Maybe better known as pink salt. Himalayan salt is becoming more and more popular, and for good reason! Salt in general has gotten a bad wrap, but it’s important to differentiate the kinds of salt we’re using, and being intentional with its use.
Himalayan pink salt comes from, you guessed it, the Himalayas! The salt is extracted by hand, and therefore, minimally processed. This results in a natural, unrefined, and additive free salt loaded with minerals. Up to 84 minerals and trace elements to be precise, with iron giving it its unique color. This is the major component that sets it apart from other salts.
There’s a lot of ways people are using the salt, with consuming it rising to the top. I love to add a little to my daily water consumption.
When I first laid eyes on the stones used in massage sessions, it piqued my interest for sure!
Here are 3 benefits of adding them into your next massage:
- Promotes deep relaxation. The warmth of the stones are able to activate our parasympathetic nervous system, which supports our ability to move into a calm state of mind and body. When we are carrying stress, we are activating our sympathetic nervous system. Salt stones, allow us to start to release tension and move our nervous system in the other direction. Everything in our body is communicating to our brain and vice versa. When the salt stones are applied in a warm, gentle flow, this signals our brain to relax, making it easier to enter into a blissful state of mind, and release muscle tension. It also makes it easier to work on muscles. Rest and relaxation can equal rejuvenation.
- Exfoliates the skin. Our skin naturally sheds away skin cells that have come to the end of their life. This happens about once a month, and when this happens the new cells take their place. When you exfoliate the skin, you support this process, ridding the body of the old skin, and replacing it with the new. The stones are not as smooth as typical hot stones, which allows them to give extra exfoliation. This creates extra soft, smooth skin.
- Mineral absorption. With 84 mineral and trace elements, and the skin being the largest organ of our body, you get the benefit of the minerals absorbing through your skin and into your muscles. When the stones are heated, it allows them to neutralize positively charged free radicals, which can help with inflammation in the body. With all of our every day exposure to electronic usage, it takes a toll on our immune system. The mineral absorption works to rebalance your body.
There’s different ways that different therapists incorporate them into their sessions. Personally, I love to have them as a pre-massage tool to a traditional relaxing session.
The reality is that it’s hard to take the place of a therapist’s trained hands. I love to use the stones as a relaxer with the warmth of the stone, which helps to warm up the muscles, and gives your skin and body all the benefits the salt stones have. Then I retrace the skin and muscles with my traditional session.
I take a body part at a time. If I’m working on the quads, I’m going to warm them up with the salt stones, and then come in after with a traditional massage, and then move on.
I love to add some skin love essential oils blend to the massage too, which gives your skin a double dose of love coming from both oils and the natural elements of the salt stones.
Ready to check it out for yourself? Book one today: https://app.squarespacescheduling.com/schedule.php?owner=25040064
