Massage Therapy

The words “hot stone therapy” has always sounded intriguing and has always made you wonder what it is all about and why so many people are crazy about it. Of course, the best way to find out is by engaging in a massage session yourself. But if you are wary about doing so without knowing anything about it, here are some things you need to know about hot stone therapy.

1. A hot stone therapy is a variation of the classic Swedish massage style that incorporates the use of hot stones that are placed on key energy centers of the body such as along the spine, on the palms of the hands and between the toes. These are also used to manipulate muscles in the body to release tension and stress.

2. These hot stones, which are basalt stones rich in Iron and are able to retain heat well are effective in relieving muscular pain and regulating the energy flow within the body.

3. Hot stones come in different sizes and shapes that cater to different parts of the body. For example, a large and flat egg-shaped hot stones are for the spine while the small round ones are to be placed in between toes.

4. A therapy session usually lasts from 40 minutes to an hour and typically costs $90 to $125. Because the preparation is longer and more intensive, it is more expensive than the Swedish massage.

5. A hot stone therapist must be prepared to sanitize and heat massage stones before use, the stones are heated from 120 degrees, up to 150 degrees.

6. This type of massage will require nudity so that the stones can more effectively penetrate deep into the muscles. However, if you are not comfortable about being naked, you can always be partially covered with a blanket and the therapist will only expose area of the body that will be treated.

7. The therapist touches the stone first before placing on your body so you need not worry about being scalded or hurt by the heat of the stones.

8. This therapy has countless physical and mental benefits. On the physical level, it releases toxins within the body, alleviates muscular pain, improves sleep quality, regulates blood circulation and improves health conditions such as Arthritis and Fibromylagia. Mentally, it provides a thorough relaxation of the mind and spirit, leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated. It also clears your mind and enables you to make better decisions after.

9. This therapy is invented in 1993 by Mary Hannigan who calls this LaStone Therapy.

10. Finding a proficient therapist is crucial in ensuring that you have the best kind of hot stone therapy experience. To find one, you must get recommendations from friends and family or referrals from your doctor. You must also make sure that the therapist has specialized training and extensive experience on hot stone therapy as well as possesses a current city-issued permit and massage license or certification.

Even though you already know the basics of hot stone therapy theoretically, it is still best that you try and experience the wonderful benefits of this yourself.

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products for hot stone massage such as massage stones, as well as many other many oYtl other accessories for hot stone therapy.

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Your birthday is probably one of the most awaited times of the year that you consider very special. Typically, you will celebrate it with your family and friends with a huge fun party. Sadly, some people are away from their loved ones during their birthdays and must spend time without them. These circumstances may include being away because of work or due to personal reasons. Whatever it may be, it does not mean that you will have a lonely birthday celebration.

There are numerous enjoyable ways you can do to make the most of your special day. It really depends on you on how you want to enjoy yourself. You can have a hot stone therapy or just simply buy something that you’ve dying to have for some time. Your birthday is about celebrating everything in your life that is wonderful. It’s about commemorating the past year and seeing how much you’ve grown. It is all about reflecting and appreciating what you have in your life right now. Here are some suggestions that will surely inspire you.

1. The very best way you can give yourself is the gift of time. Sometimes, you are so engrossed in everything happening in your life that you forget to provide the most important person quality time—yourself. Decide what you are going to do based on your mood. Not every person is the alike, and not every would want to spend their birthday in the same way. If you want to spend the whole day celebrating, you can consider getting off work and plan the whole day.

2. Be adventurous. You should plan going out of town or a road trip to a nearby town. Avoid just going to the movie theater or window shopping. Don’t waste time, do something that is worthwhile and you will enjoy. There are many ways to do this. You can just book one whole day at a nice hotel within driving distance if you do not have the time and expense to go on a vacation. Treat yourself a sumptuous lunch and spend the afternoon walking on the beach or strolling in an unfamiliar street.

If you’re a sports person, you can go hiking, biking, or camping. Just be sure to inform someone where you are exactly going in cases of emergency. You don’t want to spend your special day getting lost do you?

3. Send yourself a card and buy yourself a present too. It is most likely this time that you will not receive any gifts or cards because you are far away from your loved ones. A few weeks or before your special day, find a card you love, sign it and write a simple note to yourself. This will surely make you smile when you receive it. If you have been wanting that designer bag for a while, consider getting it for yourself. After all, you have been working so hard this past year that you deserve to spoil yourself.

4. If you feel that you are tired these past few months, you should consider spending your birthday on a spa. Get that much needed hot stone massage therapy to rejuvenate and refresh every cell in your body.

Spending your birthday on your own can also be pleasurable. You can still enjoy your birthday even if you are far away from your family and friends. The best part is being able to do something for yourself that you wouldn’t normally do or think about. So go ahead and come up with a special and unique way to celebrate your birthday, and you might be surprised that you had fun doing so.

