New Year - Hot Stone Relaxation?

Happy New Year! Are you feeling rested, relaxed and restored? Or have you been busy running around looking after everyone else this festive season? Do you enjoy the cold, dark months, or does your mood dip?

New Years resolutions tend to be all about pushing ourselves to change - and 'do better' - but how would it feel to be kinder to yourself instead?

At this time of year, I recommend trying a Hot Stone massage. Carefully heated smooth round basalt stones are placed on the body and used in the hands for massage. The relaxing and pain relieving effects of heat penetrate deeply into muscles. Great if you have fibromyalgia, arthritis, or chronic pain but also just for a wonderful experience of deep relaxation.

Hot days - cold stones and cooling oils!

Are you enjoying the sun? 🌞😎

Or feeling a bit overheated? 😩

It's a nice 21-22C here at Holistyx, between the stone walls, the window that only gets direct sun mid afternoon, and the fans on the HEPA air filters. 💙

Cold Stones

I am now offering cold stones as a £2 add-on to Swedish/Holistic Massage, Aromatherapy, or Massage and Reflexology sessions.

 

Marble and jade stones (pictured) are naturally cool, and I keep them in the fridge for extra coldness. They are used in the palm of the hand to massage with, or may also be placed on the body to really cool a particular area. Eg the smallest ones can be used on the forehead and temples. The larger ones might be used on the back, or the legs. 

• These can feel wonderful and be really beneficial:
• on painful muscles
• on injured, or inflamed areas, including arthritic joints
• on sensitive, irritable or hot skin
• on the face and neck to relieve congested sinuses or hayfever related inflammation
• on areas with sluggish lymph circulation eg tired, puffy legs
• for a menopausal woman having a hot flush

Cold stones are sometimes used as part of a Stone Therapy: Hot and Cold Stone Massage session. However through much of the year, most people prefer just the hot stones. But in this weather the cold stones come into their own!

Cooling Oils

I can also use essential oils which cool the body - either the full on menthol freshness and anti-inflammatory action of peppermint or something more subtle. This could be an uplifting citrus oil like lemon, orange, grapefruit, bergamot or petitgrain - as long as you aren't going to be in the sun afterwards - as be aware most citrus oils increase the risk of sunburn! Or lavender, geranium, chamomile, or eucalyptus are other great essential oils for cooling and calming. In terms of the base massage oil, coconut oil is the most cooling (and tips for at home - is also great as an after-sun treatment for your skin or your hair).

Peppermint is especially good for aching muscles, headaches, or itchy skin.
Lavender is perfect for sore skin (including sunburn, midge bites), stress, insomnia.
Geranium as a hormone and mood balancer is perfect for menopause, and also helps with sluggish lymph circulation.
Chamomile is a particularly potent anti-inflammatory.
Eucalyptus is great for clearing sinuses or a muggy head, and also for arthritic joints.


NB - If you are using essential oils at home - remember diffused oils can be toxic to pets, and oils for the skin should always be properly diluted. Water (eg putting them straight in your bath) doesn't dilute oil because oil and water don't mix! Ask me if you'd like to know more about using essential oils safely.

Stone Therapy: Hot Stone Massage Testimonials

Stone Therapy is something I had only introduced shortly before the first lockdown this year, and didn't yet at that time have a full page of information about on my website.

I have since created a page explaining what it is, and the benefits of working with hot - and also cold - stones. If interested, you can check that out here - Stone Therapy: Hot and Cold Stone Massage.

Its been really great to introduce this treatment to some of my regular clients and see how much they have enjoyed it.