Hot Stone Therapy

Hot stone therapy is an alternative/holistic therapy that aims to provide relaxation benefits and ease tension. This practice is usually offered as a complementary treatment alongside other, more mainstream treatments like massage therapy or sports massage.  

This is because although hot stone therapy provides its own health benefits, it makes massage and similar pain relief treatments work better and it makes it easier for the massage therapist to give more beneficial massages or treatments. 

What is The Purpose of a Hot Stone Massage?

Hot stone therapy is designed to help you relax, by easing muscle tension. Hot stones can also help ease damaged soft tissues so they are useful for soft tissue injuries and overuse. 

Easing muscle tension can also help provide pain relief to the person receiving a hot stone massage. 

Hot stones are used alongside massage therapy techniques such as remedial massage, Swedish massage and deep tissue massage. They can also be used for trigger point therapy. 

Benefits of Hot Stone Therapy

1. Promotes Relaxation

One of the primary reasons people seek hot stone therapy is for its deeply relaxing effects. The warmth of the stones helps to soothe the nervous system, making it easier for the body and mind to relax. The comforting heat reduces stress and anxiety, creating an overall sense of calmness and well-being.

2. Relieves Muscle Tension and Pain

The heat from the stones penetrates deep into the muscles, improving blood flow and reducing muscle pain. This makes hot stone therapy particularly effective for individuals suffering from chronic pain, muscle knots or conditions like fibromyalgia and arthritis. The gentle yet effective pressure helps to relieve soreness and improve mobility.

3. Improves Circulation

Hot stone therapy promotes better circulation by dilating blood vessels and encouraging blood flow throughout the body. Improved circulation ensures that oxygen and essential nutrients are delivered more efficiently to tissues and muscles, which can aid in faster recovery from injuries or muscle fatigue.

4. Reduces Stress and Anxiety

Massage therapy, in general, is known to lower cortisol (the stress hormone) and increase serotonin and dopamine levels. The warmth from the stones enhances this effect, helping individuals feel more relaxed and at ease. This can be particularly beneficial for those seeking stress relief.

5. Enhances Sleep Quality

Many people struggle with sleep disturbances due to stress, chronic pain, or muscle tension. Hot stone therapy helps to alleviate these issues by inducing deep relaxation and reducing discomfort, making it easier to fall and stay asleep. This therapy is an excellent option for individuals suffering from insomnia or poor sleep quality.

6. Boosts the Immune System

Regular massage therapy, including hot stone massage therapy, has been shown to boost the immune system by stimulating the lymphatic system. This helps the body to flush out toxins and enhances its ability to fight infections. Improved circulation also plays a role in supporting the immune response.

7. Aids in Detoxification

The combination of heat and massage stimulates the body's natural detoxification processes. Sweating and increased blood flow helps to remove toxins from the body, promoting overall health and well-being.

8. Alleviates Symptoms of Autoimmune Diseases

Individuals suffering from autoimmune diseases such as fibromyalgia and rheumatoid arthritis often experience chronic pain and inflammation. Hot stone therapy can provide relief by relaxing muscles, reducing joint stiffness, and improving circulation, thereby easing the discomfort associated with these conditions.

9. Enhances Flexibility and Range of Motion

By loosening tight muscles and increasing blood flow, hot stone therapy can improve flexibility and range of motion. This is especially beneficial for athletes, individuals recovering from injuries or those with conditions like arthritis that affect mobility.

10. Supports Mental Clarity and Focus

A relaxed body contributes to a relaxed mind. By reducing stress and promoting deep relaxation, hot stone therapy can help improve mental clarity, focus and overall cognitive function. This makes it a great therapy option for those dealing with work-related stress or mental fatigue.

How To Use Hot Stones

Hot stone massage therapy usually involves a massage followed by the application of the hot stones.

The massage therapist or sports therapist will start off with a mainstream massage technique such as a Swedish massage or a full body massage.

The stones, already heated in a hot stone heater, will be applied to specific points and then used as massage tools on the body to help increase the positive effects of the massage and target muscle tension. 

Please note that although they are called hot stones, you can also cool them now and use them for cold therapy.

You can even combine the benefits of hot and cold therapy, this is done by alternating hot and cold therapy in different treatments and can be done in various ways. 

One example of this would be to provide a cooling massage and then apply the hot stones after the massage but remember that hot and cold therapy are good for different things. 

Placement of Hot Stones

If you are a massage therapist, then it's always best to get qualified training for any complementary treatments you offer so you will likely already be trained and if you aren't a massage therapist then it's advised you leave it up to the professionals. 

As a quick reminder about placement, hot stones are always placed along the spine (please see the above image).

