Hot and cold stone therapy

Experience the therapeutic benefits of hot and/or cold stones as part of your massage. 

We can integrate my warming basalt and cooling marble rocks alongside other techniques, to help achieve your needs.

5,000 years ago in India, hot stone therapy revolutionised relaxation. Around the same time ‘human refrigeration’ was common for malignancies. Today you’ll find countless hot and cold therapy services widely practiced in treatment rooms around the world.

What are they good for?

Hot Stones are great for inducing a deeper state of relaxation, address sore tired muscles, relax muscle tension or hypertonicity, pre-deep friction work, pre-trigger point work, increase circulation, best used for stiff joints, increases blood flow, chronic pain issues. 

Cold Stones are great for reducing inflammation, pre/post deep friction work, pre/post trigger point work, tendonitis, TMJD, nerve sedation, decrease acute pain and swelling. 

Contrast Therapy (using both hot and cold stones) is great for:

  • Strains and sprains of the foot, ankle, elbow, knee, wrist, neck, or shoulder 

  • Lower back pain 

  • Swelling (once the acute stage has passed) 

  • Muscle spasms 

  • Joint aches 

  • Repetitive-strain injuries, such as tendonitis or tennis elbow

  • Sports injuries 

  • Flare-ups of chronic conditions, such as arthritis or fibromyalgia

  • Any other injury that causes swelling or aching

Contraindications

We won’t use them if you are experiencing any of the following:

  • Pregnancy 

  • Hypertension 

  • Cardiovascular conditions

  • Skin conditions

  • Diabetes 

  • Neuropathy 

  • Sensory disorders - such as paralysis or neurological disorders

  • Some medications - such as blood thinners 

  • Recent surgery 

  • Fever or acute illness 

  • Advanced age 

    You can contact me for an explanation or discussion about the above anytime.

Specific conditions and contrast therapy: 

  • Arthritis – hot and cold stones work well for contrast therapy and decrease chronic inflammation 

  • Tendonitis – cold is used on specific tendons, heat is used for chronic long term conditions and cold is used for acute inflammation or sub-acute conditions 

  • Bursitis – cold is used on the area only with no compression of the stone, heat is used on the muscles that are overcompensating 

  • Carpal Tunnel Syndrome – hot and cold is used on overcompensating muscles, on the carpal tunnel and hand itself as well contrast therapy will flush out the area and open up tense pathways 

  • Thoracic Outlet Syndrome, Torticollis, Rotator Cuff Injury – overused overcompensating muscles heat is used, cold is used on inflamed and injured tissues as well as nervous system overstimulation 

  • Fibromyalgia – hot and cold are used together to treat nerve flare ups 

  • Hyperkyphosis – rolled forward shoulder posture hot and cold are used together to alleviate muscles and increase circulation 

  • Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction – cold stones are used for inflammation of the TMJ and after deep muscle stripping 

  • Sinusitis – inflammation, allergies, sinus congestion are treated with hot and cold stones