suffering with insomnia, stress, anxiety and depression.
Here at Q-Academy we understand that our therapists want to offer a wide range of services to their clients. In addition, there are a growing number of non-qualified students who have a general interest in massage and want to learn about its benefits. For this reason we are now offering a wide range of short courses to introduce our students to other therapies widely practised in spas and healing centres today. To find out more about the courses we have to offer, contact us on 1300 20 40 80, or click here to visit our website qacademy.com.au