The more things change, the more they stay the same. For thousands of years, humans have enjoyed the soothing and relaxing benefits of massages, such as a hot stones massage. While knowing the lengthy history of massages will not improve today’s massages per se, they provide us with a better appreciation for them. Here is the history of massage in various Asian regions:

1. China

The Chinese created the first written accounts of massage therapy at around 2700 BC. Contributors to the development of massage in China included:

• Buddhists

• laymen

• martial art experts

• physicians of native Chinese medicine

• Taoists

At the core of Chinese massage techniques is the belief that when the body’s meridians or pathways become imbalanced, the results are sickness and disease. The Chinese believed that through measures such as massage, the body’s “Qi” (Chi) would flow more naturally, thus reestablishing balance in the patient’s body.

2. Egypt

Egypt contains some of the world’s first written records about massages. These included paintings on tombs, which show “therapists” using a kneading stroke on massage “patients.” Additionally, Egyptians invented reflexology in roughly 2500 BC. According to this method, the therapist applies pressure to particular points on the patient’s hands and feet. As a result, various regions in the body experience positive changes.

3. India

Massages have existed in India since at least 3000 BC. In fact, they could have begun there even earlier than then! The traditional belief is that deities created massage, while an oral tradition allowed the procedure to survive throughout many generations. In India, massage was a part of Ayurveda, the nation’s system of holistic medicine. Indians developed massage through the processes of research, experiments, and meditation.

Ayurveda texts explain that when we fail to live in balance with our environments, the results are sicknesses and diseases. When sick and diseased people create harmony with the world surrounding them, then the result is a renewed balance of their physical and mental health. Consequently, the body would start naturally to heal!

4. Japan

Therapists first began performing massages, at roughly 1000 BC. Japanese monks had traveled to China, in order to study Buddhism. While there, the Japanese monks watched people use traditional techniques of Chinese medicine. That included the practice of massage as therapy. The Japanese would make adjustments to the Chinese massage methods, creating a unique Japanese massage style, which became “anma.” Within time, this massage style transformed into “Shiatsu.”

In Shiatsu, the therapist’s objective is to increase the patient’s level of energy. In turn, the organs’ operation becomes stronger and uniform, thus helping to prevent sickness. A therapist balances the energy of the patient, by pinpointing various pressure points. The ultimate goal is to balance the patient’s physical and emotional health.

Various Asian regions have been instrumental in developing modern massage techniques. The aforementioned areas have each contributed to modifying and improving how therapists conduct massages, such as hot stone massages. The result has been massage techniques that are varied, yet effective. It is a whole new world of massage!

What is the best stone for hot stone therapy? By definition, we must heat the stones before starting the massage. However, can we use any old stone? Can we dig up stones from our backyard, and then use them for hot stone massages? Technically, we could use just about any type of stone, for hot stone massages. However, to get the best results, therapists usually use basalt stones for their hot stone therapy. Here are some key features about basalt stones for massages:

1. Basalt stones are igneous rocks

Basalt stones originated as a thick-liquid substance called magma, from underneath the surface of the Earth. Either the stones remain in underground areas, or pressure pushes them upwards through a small opening in the volcano, to the surface. Basalt includes 90% of all rocks included in this latter category.

Igneous rocks have different characteristics, based on how fast they cooled after transforming from their magma state. Rocks that slowly cool have coarse grains, while those that cool quickly, have fine grains. Basalt contains very fine grains.

Finally, the rock’s amount of silica content indicates whether it is an acidic or basic. Basalt has a low amount of silica, making it basic.

2. Basalt can retain heat well

This is one of its characteristics that make it ideal for hot stone massages. Prior to performing the massage itself, the therapist heats the stones to a certain temperature, and then carefully places the heated stones on the patient’s body. The stones help in loosening up the patient’s muscles. That is the objective of the massage itself, right? Yes, but the massage stones give the muscle tissues a “head start,” making them suppler.

3. The basalt stones should be a certain texture

While basalt stones are ideal for hot stone massage, not every stone is ideal. For instance, the stone should be smooth. Manufacturers of hot stone massage kits use a special process to smooth down the stones. A smoother stone is not only more comfortable, but this process maximizes the surface area of the skin, which the stone covers.

4. The basalt stones should be of a certain shape

The stone’s shape is also significant, to ensure that the massage is successful. Massage stone kits contain stones that are somewhat flattened. This also helps the stone to cover a greater surface area of the patient’s skin, improving the effectiveness of the massage. Also, a round stone would cause therapists to spend the entire session chasing stones that rolled off patients’ bodies!

5. The basalt stones vary in color

Basalt stones exist in a variety of colors, including:

• light black

• dark black

• light grey

• dark grey

Massage stone kits typically include stones of the same color, to create uniformity.

The basalt stone is one of the key elements of hot stone massages. This is a special stone with characteristics that make it ideal for such massages. After choosing a quality massage stone kit, you can be assured that the special basalt stones will rock, but not roll!