1/9/2024 0 Comments What is a Hot Stone Massage?You've probably seen images of hot stones all stacked up on top of each other or in a row on a smiling woman's back. But hot stones do their best work when they're in motion, as part of a dynamic, intuitive, personalized massage. The stones are normally pre-heated by leaving them in a water heater or an electric stone heater. We typically use basalt stones because they retain the heat well and are stable when hot. The massage practitioner will then use one or more of these hot stones in various ways. At first, they might use the heat generated on the hands to perform massage. That’s a good way to introduce the heat. Once the stones cool sufficiently, they may then use them directly on the skin, checking in with you to be sure that the stones are not uncomfortably hot. Depending on how hot the stones are, they might place them on the body (directly on the skin or through a towel) so they continue to radiate warmth. Our heat tolerance varies, as does sensitivity in different regions of the body. So if you feel that a stone is too hot against your skin, don’t try to bear it. Let your massage practitioner know! Why Have a Hot Stone Massage?Introducing heat to a massage can make the massage more relaxing and/or profound because it’s often deeply soothing and can help muscles relax. It might improve the quality of sleep. And it could be a good for anyone who tends to feel the cold or is just done with winter. Massage practitioners use hot stones with various massage techniques, including Californian and Swedish massages, holding them in their hands while performing the massage strokes. The stones can be particularly beneficial for deep tissue massages. Warming up the muscles can make deep tissue techniques more effective. Depending on their size and shape, the stones themselves can also be useful for reaching and working deeper into muscles. Depending on the weather, I’m a big fan of warming the oil before massages. However, hot stones take warmth to a new level and they add interesting, dynamic elements to any massage journey. Book a Hot Stone MassageBook a hot stone massage with me --- making sure to specify hot stones --- via the usual channels - phonecall, SMS/Whatsapp, email, or DM.
Or use the Planity online booking system (only for Espace Bien Etre LibertyGym Spa massages) to reserve your hot stone massage session now.
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Why is Sleep Important?
Sleep is a biological necessity. While you can get away with not getting enough sleep for a while, sleep deprivation takes a toll on your body and mind. You can survive without food for about two months. The best-known - or best-reported - record for surviving without sleep was Randy Gardner's 11 days and 25 minutes. The results, in addition to an entry on Wikipedia, included:
Gardner also suffered from chronic insomnia decades after the experiment. According to the CDC, a lack of sleep can result in a loss of mental and physical performance, including:
As well as increased risks of:
If you work long hours or at night, sleep is particularly important. About one-fifth of all driver crashes are caused by drivers who are too tired. Similarly to someone under the influence of alcohol feeling more capable than they are, tiredness can lead to a dramatic decline in actual performance. If you are driving, at work, cooking, or operating machinery, this can have serious consequences. Being awake for 17 hours, say from 6am to 11pm, can be compared to having a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05%. This can get you in trouble for drunk driving in some countries. Compared to an 8-hour shift at work, a 10-hour shift can increase the risk of errors and accidents by 13%. Make that 28% if you add a couple of hours overtime. Willpower and necessity can keep you going. (I hear you parents, students, and shift workers. I've been all three. And I know people who are all three at once). But it's vital to be aware that there's "keeping going" and there's "going downhill." If you're not getting sleep, nobody's getting the best version of you. |
AuthorDean is Owner/Masseur at Edwards Massage, providing relaxing massages in a comfortable spa or a location of your choice. ArchivesCategories |