Healing Heat

Massage therapy using hot, soothing stones melts your stress away

AH, MY REGULAR MASSAGE. I look forward to it for days on end. Sometimes I even catch myself daydreaming about it during long meetings at work or in the car on my way home from the grocery store. I can’t wait to get on that table to clear my head and relax my body.

With the quiet, softly lit room, peaceful music, soft linens, and the therapist who rubs and kneads away my aches and pains, it’s like a little piece of heaven. When I’m done, I feel as if I don’t have a care in the world. I can go back to my daily routine feeling calmer and better about life. What could be better?

Adding hot stones, that’s what.

Hot What?

Hot stone massage is exactly what it sounds like. It’s a type of massage in which the therapist utilizes hot stones to help relax the muscles. At Massage Envy, the treatment is called Hot Stone Envy, and it is a 90-minute session that includes a full-body massage along with the placement of hot, smooth stones and the use of stones during the massage by the therapist.

The stones, which are typically made of fine-grain, volcanic basalt rock because of its ability to hold heat well, come in several shapes and sizes up to about the size of your fist. They are heated in water and used as either placement or technique stones. For placement stones, they’re positioned on muscle groups (with a towel or sheet between the stone and skin), and the heat from the stones penetrates the muscles, encouraging softening and relaxation.

With the technique stones, the therapist uses the stones directly on the skin during the application of massage techniques. Massaging muscles and muscle groups with the heated stones enhances relaxation, increases blood flow and decreases pain by melting away tension.

Body Benefits

Why does hot stone massage feel so good? “The hot stones heat up the skin and relax and soften the muscles, allowing the therapist to reach deeper layers,” says C.G. Funk, a licensed massage therapist and vice president of industry relations and product development for Massage Envy. “This treatment is especially effective during the winter months, because muscles naturally constrict and tighten in cold weather.”

Beyond just feeling incredible, hot stone massage also can help decrease chronic pain resulting from a variety of disorders and conditions. This treatment has been found to be beneficial for back pain, stress and anxiety, poor circulation, rheumatic and arthritic conditions, insomnia, depression and fibromyalgia.
—By Shelley Flannery
—Photos by Jeff Newton

Rock Recommendations

Just as with any other therapy service, the key to getting the most out of your hot stone massage is communication with your therapist. Be sure to speak up if:

+ The stones are too hot or not hot enough.

+ The stones have been placed uncomfortably or if you’d like them to be repositioned in any way.

+ The stones lose their heat and you want the therapist to rotate in hotter stones.

+ You want the therapist to use more or less pressure when massaging you with the stones.

Stone Specifics

The stones used in hot stone massage are heated to temperatures up to 135 degrees, according to Massage Envy policies and procedures. They should never be placed directly on the skin except when used by the therapist in continuous motion. Stones positioned on the body are separated from the skin by a sheet or towel.

Because we care about your health:

People who are prone to blood clots; have eczema, psoriasis, skin rashes or open wounds; who have recently had surgery or chemotherapy; or who are taking certain antibiotics or other prescription medications that may make the skin sensitive to heat should not have hot stone massage. Pregnant women should talk to their doctor about whether hot stone massage is safe for them.

Appointment Cancellation Policy

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