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Well, it is a massage technique that has become one of the most popular all over the world. It uses the more traditional massage techniques with hot stone.
Massage therapists use heated stones combined with the kneading of muscles to provide relaxation and relief. Stones may be placed in different areas of the body like the palms, the back, between the toes or between the fingers.
The use of hot stones is not new at all though their popularity is quite recent. They have been featured in many ancient cultures dating back several centuries old.
In many of the Native American cultures, the hot stones were used in sweat lodges. These are places where participants in the purification or detoxification rituals spend time in. They pass hot stones among themselves and press these stones on parts of their bodies that feel pain or discomfort.
The hot stones also feature in Hawaiian culture. The Hawaiians used lava stones that were called Pohaku. These heated Pohaku were wrapped in special leaves and placed on the painful areas of the body. The stone"s heat causes the leaves that they are wrapped in to release oils that aid in pain relief. Today, the Pohaku features in the Lomi Lomi massage. This traditional massage helps to relieve several ailments and improve circulation.
Hot shells are also used as a variant of the hot stone massage technique. Instead of stones, heated Tiger-stripe shells are used. These smooth shells which mainly come from the Philippines, are filled with essential oils, algae and minerals which cause them to heat up.
Although many people tend to be afraid that the hot stone massage would be a painful experience, it is not. The stones are heated up until they are warm and never hot enough to cause pain or burns.
The stones are made of basalt which tends to retain heat for some time. The heated stones are then used in many ways. They may be used to give a shallow Swedish-style massage by placing them on the palms. They can also be held between the massage therapist"s fingers so that the deeper muscles can be reached and kneaded to loosen up any knots.
The heated stones may be placed in areas that are tight and tense like the back. They are then placed there for a time so that the heat may penetrate the muscles underneath and make them relax. Many consider this part as the most relaxing.
Hot stone massage also has benefits other than providing relaxation. They can give relief from discomfort and pain. They can even give relief from ailments that include inflammation of the joints. The hot stones improve circulation and help remove toxins from the muscles.
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