Hot & Cold Stone Massage (48 hours)

The Body Wisdom Hot and Cold Stone Massage approach uses both, hot and cold massage stones, to create a profoundly relaxing, yet refreshing and rejuvenating experience. The use of alternating temperatures has long been scientifically and medically proven to be of therapeutic benefit to the body; reviving body cells and circulatory functions. This version of contrast therapy with the deeply penetrating and relaxing heat of the hot stones, alternating with the refreshing coolness of the cold stones, is truly a unique and exhilarating experience.

Hot Stone Massage involves the use of polished stones applied to the body, using long flowing massage strokes. The hot stones bring about local and systemic changes in the body through thermal conduction, expanding the blood vessels, pushing blood and unwanted waste materials through the body. This has a relaxing, sedative effect on the nervous system, allowing muscle tissue to soften and relax. Special massage techniques in conjunction with the hot stones help produce energy that assists with and directs vital flow to areas of blockage. The direct heat deeply relaxes muscles, allowing deeper manipulations of the tissue than would be possible with regular massage.

Cold stones are alternated with the hot stones during stone massage to create thermo-therapeutic effects to help the body detoxify and heal. The cold stones cause the blood vessels to constrict, stimulating the nervous system and drawing blood and waste products though the system and out of the body. Cold stones can also be very beneficial in the treatment of inflammation and muscular injury.

Stone Massage is adaptable to a myriad of techniques, including reflexology, aromatherapy, decongestive lymphatic drainage, sports and medical massage applications, and of course standard therapeutic and Swedish massage.

Prerequisites: Therapeutic Massage Level 1 or Equivalent