Written by: Ally Ricarte
“I realize a complete environmental and sensorial change is necessary to think beyond stress and reconnect with the mechanics of my body - a reminder that I’m not a robot.”
Head, neck and back pain have been constant issues during my adult life. I’ve tried tennis balls, acupressure, chiropractors, and yoga – cost efficient ways to pull through the day, the weeks, the months…Like most people who are immersed in the virtual workplace, I realize a complete environmental and sensorial change is necessary to think beyond stress and reconnect with the mechanics of my body - a reminder that I’m not a robot. While my frugal self deterred massages as an option for pain relief, my family saw this as an imperative need, gave me a gift card to Hand and Stone Spa, and sent me out.
I was surprised to find out there are many options to fit exactly what pain I needed relief from. At the Hand and Stone Spa in Pittsburgh, they offer Swedish massages (typically only involve hands), hot stone massages (self-explanatory), and a new Himalayan pink salt stone massage (never heard of her!). According to the website, the salt stone massages promote relaxation and address Electromagnetic Overload caused by electronic devices. A perfect match for my situation. Booked for 1 hour.
“The salt stones were not used for my legs; however, they were instrumental in drawing out the tension and extending the space between my jaw and shoulder. ”
The teardrop-shaped stones were warmed through a small heated bowl in the room at the beginning of the massage. The bowl’s pink glow added to the dim ambient lighting as I situated myself on the heated table. I felt excitement and slight stress. Massages can be ticklish for me and remove me from the moment. I was (sort of) paying for every second of relaxation there. Surprisingly, I was completely immersed and the salt stones proved to be exactly the tool I needed. After a short Swedish massage to start, the warm stones were placed on my back and glided across, exfoliating my skin. Having pointed out my troublesome areas and my job, my therapist thoroughly smoothed out the knots on my shoulder blades. The teardrop end of the salt stone was occasionally placed behind the crease above my armpit which anchored my relaxed state further. The salt stones were not used for my legs; however, they were instrumental in drawing out the tension and extending the space between my jaw and shoulder.
Overall, for me, the salt stones enabled me to find more comfort in massage therapy especially as someone who is sensitive to touch. Additionally, I felt it was hard for any knots to go undetected by the stone’s flat surface, providing the benefits of a firm massage without it feeling so. While I didn’t necessarily need to exfoliate my back, the salt stones helped to circulate my blood, stretch out static muscles, and reimagine relaxation again. If you’re considering massage therapy, I would recommend salt stone massages. I think the expense was well worth it considering the mental and physical fatigue it was able to relieve.