Article contributed by Conrad & Janet Hunter, Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa of Mooresville

A massage is one of the ultimate forms of self-care. An hour spent destressing, relaxing, and relieving muscular soreness will benefit you mentally, emotionally, and physically. And while Most people are familiar with traditional massage methods, such as the Swedish massage, stone massage is not as well known. Hand & Stone offers its signature Hot Stone massage and newer, Himalayan Salt Stone massage. Hot stone massage therapy involves the use of heated Basalt river rocks to warm your muscles and make them more pliable, allowing you to enter into a deeper state of relaxation.  Unique from Hot Stone Massage, Himalayan Salt Stone Massage uses warm crystal stones to soothe and promote an increased sense of well-being. In addition to deep relaxation, there are many benefits to having a hot stone or Himalayan salt stone massage. They include:

  • Muscle Tension and Pain Relief

The heat from the stones allows the massage therapist to manipulate deeper muscle tissue, which leads to greater muscle relaxation, decreased muscle spasms, an increased range of motion and—most importantly—reduced pain.

  • Reduction in Stress and Anxiety

The hot stones are placed at specific pressure points, which alleviates that pressure on certain nerves. That physical reduction in pressure actually helps reduce mental stress because when the body is relaxed, the mind is able to relax, and you can leave the hot stone massage feeling rejuvenated.Himalayan Salt Stones have natural properties that  block Electromagnetic Overload from electronic devices, which in turn can help to balance the central nervous system and trigger relaxation.

  • Sleep Promotion

During a massage, both hot stones and Himalayan salt stones deeply enhance the relaxation response and balance energy flow. This can help decrease anxiety, which can improve overall sleep quality. In addition, a stone massage can increase melatonin production in the body. Melatonin is a hormone that helps your brain know when it’s time to sleep. The heat from the also helps your blood pressure drop, causing sleepiness.

  • Improvement in Circulation 

The heat from the stones causes your blood vessels to expand, allowing more oxygen to get to your muscles and allowing more toxins to move out of your blood stream. When your muscles receive more oxygen, you’ll experience less pain, and you can also heal faster if you’re suffering from any kind of muscle injury.

  • Improvement in Flexibility

Stiff joints make it hard to move through day-to-day activities. Placing hot stones on problem areas helps loosen the muscles around those joints better than massage without the use of hot stones. With regular stone therapy, you’ll notice your flexibility improves over time. Your joints will be more relaxed, and you’ll find it easier to move with less friction and pain.

  • Reduce signs of aging

Himalayan Salt Stone’s natural salt properties gently exfoliate the skin to promote naturally smooth and silky skin, reducing signs of aging.

You deserve to be pampered with a massage that rocks! Be sure and check out Hand & Stone’s giveaway this month on Lake Norman Woman’s Facebook page for the chance to win either a hot stone massage or a Himalayan salt stone massage. For more information, or to schedule a massage, call Hand & Stone Massage & Facial Spa in Mooresville (631 Brawley School Rd., Ste. 200; www.handandstonemooresville.com) at 704-800-5535.