The Origin of Stone Massage

The practice of stone therapy or stone massage was present in many cultures around the world. The type of stone therapy that is now most prevalent in Western massage treatments is most likely derived from China. There are historical accounts confirming that the Chinese used heated stones more than 2,000 years ago as a means of improving the function of internal organs. Similarly there are records of stones used in folklore and religious ceremonies, with the intention to heal ailments in regions as diverse as the Americas, Africa, Europe, Egypt and India. As well as practices resembling modern stone massage, which involved laying stones at specific points on the body, there were other applications of stone, including the wearing of stones as ornaments which ensured health and protection.

Spanish folk healers called curanderas used heated stones to relieve period pain and cold stones to slow bleeding after child birth. There are also examples in certain cultures in which women attempted to gain strength through stones by clutching them during labour.

Stone massage was present in Ancient Greece and Rome. Stone massage treatments were used in conjunction with Roman baths where the benefits of stone massage were combined with hot immersion baths and the cooling effects of marble stone and cold pools.

The arrival of stone massage therapy in the modern West began in 1993 when heated stone techniques became popular. Since then it has become widespread around the globe once more. The full-body, hot-stone massage is frequently combined with other modern massage techniques such as Swedish massage and deep tissue massage.

The Spa Experience Elemis Aroma Stone Therapy treatment uses Thermodynamic basalt stones which are massaged over the body as the therapeutic heat slowly radiates into the body, easing the muscles and inducing a state of calm relaxation. Small stones are also placed on key energy points, whilst a luxurious warm oil is massaged into the skin. Take a look at our treatments page to see if you would like to combine a blissful stone massage with any of our numerous other treatments.