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products for hot stone massage such as massage stones, as well as many other many oYtl other accessories for hot stone therapy.

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Anybody who thinks that a pleasurable massage experience is the responsibility of the therapist is terribly mistaken. While it is true that a wondrous therapy session largely depends on the proficiency and skills of the one giving the massage, it is imperative to know that the recipient also plays a part in it.

For one, there are many ways that the receiver can do to enhance the benefits of the session. But also, he or she should also practice proper massage etiquette to be able to build a healthy relationship and good rapport with the therapist.

Here are some tips on proper massage etiquette that you will find very useful:

• Schedule your appointment early to allow for the therapist or the spa to book other appointments more efficiently.
• Do not be late for your appointment. Arriving 15 minutes earlier is highly recommended for you to have some time to relax and to be able to enjoy the facilities of the spa. More importantly, do not cancel the last minute. Not only are these highly inconsiderate but these also means lost chances for earning money on the part of the therapist. If you should cancel, do it days before.
• Prior to the session, it is best to discuss your preferences to the therapist such as the type of music, lighting or room temperature will make you feel comfortable. During the session, you can always speak up if there is anything that is bothering you. But of course, keep this to a minimum because interrupting the therapist every 5 minutes to adjust the lights or the temperature will not only interrupt the flow of the session and diminish the benefits of it, but is also downright annoying.
• Go to the restroom before the session.
• Do not wear any perfume or moisturizer. Sometimes, the smell of the perfume is intoxicating especially because you are in an enclosed area. Moisturizers on the other hand are a no-no because they interfere with the massage oils and lotions used in the therapy.
• Use the amenities of the spa with utmost care.
• Make sure to turn off your cell phone and don’t answer any calls during your therapy session.
• Be sure to take a bath before the session. It is very rude to show up at the spa or massage center all sweaty and dirty. No therapist in his right mind will be happy to touch you on that kind of state.
• It is all right to talk with the therapist during the therapist but you are not required to do so. The therapist will not mind if you want to enjoy the session quietly.
• Always remember to tip your therapist 10-15% tip at the end of the service.
• A few minutes on the massage table after the session is helpful in relaxation. Remember, it is not okay to take a full afternoon nap unless specified by the therapist.

Always follow the golden rule, treat your therapist and the spa personnel the way you want to be treated and that is with respect.

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry products for hot stone massage such as massage stones, as well as many other many oYtl other accessories for hot stone therapy.

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“Ahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh………..The contented sigh of relaxation. I bet you want to feel that relaxed? We all have stress in our lives and are searching for any way to relax and drop the stresses of the world. With the hectic scheduling of children or family members, work, friends, and trying to compete with our neighbors, we’re constantly stressed. The beeping of text messages, the need to feel like we are always connected to the internet via our mobile devices, the constant online social networking all contribute to the overwhelming stress we feel.

How can you relieve that stress? Can you find the way to get away from your cell phone, the computer, work, and other duties for even just thirty minutes a day? If so, try one of the following relaxation techniques:

My favorite way to relax is to get a massage. Massages are designed to relieve tension from muscles and relax the client. You can choose from a traditional relaxing Swedish massage or from a variety of specialty massages. One popular form of specialty massage is the hot stone massage. Hot stone massages are excellent ways to relax; the massage therapist puts heated massage stones on your back and uses the stones to massage your muscles. The added heat helps relieve the tension in your stressed muscles. A hot stone massage would be an excellent recommendation as a way to relieve stress.

Of course, massages do cost money. A good massage will cost you anywhere from $30 to $100. It’d be hard to afford that kind of money on a weekly basis. And furthermore, most folks aren’t able to the the hour of time it would require. But there are other methods of relaxing that might not cost as much money.

However, a hot soak in the tub each night is also very relaxing and costs you nothing. When I get home from work, I like to run a tub full of hot water and just soak in the warmth for twenty to thirty minutes. The warmth helps relax my muscles, and I truly feel like I’m washing away the stress of the day. You can add essential oils, light scented candles, or perhaps have a nice glass of red wine. All of these activities help you relax and forget about the stresses of the day.

There are those crazy people that just can. They need some form of excersise to let the stress go. Therefore, those folks might enjoy yoga. Not only does yoga help relax you, it is also an excellent way to build stamina, endurance, and flexibility. You can attend yoga classes at most health clubs or universities, or you can purchase a how-to video and do some yoga poses at home. Exercise of any kind is a good way to help you release some stress, but yoga in particular is an excellent stress reliever.

We are all influenced by some form of stress from the hectic lifestyles we lead. Most of us end the work day, and especially the work week, with aching muscles, tight necks, knotted shoulders, and too much tension to relax. We need to find ways to relax, to unwind, to de-connect from the computer, the cell phone, the work emails.

