Getting a massage is a great way to relax after a long day at work, but massages can also serve as physical therapy to help cure conditions such as back pain, muscle cramps, or even sinus inflammation. One of the best massage techniques to help relieve pressure in the body is the hot stone massage, which is a service you can find in most spas and massage treatment centers. Here is some information about the process that will give you an idea if you want to try it or not.

This technique of massage therapy is undoubtedly an ancient practice; however, the revival of this technique in the 20th century is attributed to a woman by the name of Mary Nelson. Ms. Nelson was a massage therapist who re-introduced this technique in the early 1990s, branding it "La Stone Therapy." Since then, a number of variations have been developed, but the underlying premise remains the same.

Hot stone massage therapy involves the use of heated smooth, flat stones that are placed on key points on the patient's body. This is designed to promote relaxation and to help open up what are termed "meridians". These are the pathways of "qi", also called "chi", and blood flow through the body. Qi flows continuously from one meridian to another. Any break in the flow is a sign of imbalance. Muscles are pre-treated with the heated stones to loosen them up, thereby allowing the therapist to more easily perform subsequent deep tissue manipulations.

Stone massages are exceptionally relaxing and an excellent way to relieve stress. The use of heat provided by the stones increases a person's circulation and the amount of blood flow to the area that is directly beneath the stone. By warming up a few specific areas of the body, the rate at which these areas enter into a state of relaxation is accelerated and the muscles become more flexible. This heat application allows for the masseuse to penetrate the area more deeply without provoking any type of discomfort.

The stones used in this type of massage therapy vary in size, shape and even weight yet they all have a texture that is very smooth and soft to the touch. The smallest and lightest stones are used in facial massages, which are generally a feature that clients can opt to include as part of a traditional facial treatment.

Different stones are used for different things. "Chakra stones" for example are used for bringing "balance" to the Chakra centers (Chakras in traditional Indian medicine are "force centers" that flow from different points of the physical body), therefore some stones are placed on points on the body that are thought to represent these energy centers, while others are used to actually massage the client.

If you have certain health conditions, such as arthritis or osteoporosis, that may inhibit the success of your hot stone massage, be sure to talk to your doctor and massage therapist about alternatives that would be best for you. You may have to get a massage that is less (or more) intense depending on the condition of your bones and muscles, and you may even be able to avoid certain health problems in the future by getting a stone massage on a regular basis.