.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З.ИИ.-> Kati Thompson <-.ИИ.ЗДЏ`З.ИИ. LaStone Therapy and Hot Stone Massage!

Kati Thompson, LMT, NMT, Reiki Master, LaStone Therapy Certified
LMP, NMT, Reiki Master, LaStone® Certified

I am a massage therapist and Reiki Master (3rd Degree, Master/Teacher) licensed to practice in the state of Tennesse. I practice therapeutic, non-sexual massage, with proper draping used at all times. Below is a list of types of massage and bodywork I practice. They are linked to descriptions further down the page.

LaStone Therapy and Hot Stone Massage My primary specialty is:

This similar to the LaStone^® Therapy listed below (minus the energy work). In this case I use Swedish and deep tissue massage techniques--only I use the stones to do it.

I use heated, smooth, black basalt river stones (which I have hand collected from numerous places worldwide) to massage the body with wonderful, healing, jojoba oil. Therapeutically, the heat brings fluid to the muscle and helps it to relax, making it much easier to work deeply into the muscle. (Plus, it's absolutely delicious!). After each heated stone, I use my hands to find the last little tight spots and work them out.

Then if it seems appropriate, I apply chilled, white Italian marble stones (which I have hand cut) to any areas where you have been experiencing especially tight or sore muscles, . Therapeutically, the coolness forces the extra fluid back out of the muscle so all those toxins leave the muscle more quickly. The result of that is MUCH less soreness the next day! (AND, for those of you who HATE cold--as I do--after the application of heated stones and the deep massage work, the chilled stones actually feel wonderful as well!!)

All in all, if I never do a massage without the stones again, it will be ok with me! They are wonderfully therapeutic, they feel amazing, and they are just downright magical!

Condensed feedback from people who have received LaStone® Therapy:

Trails of heat are flowing deep within my body, flowing upward from my feet, through my legs, and swirling all over my back, lingering just long enough to melt the tension from each muscle. As the stones give up their heat, I find them resting in the palms of my hands, and I sink into the table, grounded in Mother Earth.

More hot stones now travel up the same paths as before, staying a little longer, their heat penetrating a little deeper, working out a few stubborn trigger points. Again, these warm stones find their way to my palms, replacing those that have now cooled. After the therapists works deep in these areas, I find refreshing cooled stones snuggling up to where the tension was. This reminds me of ice cream on a hot summer day. Cooling all parts of my being and bringing relief to my body, mind and soul. I feel like a kid playing with my friends with ice cubes at a party. I almost giggle.

Once again, fresh stones, radiant with heat, chase the last bits of tension from my muscles, like beaming sunrays melting their way through chunks of ice. I have been bathed in heat.

Turning over is an effort. Now I feel these hot stones resting on my front chakras, opening and softening each one. A cooled stone caresses the back of my neck and my spine is lined with warm smooth stones that fit into each curve of my body. These stones have become a part of me. As the massage continues, I dissolve into Dreamtime, a world of fantastic colors and visions, allowing Mother Earth to heal me in body, mind and spirit, knowing I am one with all things, and that this is good.

As the cooling stones are lifted from each chakra, I feel a lifting of my spirit as well. I let go of the burdens I have been carrying. I feel light, buoyant, balanced, centered and cradled. I am whole again.

The LaStone^® Treatment involves about 60% massage with heated and cooled stones and 40% energy work, providing healing on multiple levels.

LaStone^® Therapy is one of the fastest growing massage techniques in spas today. This form of bodywork incorporates the use of heated and cooled stones (Thermotherapy) applied to the body in various ways to bring about relief to stiff and sore muscles, as well as enegy work and a chakra layout of stones (I use hand cut gemstones specifically chosen for their alignment with the energy centers) to balance the body's energy. This results in the alleviation of chronic and acute problems that many of us deal with on a daily basis.

Clinically it is the application during massage therapy of heated stones with alternating chilled stones for a deep penetrating effect on the human being's physiological systems. Using different temperatures, whether heated or chilled, on the body to bring about certain healing responses has been done for countless eons. LaStone^® Therapy aids clients in balancing all levels of emotional, mental, physical and spiritual energies, often unlocking blocked memories and facilitating remembrance of where they came from and who they are in this Spiritual Universe.

The most well known massage technique, Swedish massage incorporates strokes such as long gliding strokes, kneading, and percussive/tapping strokes with the application of oil to reduce friction on the skin. The many benefits of Swedish massage include relaxation, improved circulation, reduced blood pressure, dissolution of scar tissue adhesions, and reductions of general aches and pains.

This is a deep tissue technique which involves finding and releasing trigger points (people refer to these as "knots" in your muscles), spasms, and hypercontraction in the muscles. It can help restore postural alignment, bring flexibility to tissues, rebuild injured tissues, and improve circulation and lymphatic flow.

In western terms, this might be called "laying on of hands". It is an energy work involving the movement of energy in the body ("Chi" or "Ki"). Directly translated, Rei ki means "Universal Life Force Energy". Reiki differs from other forms of energy work in that practitioners must receive an attunement (or initiation) from a Reiki Master. This process opens and aligns the practitioner in order to facilitate the movement of Ki. The practitioner places her hands on the body in a series of positions which constitute a "session", and Reiki does the rest! Some clients experience a "warmth" or "tingling". Reiki works to heal the whole person on all levels (mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, past, present and future). It is extremely gently, loving, and nonjudgemntal, and can be incorporated into any other hands on healing type work. I think becoming a Reiki Master was probably one of the most important life decisions I have made.

This is an hour long foot treatment. AAAaaaaaaahhhh, decadent! Starting with a vibrating, heated foot bath, complete with healing salts and essential oil scents of your choice. Followed by a foot massage, then a complete, full body (via the foot) foot reflexology treatment. Reflexology uses points on the feet and ankles which are energetically connected to points throughout the entire body. By massaging specific points in particular ways, the flow of energy in the entire body can be increased, facilitating healing everywhere! AND... who doesn't love an hour long foot treatment??

This is another form of energy work, involving laying hands on the body as well as certain movements near the body in order to "smooth" the energy field. It is deeply calming and healing. It invlulences the energy system, thus affecting physical, emotional, mental and spiritual health and healing. Healing Touch works well with other massage modalities to relax the person at teh beginning of a session and to finish a massage session.

Please feel free to call me if you have questions or would like to schedule an appointment.