Ste. Anne's Family of Spas | Spa Service

HEAT & HYDROTHERAPY | BODYWORK | ESTHETICS | SEASONAL | WELLNESS

AROMA STONE MASSAGE
by John Ireland, CST, RRPr, BA

For many visitors to our world-class spa this is the quintessential spa treatment. There is something so natural about being massaged with smooth river stones and there is a simplicity to the massage that leaves you feeling centered, in touch with your body and connected to the earth you walk on.

These unique stones are composed of volcanic lava rock which allows them to retain their heat. They are heated in hot water. Their polished quality comes from lying for hundreds of years in the riverbeds of Arizona and Hawaii. Just as the clear water has washed over them, they will now glide and flow over your skin and muscles to reduce tension and gently melt away stress.

The use of heated stones for healing purposes dates back thousands of years. Almost every continent has some tradition of stone massage. The Chinese used heated stones more than 2000 years ago as a means of promoting the functions of internal organs. Spanish healers would use heated stones to diminish the discomfort of menstruation. As a spa therapy, La Stone Therapy was reborn in 1993 and created by Mary Nelson.

Your massage follows a very similar form and draping protocol to a Swedish massage, only after scented Aveda singular note oils are applied, warm stones are used to massage the skin and muscles. First your spa therapist slowly warms your back muscles by placing hot stones on a towel. As the heat penetrates, they will massage your legs and soles of your feet. The general emphasis of the motion is towards your heart, which promotes circulation of blood and lymphatic cleansing. After they have smoothed out the tension in your back and brought you to a new state of calm, you will turn over and the massage will continue with the front of your legs and then arms and hands. Stones are left in place beside joints to reduce stiffness. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, this is where Qi gets particularly stuck, resulting in stiffness and pain, and heat gets the Qi flowing again. Your treatment closes with a dry scalp massage and a face massage (using Aveda�s All Sensitive oil) and tiny heated river stones. There is also the option of an abdominal stone massage.

Aroma Stone Massage Benefits:

Heat from stones helps to promote circulation and relax muscles
Detoxification effect
Heat from stones allows essential oils to asbsorb into and moisturize skin
Stones are Basalt (mineral) which has a "grounding" and "balancing" effect on the body and mind
Smoothness of warm stones gliding over the oiled skin is soothing and stress relieving

You should try our Aroma Stone Massage if:

You want a more gentle massage that helps release tight muscles without any soreness later on
You have dry skin or wish to maintain healthy skin
You enjoy a heated treatment or find heat reduces joint stiffness or muscle pain
You need to promote healthy circulation or a gentle detox
You want to feel a special connection to the planet

You'll want to avoid our Aroma Stone Massage if:

You have uncontrolled high blood pressure
You suffer from a severe heart disease
You want a deep or therapeutic massage

Treatment can be adjusted for:

Sunburn
Low blood pressure
Controlled high blood pressure
Allergies to aroma/coconut oil
Diabetes
Cancer

*Please note: This is a relaxation massage and therefore strong pressure is not applied (No exceptions). The entire massage is performed using the stones to apply gentle or moderated pressure. The emphasis is on the combination of soothing heat, the smooth contact and gentle weight of the stones, and the aroma from the essential oils you�ve chosen.

What to bring/prepare:

You will want to wear your robe to the treatment
Please remove all jewellery and bring a hair tie for long hair

Details: 1-1/4 hr. ~ $145

John Ireland began practicing as an Alternative Therapist at Ste. Anne's Spa in 2005. He graduated with Honors in Shiatsu Therapy from the Shiatsu School of Canada and is a Certified Shiatsu Therapist (CST) with the Shiastu Therapy Association of Ontario (www.shiatsuassociation.com). He studied Thai Massage with Pejman Ayoubzadeh at The Academy of Traditional Thai Massage and became a Registered Reflexology Practitioner (RRpr) through the Ontario College of Reflexology (www.ocr.edu/). John also graduated from Trent University with a B.A. degree in Anthropology and Development Studies.