Massage tools are used in a variety of spa treatments and wellness techniques to enhance or customize the client's experience. From cupping and hot stones to singing bowls and household tools, industry experts share their best practices for using massage tools to enhance services and address specific concerns.
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Massage tools are used in a variety of spa treatments and wellness techniques to enhance or customize the client's experience. From cupping and hot stones to singing bowls and household tools, industry experts share their best practices for using massage tools to enhance services and address specific concerns.
What tools can help massage therapists enhance their services?
David Nuñez, senior corporate trainer, Woodhouse Spas, with locations across the US: There are many different techniques and tools, such as cupping, percussion tools, hot stones and dry brushes. It is a very exciting time for massage therapists.
Ginger McLean, director of spa operations, Rock Spa at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Atlantic City in New Jersey: We incorporate TheraBody percussion therapy in our Love to Feel Percussion massage; hot stones for our We will Rock You massage; and NuBody microcurrent in our Shape of You body treatment. They improve outcomes and further enhance the experience.
Dee Kourelis, product manager, massage, Universal Companies: There’s a wide range of tools available for massage. Silicone cups can be used for multiple customized enhancements. Treatment stones are also a great option, due to the variety of sizes, materials and ability to be used hot or cold. For those wanting to extend the benefits of a massage, kinesiology tape is the perfect pairing. There are also dry body brushes, paraffin, heat packs, bamboo sticks and poultices.
Portia Mchunu, spa manager and lead therapist, The Homestead Spa in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: We have partnered with Terres D’Afrique, which has produced a lot of lovely tools to enhance the guest experience. We use the following tools in our treatments: crystal balls, flat crystals, baobab pindas, tritouch wooden tools, reflexology sticks, lymph drainage sticks and wooden balls.
What concerns can these tools target?
Kourelis: Silicone cups, like those offered by Bellabaci, can address fluid retention, gut health concerns, cellulite, circulation and pain relief. For clients dealing with sports-related injuries, SpiderTech kinesiology strips and rolls can alleviate pressure on pain receptors at the injured site, mitigating pain and tension.
McLean: The TheraBody Theragun device helps provide a deep muscle treatment to melt away tension, stress and soreness. Hot stones provide a comforting and relaxing experience designed to relieve muscle spasms, pain and tension, while releasing waste and reducing stress. There are various hot stone options, and they are ideal for targeting specific areas for pain and relaxation. The NuBody microcurrent device is a body sculpting tool designed to tone, firm and smooth away dimples leaving the skin smoother and more refined.
Mchunu: The lovely thing about massage tools is that they can combine and be used for different ailments; they are not restrictive. For example, the tritouch tool, crystal balls the baobab pinda are great for lymph drainage, and sore and stiff muscles. Crystal balls also work well for stiff muscles, de-stressing, relaxation, restoring sleep cycles and even as a sports recovery treatment. Reflexology sticks and lymph drainage sticks are good for targeting areas on the foot as well as around ankles, and flat crystals can be used hot or cold to combat insomnia and water retention.
What are the best massage tools for stress relief?
Nuñez: If I were to do a combination of what I feel would be a good, effective way to treat stress, it would be a combination of aromatherapy, followed by CBD oil for the massage and hot stones as the enhancer. These all help with stress but address it in different ways. Aromatherapy can uplift mood, while CBD oil helps diminish inflammation and relax the muscles. Then, hot stones boost the effects of both, enhancing the muscle depth relief that is needed.
Mchunu: The crystal balls are most effective for stress relief. There are three reasons why. The crystal balls are heated, which promotes general well-being as heat is a natural comfort for humans. When heated, they also warm the muscles, which promotes blood circulation. And, being crystals, they can unblock some of the energy meridians and other blockages that the body may be experiencing. Overall, it’s an all-encompassing holistic treatment.
Kourelis: To address stress relief, a hot stone massage is always a relaxing experience for clients. For a unique guest experience, we suggest Fomentek hot water bags or singing bowls and chimes. Hot water bags heighten treatments by providing moist heat to muscles. Singing bowls and chimes have been used for centuries to promote healing and relaxation. When struck with a mallet or wand, they produce pleasant tones that resonate through the body.
What massage tools work well at home?
McLean: All the tools I’ve mentioned work well as home care. A percussion therapy device will provide the best results, but if price is a concern, clients will benefit from non-motorized trigger point tools, as well.
Nuñez: Depending on the particular concern at the time of visit, the therapist should give an informed recommendation on home care. Examples would be tennis balls for any trigger point issues, hot and cold packs for muscle tension and soreness relief, CBD oil for inflammation, and a percussion therapy device for muscle tension. These are beneficial recommendations for the guests to have in between service visits.
Mchunu: A good household tool is a golf ball or a tennis ball. Golf balls are best on the feet and tennis balls are great on the shoulders. Clients can use their body weight to control how much pressure they apply, and they can target many different areas. Heated pads are also great for sore muscles.
