Why would anyone want a Hot Stone Massage?

For those of you who think of massage in terms of the Swedish-hands-on, rubbing up and down version, hot rocks might sound about as exciting as, well, rocks.

So why are people lining up for Japanese Hot Stone Massages? What’s the big deal?

Anma is one of Asia’s oldest massage techniques, dating back over 5000 years. It literally means “to press” (An) and “rub” (ma). Japanese hot stone massage comes out of that tradition, bringing with it roots in acupressure, energy meridians, and chi flow. In the days of feudal Japan, about 500 years ago, Samurai warriors were given these hot stone massage treatments to prepare them for battle. This treatment balanced their chi so they would be in their “Zen” while fighting.

By stimulating certain acupoints on the body with smooth, heated stones, the idea is to harmonize the flow of energy in the body by relaxing muscles and improving circulation. Whether or not you know what a “meridian” is, hot stone massages are deeply relaxing.

Massage therapists both place stones at specific acupoints and use hot stones with oil to massage your muscles, so Swedish massage fans will not be left disappointed. In fact, some hot stone massages begin with a traditional Swedish massage. It’s a much more active massage than you’d think!

Other than harmonizing your chi flow, health benefits of hot stone massage include:

• Releasing toxins
• Releasing tension
• Improving circulation
• Improving the immune system
• Increasing metabolism

If you want to try something a little different, discover this 5000 year old secret! A great hot stone massage is a specialty treatment, requiring a well trained and experienced therapist.

At RedBamboo MediSpa, we offer a 90 minute hot stone therapy for $85.