Himalayan salt stones have become a holistic staple in self-care, both at home and in wellness centers. This naturally occurring pink salt is in bedside lamps, salt rooms, tables, and, as you may have guessed, massage rooms.
If you’re looking for a new experience to soothe your mind and body, the many Himalayan salt stone massage benefits may be just what you need.
What are Himalayan salt stones?
Himalayan sea salt is a compound element mined in and around the Himalayan mountain range in south and east Asia. Although the pink-hued salt crystals contain a significant amount of sodium chloride, they also are made of up to 84 trace elements, including calcium, potassium, and magnesium.
Once mined, Himalayan salt makes its way into our lives in various forms, including edible salts, lamps, and even brick formations to build therapeutic salt rooms. When used for massage therapy, the salt rocks are broken into smaller, palm-sized chunks that are shaped and smoothed into round or oval stones.
Himalayan salt stones and other products have and continue to be mainstays in Eastern healing traditions. Over the years, those traditions have gained traction in Western holistic therapies due to the many benefits practitioners associated with these beautiful mineral formations.
What can I expect during a Himalayan Salt Stone Massage?
Your Himalayan salt stone massage experience will begin much like any other massage service. You’ll be ushered into a relaxing room where your massage therapist will provide treatment.
From there, the service may look and feel similar to the more widely known volcanic basalt hot stone massage. The Himalayan salt stones, which are smoothed for maximum comfort, can be heated and placed on targeted areas of your body, including your back, legs, arms, and palms.
Once the stones are placed on your body, your massage therapist will combine them with traditional massage techniques. These techniques may include stroke, rubbing, kneading, or tapping your body with the stones to ease muscle soreness, reduce stress and anxiety, and leave you with an overall sense of calm and well-being.
Keep in mind that your comfort is a priority, and though the salt stones are frequently heated before treatment, your massage therapist can adapt the treatment to meet your needs by changing the temperature of the rocks, techniques used, or pressure applied.
5 Himalayan Salt Stone Massage Benefits
Like many of the techniques and items used in massage therapy, Himalayan salt stones can enhance your massage experience and improve your mental, physical, and emotional well-being.
Here are just a few of the benefits our clients’ experiences during and after their Himalayan salt stone massages:
- Balance positive and negative ions: Every day our bodies are subjected to toxins, pollutants, chemicals, and other materials that emit positive ions. And though “positive” may seem good, when these ions build up, they can leave us feeling anxious, stressed, or depressed. Himalayan sea salt naturally emits negative ions, which can counteract existing positive ones and help restore well-being.
- Decrease inflammation: A high number of positive ions can also lead to increased inflammation, which can cause and exacerbate numerous health issues. When incorporated into a massage, Himalayan salt stones work to decrease inflammation and provide relief from related ailments.
- Alleviates muscle pain or tension: By using heated salt stones and applying pressure to targeted parts of the body, your massage therapist can work through muscle pain and tension.
- Reduces stress: When massage techniques are combined with the natural ionic benefits of Himalayan salt, the result is a powerful remedy for the stress and anxiety that so often deprive us of quality living.
- Detoxifies: The minerals that compose and negative ions released can detoxify your body as well as the air around you. In addition, despite being smoothed for a comfortable experience, salt stones still provide light exfoliation, which can provide further detoxifying benefits.
Himalayan salt stone therapy is also said to provide relief for a number of ailments, including respiratory issues, high blood pressure, and insomnia; support a healthy immune system, and improve circulations.
With all these benefits, a Himalayan salt stone massage is a good choice if you’re looking for a new twist on tried and true traditions.