This involves placing hot stones on the spine while making sure the edges of the stones run along the sides of the spine. This is done all the way up to the neck and then used to massage the whole back, neck and shoulders. 

Ultimately, you should place the stones in the best formation for each client or person receiving a massage. So if they have more neck pain then putting more stones around the neck will be necessary. 

Physique's Hot Stones and Heaters

Mushroom Hot Stone 

Mushroom hot stones are used to relieve tension in specific parts of the body such as the neck, feet, hands and shoulders. 

This is due to the shape of the hot stone which, as shown in the image above, contains a knobble. It makes targeting specific muscles or trouble areas a lot easier so you can work out any muscle tension. 

For the reasons already covered, this hot stone is perfect for trigger point therapy and can therefore help you to provide more effective and beneficial massages.

Pressure Point Hot Stone

These hot stones come as a set of two pressure point hot stones, they can be used for deep tissue massages and can help you to properly target muscle tension. 

They are ergonomically designed to benefit both the massage therapist and the client so you don't have to worry too much about hurting your hands while trying to give deep tissue massages. 

These stones, like the mushroom stone, can also be used for trigger point therapy and making more mainstream massage techniques like remedial massage a lot more beneficial to the person receiving the massage. 

Hot stone set - 60 hot stones

If you came here looking for hot stones to use for your massages then you don't need to look any further because we have a set of 60 Hot stones. 

The set contains every hot stone you'll ever need as well as 7 chakra gems for each chakra!  (green jade, smokey-quartz, clear-quartz, brown tiger eye, purple amethyst, pink-quartz & red carnelian)

If 60 Hot stones are a bit of an investment for you or if you're just looking for a few more additional hot stones to add to your collection then we also sell these in sets of two for each individual type of hot stone; just visit the link above. 

Here's a full list of the different types of hot stones included in this set:

• 3 x Extra large flat ovular
• 6 x large flat ovular
• 10 x medium flat ovular
• 6 x small flat ovular + small round
• 8 x toe stone
• 6 x small circular facial
• 4 x small ovular white marble
• 2 x miniature pressure/deep tissue
• 7 x chakra gems

Hot stones and heater 

This is the Hot stone kit covered above except it also includes a 6 Quartz Hot Stone Heater. It's perfect for beginners who have just started providing hot stone massages and need all the basics so they can offer it to their clients

The hot stone heater has a digital thermostat and is fully automated which makes heating stones a lot easier 

You can also have more control over your massages by adjusting the temperature to something you're comfortable working with; it even comes a spoon so you can easily take the stones out of the heater. 

Hot stones, heater and massage oils

This is an even more inclusive kit for beginners that works great as a gift set. It contains the hot stone set and heater that we've already talked about.

It also includes two universal massage oils that can be used for all types of massage, a towel and a massage oil bottle holder. The massage bottle holder even comes with two empty bottles for you to decant some massage oils into. 

This set covers all the necessities so if you're a beginner or looking to improve your massage treatments then this certainly ticks all the boxes. 

The Wavestone 

The wavestone is not technically a hot stone but it is a stone massage tool that can be heated and cooled. 

The wavestone is very different from normal hot stones because it has a curved shape, this allows it to be used for the following:

• Shin Splints 
• Achilles Tendonitis (ankle pain)
• Plantar fasciitis (foot and arch pain)
• Cervical Sprain/Strain (neck pain)
• Lumbar Sprain/Strain (lower back pain)
• Muscle Sprains and Strains Muscle Spasms
• Medial / Lateral Epicondylitis (Golfers/ Tennis Elbow)

The wavestone is made from hand-carved white jade so it is of superior quality and can withstand a lot of heating and cooling without damage.

Instead of using a massage heater for this massage tool, the best way to heat it or cool it is to actually use the small container provided which is filled with either extremely hot or cold water. 

Unlike other hot stones, the wavestone's design makes it a lot easier to do massages without damaging your hands or wrists too much.

Not only does it take some strain off the massage therapist, but it also makes it easier to apply pressure. 

Precautions and Contraindications

Although hot stone massage therapy is generally safe, there are certain situations where it should be avoided or performed with caution:

• Pregnant women: Consult a healthcare provider before undergoing treatment, as excessive heat may not be safe during pregnancy.
• Individuals with cardiovascular conditions: Those with heart disease, high blood pressure, or other circulatory issues should seek medical advice before treatment.
• People with diabetes: Due to reduced heat sensitivity, there is a risk of burns or skin damage.
• Individuals with skin conditions: Open wounds, burns, or conditions like eczema and psoriasis may be aggravated by the heat.
• Those with blood clotting disorders: Heat can affect circulation and may not be suitable for individuals at risk of blood clots.

Please consult with a licensed massage therapist before booking a hot stone massage.