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Fire and Ice

Heated stones have been used by many ancient cultures for transformation, cleansing and healing. In this treatment, cold stones (pohaku anuanu) are also used (iced marble) for areas of deeper tension or pain.

Again, “thermo-therapy” principles of this kind have been used for many hundreds if not thousands of years. The benefits of alternate hot and cold application to the body have been proven medically and scientifically. This is a very familiar concept to modern day physiotherapists who work with hot packs and ice packs.

Pohaku Wela will warm the muscles really quickly and efficiently. Traditional massage requires lots of warm up strokes before deeper work can begin. When working with pohaku wela, the muscle is warmed deeply and very quickly so deep tissue work can begin immediately – one stroke with a warm stone is equivalent to fifteen normal massage strokes. Warmth from the stones penetrates the muscles and fascia, increasing blood and lymph circulation and digestive fluids. This depth is felt not only on the physical level but also on a more spiritual plane as you connect with the “mana” or life force of the stones themselves. Pohaku Wela are also deeply relaxing and have a wonderful sedative effect on body, mind and spirit.

Pohaku Anuanu bring balance to the treatment. Too much heat can be exhausting and drain the body. A few cold stones included in the treatment are enough to bring balance and healing. The cold stones help reduce inflammation, constricting the blood vessels and assisting in the body’s cleansing process. They can also be used to release deep muscle tension and ease pain; cold reaches deep into the tissues, deeper even than the heat.

Alternating the temperatures used on the body encourages blood flow through the muscle tissues. The hot stones draw fresh blood to the area being worked, nourishing the tissues and aiding the release of stored and locked in wastes from tense muscles. The cold stones push the blood away, draining toxins and waste products. The cold stones reduce inflammation and encourage a further influx of fresh oxygenated blood. This alternating between temperatures triggers the body’s self-healing mechanisms while also sending conflicting messages throughout the nervous system to the brain, enabling effective and safe pain relief.

Pohaku Wela Lomi can be used in a variety of ways from gentle and nurturing to deep tissue and/or spiritually profound.