Stone Therapy is just what its name indicates, the use of stones to relax and heal the body by returning balance and harmony to it. Warm stones, cool stones, semiprecious stones, and crystals are used to give the recipient a soothing, energy revitalizing, blockage removing experience that is nothing like you’ve ever had before.

When you begin your stone therapy, you will first lie down on alternating hot and cool stones that follow the shape of your spine. Covered with a thick towel, these smooth, warming rocks with soothe your soul and your body will begin to relax almost instantly. Your worries and pains will drift away as more rocks are placed on specific points along the body to heal and relieve.

Warm oils will be rubbed on your body and hot stones will be used to massage and relax every muscle as you feel the warmth radiate throughout your body and soul. Stone therapy starts at the feet and works its way up towards the head. Your therapist will follow your meridian lines, the energy lines that connect every organ to every other part of the body like a series of interconnecting rivers, with the hot rocks and warm oil. Starting with the feet, the stones move up your legs, through the torso, into your arms, and end at your fingertips. Other meridian lines and pressure points are traced in this way with hot stones, including your chest, abdomen, and shoulders.

Small, flat stones will then be placed between your toes and larger, round stones are placed in the palms of your hands. Some stones may be placed on your face or anywhere else that needs to receive the healing treatment of the heated stones. Warm crystals and semiprecious stones will then be placed along your Chakra lines in order to balance your mind and soul. Your body will go to a place of total relaxation and healing calm as you receive the heat and energies of the various stones, but it’s only half over.

After a few minutes, you will be asked to roll over onto your stomach. With your towel in tact, a large hot stone will be placed at the base of your spine near the buttocks. The stone therapist will then massage your body with other hot stones and oils as before, following the meridian lines. Cool stones will then be place on specific areas of the body to remove stress. These stones will never come in direct contact with protruding bones, joints, or the spine because they can cause injury. This is why it is so important to go to a trained stone therapy professional so they can properly and safely treat you. After your stone therapy session, you should leave feeling more relaxed, centered, and invigorated.

In stone therapy, basalt stones are used for heated treatments. Basalt stones are volcanic formed rocks that are used due to their excellent conductivity and transferability of heat. These basalt stones are water-heated to temperatures of no more than 130ºF. The use of these stones to transfer heat directly to specific points of the body is thought to create even deeper healing than a traditional massage. Hot stone therapy is said to expand the blood vessels, increase circulation, and remove toxins from the body.

Marble stones are used for cooling treatments. These marble stones are found at the bottom of the ocean and are thought to increase circulation and remove stress. The marble stones are kept cold, but never frozen. Cold stone therapy is said to constrict the blood vessels, stimulate the nervous system, detoxify the body, and heal injured or inflamed muscles.

Using the hot and cold stones together can allow the body to receive increased oxygen and nutrients while removing harmful toxins from the muscles and organs. Much like traditional medicine suggests using alternating hot and cold packs to heal aching muscles, the use of hot and cold stones can effectively heal many aches and pains. Many of the ailments in which stone therapy purports to improve include muscle pains, poor circulation, arthritis, back pain, Multiple Sclerosis, stress, insomnia, anxiety, and depression.

Your stone therapist might also choose to incorporate aromatherapy principles to your session. Since warm oils are spread on the body to assist in the flow of the stones across the meridian lines anyway, essential aromatherapy oils can easily be added to create a sort of super-duper healing extravaganza! The stones might also be dipped in these essential oils for direct contact therapy. Aromatherapy can trigger deeper healing within the body through the sense of smell. The combination of touch, heat, and scent will leave you feeling so relaxed that you probably won’t want to leave the therapist’s table! It all gives new meaning to getting stoned!

Hot stone therapies can also focus on smaller areas of the body for added healing. Hot stone facials, manicures, pedicures, and reflexology are all great options for stone therapy. You can even buy your own stone sets to create your own personal hot stone therapy session in the privacy of your home. However, you should never just go out into your backyard, pick up any old stone, heat it in the microwave, and place it on your Chakras! Most stones hold and transfer heat and cold differently than others, so only certain stones should be used for stone therapy. The best thing to do is to try stone therapy for yourself with a trained therapist in the safety and comfort of your local day spa. You’re guaranteed to leave the spa feeling like a “rock” star!

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Categories: Alternative Therapies, My Favorite Treatment, Treatments