Sara Ryan regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as oYtl  other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

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A growing number of people are becoming more conscious of the connection between the environment and their health, from going “green” to buying organic foods, and now to using natural stones to heal the body.  Heated stones of different shapes and sizes are commonly used during a massage to help muscles release underlying tension and relax. It is a technique that works quicker at making muscles relax than massage alone.

Hot stone massage is a specialty form that combines the techniques of Swedish massage, or other forms of massage, with the soothing effects of smooth, natural stones gently heated by water.  When left to rest on the body, the heat from the stones penetrates the body, and warms and relaxes the muscles more quickly than massage alone.  Placing stones along the client’s spine, on top of the stomach, or in the palms are all techniques that therapists may use during a massage session.

Stones are used for several different types of treatment; including deep tissue, facial, pedicure, or on chakra points on the body. A black, volcanic rock called basalt is typically used for its ability to retain heat, but other kinds of stones, such as marble, are also used.  Cold stones can also be used to treat muscle injuries or inflammation.  Besides common discomforts, such as muscle injury and back pain, hot stone massage is sometimes used to treat even more serious conditions such as paralysis and debilitating problems caused by strokes and heart attacks.  It’s important that therapists who use stone massage are properly trained and have experience practicing the technique.  Injury could occur from using too much pressure during the massage or stones that are too hot and could thereby burn.

Hot stones being used to treat the body is an ancient technique that’s been practiced for centuries by ancient people.  In Asia, hot stone massage was used for therapeutic reasons, and Native Americans used stones in sweat lodges.Native Americans value the hot stones so much they began calling them ‘Grandfather Stones.”  Hawaiians used stones for similar purposes as Native Americans, although they used the lava stones called “pohaku” that were more abundant on the islands.  Historical records indicate that hot and cold stones were used by many ancient cultures for a multitude of reasons, including easing pain during labor and childbirth, detecting diseases, and to ward off evil spirits.

Hot stone massage was introduced in the United States in its current form in the early ‘90s.  One of the first people to use it was massage therapist Mary Hannigan, who created a popular technique called LaStone Therapy.  Although acupuncture and other therapies are generally more common than stone therapy, hot stone massage is a technique that is revered for its therapeutic abilities.  In addition to being offered by qualified massage therapists, now many companies make hot stone massage therapy available by selling massage kits and instructional materials for home use.When used by a trained massage therapist, massage therapy is a proven technique to help heal the body.

Sara regularly writes for AML Stone Source, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as hot stone massage kit and massage stones, as well as many other many other accessories h072s for hot stone therapy.

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Do you suffer from pain in your lower back? Have you experienced anxiety, depression, exhaustion or migraines? Do you have muscle problems like cramps or spasm? You may want to check out stone massage if you experience any of these ailments.

Stone massage is one of the oldest type of medical therapy used on humans. This type of therapy has been used for hundreds of years by ancient peoples such as Chinese, Egyptian, and Romans.. Stones during those times were used for health and safeguarding purposes as well as for diagnosis and treatment of various diseases.

The stones used for the massage vary according to the area it will be treating. For example, large stones are used to treat large areas of the body while the smaller stones are used for small spaces. Different textures of stone are used, both smooth and rough. The Smooth ones are used gliding massage while the rough ones are used specifically for awakening the body part which is simply because it warms up the tissue and at the same time can exfoliate the skin. Pointed stones are also used to treat specific areas of the body.

The color of the stones also has a purpose. The very dark ones can heat up faster and can hold heat longer. The gray ones are not so hot and can also cool down faster. The white stones are used for cold stone massage therapy. This means a stone massage can either be hot or cold. Which is then more beneficial?

The hot stone massage is a relaxing treatment that used heated stones of varying sizes which will be used to the different parts of the body. These hot stones give a deep massage and create a sensation of warmth and comfort. The heat generated from the stones gives a great feeling and is also therapeutic for it helps detoxify the body while it relaxes the nervous system.

The relaxation felt from the hot stone massage satisfy both physical and mental phase. It also reduces stress while it relieves the mental and physical fatigue. Blood circulation will also improve causing the increased blood supply which can help improve the body functions. Its detoxifying effects also quickly eliminate toxins and waste. Muscle and joint pains are also relieved while tension in the connective tissue is decreased.

A cold stone massage is a rejuvinating therapy that uses stones such as marble to ease swelling and increase blood flow. It helps in refreshing the nervous system as well as stimulates the mind. It also eases tissue congestions and pacifies irritation. It also helps in cooling down the body during a warm day or when experiencing hot flushes.

Just like cars, our bodies also need a tune-up. Therefore regular massages can help ensure that both our body and mind remains in good condition. You should try to have regular massage therapy sessions for maximum impact, at least once or twice per month. Also, massage stones are great stress relievers which helps to prevent disease. This is because it has been studied that most of the diseases in the world are related to stress.

Mary Singleton regularly writes for TIR Massage Stone, the leading hot stone massage supplies provider. They carry such products as massassge stones and massage stone kits, as well oYtl as many other many other accessories for hot stone therapy.

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