Hot Stone Massage Course
This informal and structured Hot Stone Massage Day Course will teach a variety of massage moves which can be used effectively on your friends and family to help them maintain good health. Performed on massage couches, each student will receive guidance on how to effectively hold and work their stones using massage moves on different parts of the body. Instruction will be given in order for a student to effectively perform a 60 minute massage routine. Stone tanks will be heated, and cleansing techniques given. There will be plenty of time for each student to experience the benefits of Hot Stone Body Massage, and further instruction will be given on how to adapt treatments to cater for every need. Stones can also be used during a range of treatments such as Facials, Pedicure, Reflexology and other form of massage too. This gives such an incredible range of uses for the stones and their heated tank. The benefits of Hot Stone Body Massage are countless and range from physical to psychological. It can aid relaxation, depression, anxiety and insomnia to physical benefits such as:
- Aches and Pains
- Swollen Muscle and Joint Pain
- Aids Blood Circulation
- Stimulates the Lymphatic system to eliminate waste
- It can help relieve pain
- Improve Bodily Functions
- Helps to maintain health and well-being
Massage Techniques
Effleurage– This massage move is used at the beginning and end of a massage and usually joins other moves together throughout. It is a long, slow rhythmic move that introduces massage to the client and relaxes their muscles in preparation for more deeper moves. The pressure should always be firm on the upward stroke and lighten upon the return.
Petrissage– This movement is normally applied with the fingers and balls of the thumbs, and is a deeper move that lifts muscle away from bone, helping contracted muscle to relax.
Percussion- A series of deep, penetrative moves called Hacking, Cupping, Pounding and Plucking. Theses moves are delivered to deeply stimulate muscle fibres and the increase of blood circulation.
Trigger Point Tapping- One stone is held on the area of tension or a knot and nodule. The other stone is used to tap the top of the other stone in order to disperse the fluid toward the bone A very powerful massage tool, the stones give you the ability to penetrate deeper than is possible with a human hand. One massage stroke with a stone is usually equivalent to five with the hand, and in the long run, this is good news for the masseuse. Repetitive strain injury, arthritis and tendonitis are all the things that a deep tissue masseuse can look forward to in later years if they do a lot of massages.
Known as a Cardio Vascular work out for the circulatory system, Hot Stone Massage works the body in a similar way to doing a two hour high impact work out in the Gym. For those not capable of exercise, a Hot Stone treatment provides them with the perfect solution, working tissues, loosening muscles, increasing blood circulation and eliminating waste products. During the treatment when stones are placed onto the body to nurture the client, the therapist will then perform a massage using heated stones in her hands. This induces a meditative and contemplative state where the warmth of the stones produces a sedative effect.
The Hot Stones seem to connect the energy meridians together in order to rebalance the physical body and the emotional. The use of extremes of temperature has been scientifically proven to be beneficial to the body. Having a hot shower followed by a cold shower is known to kick start the metabolism. A hot water bottle helps aches and pains as does an ice pack for muscle trauma. The use of Cold Marble stones to complete a treatment will promote speedy lymph drainage and revitalise the client. As you use frozen stones, the body begins to internally heat itself to get back to the state of homeostasis.
Check out our latest two part Hot Stone Massage video. The first part is Hot Stone Massage – Supine, (or face up). The second part is Hot Stone Massage – Prone (or face down)
