Posts Tagged ‘hot stone massage’

The Health Benefits of Hot Stone Massage Explained

The Health Benefits of Hot Stone Massage Explained

Hot stone massages are an alternative to the regular type of massage you can get at a spa. The hot stones are placed at certain points along the back to relieve pressure and relax muscles. It is an ancient practice to use finger pressure and massage in certain points on the body to relieve ailments of the body. The belief is that the entire body is a network of connections that can be affected through the hands, feet and other pressure points.

Hot stone massage works within this principle. The stones used are smooth and flat with some weight but not too heavy. Most are made of a substance called basalt. The stones are kept in water in a heated bath until a temperature suitable for massage is reached.

While the stones are heating, you will be on the massage table on your stomach getting comfortable. Most massage clients, especially first-time clients, have tightly knotted muscles. It can take a lot of deep pressure to loosen the kinks. That pressure can be uncomfortable to some.

Hot stones allow for a gentler touch to the muscles and pressure points of the body. The area to be massaged is covered with massaging oil. The oil allows the stones to slide across the skin as well as the therapist’s hands.

Stones are them placed in a line along the center of the back. You may be asked to turn your palms up and a stone is placed in each palm and on the soles of the feet. Basalt stones hold their heat longer so that your muscles are relaxed and kept warm. This technique aids in circulation which is good for clients who suffer from arthritis, back pain and circulatory conditions.

For areas where muscles are still tight, the stone itself may be used as the massage tool. After removing the stones, the muscle is ready and less pressure needs to be applied to work the tissues. After kneading with the hands, the stones may be reapplied to keep the muscles pliable.

You may be asked to turn over for more massage work on your abdomen, front of the arms and front of the legs. Hot stone massages are costly but they benefit people who are stressed or have chronic pain.

Try a hot stone massage to relieve your stress and joint pain. The stones are used as a massaging tool to keep the body warm and the muscles more flexible for deeper massage techniques.

Massages are an indulgence that everyone should try at least once in their lives. Your body goes through a lot on a daily basis and a massage is a way to remove the kinks and purge the body of that bad energy. Next time you schedule a massage, try a hot stone massage.

What is Meridian Therapy?

What is Meridian Therapy?

Meridian therapy is an alternative procedure for reducing stress and freeing your body from toxins. It is similar to acupressure in its applications. Meridian therapy releases blocked energy for total body health.

The name of the therapy refers to the lines of energy that run throughout the body. There are twelve meridian lines that run along the body, six on each side. There are also two unpaired meridian lines: one along the front midline and one along the back midline of the body. According to ancient Oriental teachings of healing, energy runs along these lines. This energy flow or ki (pronounced chee) is the life force of the body.

The flow of ki must run unobstructed in the body for optimal health. When the flow is interrupted, then the person gets sick in the body. This sickness can manifest itself as headaches, intestinal trouble, tiredness, depression or any number of conditions that people experience every day. According to meridian therapy, their ki is blocked along a meridian and must be unblocked to restore balance.

Meridian therapy used pressure points along these meridians to unblock the energy flow in the body. Each meridian corresponds to certain organs in the body. Those organs can be reached through pressure on the meridian. A meridian therapist learns how to touch and apply pressure to the exact point that will unblock the ki.

Using a meridian map of sorts, the meridian therapist can trace a particular line of ki that will most likely be of help depending on the client’s symptoms. If the client feels a tender spot when the therapist is moving along the meridian, it could be the site of the energy blockage. Usually blocked energy is accompanied by tenderness around that area of the body.

Energy flow blockages associated with certain organs along a meridian have also been associated with emotional changes in the body. A problem with the liver, for example, causing a weak meridian line can result in short-temperedness. On the opposite end of the scale, an overactive liver can be associated with crying spells.

Magnets are often used in meridian therapy to trace meridian lines and to see which way they are flowing. Flow in the opposite direction can signal that there is an infection or some other disease process going on in the body.

It is the job of the meridian therapist to use their knowledge of meridians within the body and their associated organs and emotional states to plan a session for their clients. Meridian therapy is a complementary alternative therapy that works with modern medicine. Any alternative or complementary therapy is not a substitute for proper medical guidance. Use it to enhance the treatment you are being given from your doctor.