Contrast Stone Therapy: Real or Fake Effectiveness

Sometimes one hears that stone massage is a method aimed only at achieving relaxation and pleasure. This is only partially true. The general relaxing effect, local relaxation of muscles, increase of blood circulation, excretion of metabolic products are well-known results of warming. In addition to general and local vascular reactions, hot massage in Dubai also produces reflexive reactions from different areas and points of the body, which are more pronounced with temperature irritation. In addition, by using cold stones and contrasting temperatures it is possible to achieve not only relaxation, but also tonic stimulation of the skin, muscles, nervous system and the body as a whole. So as not to resemble a Neanderthal putting a stone on his wife’s back to relieve her pre-pregnancy contractions, and to avoid dangerous consequences, you should understand the inner mechanisms of how heat and cold affects the body, and follow some simple rules:

• do not treat stone therapy as light stroking with stones and simple warming;
• do not work without special training or only after viewing the method (at an exhibition, on the Internet, in a professional magazine);
• not to work with high (above 50 C) or low (below 10 C) temperatures from the first session;
• not to take clients with various chronic somatic pathologies if they have no experience in stone therapy.

Peculiarities of Contrast Stone Therapy

• In order to establish contact between the client and the specialist there is a certain introduction to the procedure during which the client and specialist’s breathing is synchronized and the contours of the body are “outlined” so that the client can feel the harmony of the spiritual and physical beginnings.
• Before the massage, hot and cold stones are placed under the back, neck, occipital tuberosities, on the front surface of the body and palms to achieve fast and deep relaxation. The location and the ratio of the hot and cold stones depend on the client’s health condition. The cold stones are placed on the areas which should not be heated, e.g. if there is inflammation, venous stasis or other reasons.
• The technique involves warming the massaged area three times and cooling it once. The ratio of using hot and cold stones may vary when massaging the face and problem areas.
• A special technique is used: slow sliding of stones of different sizes with strong pressure. The hotter the stone, the more pressure is used. The slower the movements, the deeper the relaxation.
• Possibility to perform vibration treatment by tapping the stone: during vibromassage the sound wave penetrates deep into the tissues, up to the joints. periosteum and bone tissue, producing a micro-massage of each cell.
• The client should not feel any pain or discomfort during the procedure.
• The temperature of the cold stones is chosen individually, taking into account the client’s sensitivity to cold.
• The duration of the massage ranges from 40 to 90 minutes. Decreasing the duration lowers the efficiency of the procedure, while increasing the duration increases the stress on the client’s cardiovascular system. It is recommended to conduct the procedures no more than 2 times a week, the course of 7-10 procedures.

In comparison with a massage with only hot stones the use of contrast effect in stone therapy causes the following effects.

After A Single Procedure

• absence of lethargy and drowsiness immediately after the procedure;
• burst of energy, vivacity:
• feeling of lightness in the muscles and the body as a whole.

After A Course of Treatment

• an increase in performance:
• improvement of mood and emotional state;
• tolerance or positive (depending on the initial) attitude to contrasting dousing;
• tempering the body: the cooling of the feet, hands, face during the procedure causes the production of endogenous heat, reduces the local immunity and prevents the development of acute respiratory infections;
• the formation of a positive attitude towards the cold: freezing (in the street, a draft, under a cold shower is not perceived as something dangerous to health; people who do not like the cold season (late fall, winter), when performing contrast stone therapy form a more positive attitude towards the cold as a stage of cosmetic procedure at massage center near to me; this allows to easier endure the cold season and reduces the depressed mood.