Awareness of the therapeutic properties of stones dates back to the earliest antiquity. Ancient civilizations such as those of the Sumerians, Egyptians, American Indians, Hindus, Japanese and Greeks are known to have practiced stone therapy, as did the Romans at their famous Baths.

Stones symbolize the bones of Gaia, the Great Earth Mother. Used in conjunction with other forms of therapy, stones represent the Earth element, tending towards stability and solidity. Stone therapy cannot replace manual techniques but effectively intensifies the therapeutic impact of any manual treatment. Manual massage sessions integrated with stones produce exceptional results within a short period of time. Stone massages relieve muscle tension in the shoulders, neck and back, drain off excess water retention, improve blood circulation, smoothe the skin, increase the rate of metabolism, disintoxicate the organism and induce a deep relaxation of both mind and body.

The stone massage course teaches how and when to use different types of stones to integrate manual practice, how to apply heat and pressure to best advantage and how to exploit the synergies between stones and essential oils. The course forms an integral part of the year-long Therapeutic Massage training program.

For further information, see the article titled “The Art of Stone Therapy” written by Elisa Tagliaferri with the consultancy of Dr. G. Leanti La Rosa, published in the September-October 2004 issue of the magazine Rouge Italia (No. 9, Year III)

This technique is taught in the "advanced course"