Have you ever walked into a toasty warm house on a cold winter day and automatically felt relaxed; embraced by the warmth? That’s the same feeling you get when you experience a stone treatment at your favorite spa. We offer LaStone Therapy - a 90 minute massage with hot basalt and cool marble stones, and Massage Enhanced with Stones - a 60 minute massage with warm stones targeting problem areas.
LaStone Therapy was developed by Mary Hannigan in 1993, but stones have been used as wellness tools for over 2,000 years. Shaman used (and still use) them for healing, Native Americans used warmed stones on the belly during menses, and Pilgrims used them to heat their beds.
Warmed basalt riverbed stones are used to enhance the massage, clear toxins, and balance energy. We heat the stones to between 130-140 degrees Fahrenheit. Cool marble stones are also used if needed (i.e. for inflammation). The ancient Romans theorized that hot contrasted with cool was a recipe for good health, so they took hot baths and would then lie on cool marble tables. They were definitely on to something.
Physiologically, the chemical reactions of blood and lymph exchange are accelerated by the use of hot and cool stones. Mentally, the client reaches a state of relaxation in minutes that is unparalleled in regular massage. Many clients report having felt a spiritual awareness during the massage. An overall balancing of energy is achieved by means of the LaStone experience.
Here’s how it works: During the service we use 54 warmed basalt stones, along with a scented oil of your choice. You will be lying on top of a few stones comfortably arranged on both sides of your spine. We will also place some on the top of your body, including on the chakras. Towels completely cover you for the duration of the service. Stones are used to massage the entire body, and a few are placed between your toes. The stones range in size from that of a dime to that of two hand spans.
Either stone treatment will feel great in the winter freeze! The warmth will fill your body and take you to another level, another world - dreamlike. Come in from the cold and experience the heat, with stones!
Melissa Spink is a graduate of the New York Institute of Massage in Buffalo, NY. She has been a Licensed Massage therapist for 10 years. In November of 1999 Melissa joined the staff of Scott Miller - a salon, spa, and store in Rochester, NY (http://www.scottmillerstyle.com). She lives in Attica, NY with her husband and 3 cats.
Tags: Hot rock massage, LaStone Therapy, massage
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Massage therapy colleges offer an abundance of massage methods and hands-on training to future healing arts practitioners, which is essential to any prospective student wishing to become a certified or licensed massage therapist.
Currently, there are hundreds of massage therapy colleges, schools and academic institutions designed with the healing hands practitioner in mind. Though some massage therapy colleges provide more modality-specific curriculums comprised of 300-500 hours of course-intensive training, a large number of massage therapy colleges offer anywhere from 750 hours of practical courses to over 2,000 academic and clinical training hours.
In some massage therapy colleges, students will not only gain hands-on practical skills in basic massage techniques, such as deep tissue, Swedish and Sports Massage, but they will also acquire comprehensive auxiliary courses in anatomy and physiology, aromatherapy, kinesiology, massage theory and techniques, pathology, palpation, musculoskeletal treatments, clinical and case studies, and more assorted subject matter.
In addition, massage therapy colleges commonly provide academic programming that can be completed in as little as 6-9 months, and sometimes as long as 4 years (subject to individual schools, state regulations, schedules and curriculums). As opposed to regular course offerings, massage therapy colleges may afford students with extensive training options in a vast array of massage forms. Because there is such a large and diverse number of massage methods, some of those offered may include Bowen therapy, Tui Na, Esalen Massage, Myofascial Release, Neuromuscular Therapy, Stone Massage, Trigger Point Therapy, and many more.
One unique massage therapy, in particular, taught at some massage therapy colleges is LomiLomi massage. This ancient healing art has been widely used by Hawaiian natural health practitioners for many years. Interestingly enough, this specific massage style branches off into hundreds of individual styles of its own. So one can only imagine the possible techniques that are used in this single, massage modality.
Overall, massage therapy colleges assume the responsibility of molding future massage therapists into skilled and creative natural healers who will have the ability to assist patients with non-invasive and natural treatments, which may help to restore general health and wellbeing.
To learn more about Massage Therapy Colleges and additional learning programs, search our site for more in-depth information and resources.
DISCLAIMER: Above is a GENERAL OVERVIEW and may or may not reflect specific practices, courses and/or services associated with ANY ONE particular school(s) that is or is not advertised on SchoolsGalore.com.
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Michael Bustamante, in association with Media Positive Communications, Inc. for SchoolsGalore.com
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Tags: Massage Therapy Colleges, massage therapy training, natural healing schools, alternative medicine, s
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Chest massage is helpful in many ways. It strengthens the chest muscles, increases circulation, and tones up the nervous system of chest, heart, and lungs. It is especially recommended in weakness of the lungs, palpitation, and organic heart disorders. Bust and mammary glands can be developed by proper massage.
The patient is made to lie on the back with the arms at the sides. The masseur starts
manipulating the chest by means of strokes with both hands on each side of the breast bone. A
circular motion is formed by the movement made up and down, moving down the chest.
Next the
muscle kneading is done by picking up the skin and muscles with both hands. Treatment is
given to both sides of the chest likewise. Circular kneading is next done by placing one hand on
each side of the breast bone and making the circular motion outward towards the side.
Tapotement follows by hacking and slapping.
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Tags: massage therapy, chest massage, chest therapy, massage treatment, therapeutic massage
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