When I first heard of hot stone massage, quite frankly I was put off. It always sounded like some new-age therapeutic mambo jumbo — and come on, can you really get a decent massage from a couple of stones rolling around your back?

I kept asking friends before the treatment what it was like, but all they could offer was: "It's really nice, you'll enjoy it".

So I decided to just rock up at Elixir Spa and experience this treatment for myself. And of course, was pleasantly surprised…

I soon found out that hot stones have been used for massage for many thousands of years by indigenous cultures from Russia, Hawaii, and Japan…

The stones are mostly basalt stones created by volcanic activity. The surfaces have been completely smoothed — in river beds or tossed by the ocean for many years.

Could it be then that they have absorbed the energy of the ocean, the waves, the earth…?

Sandstone, sun and stones…

Elixir Spa, located on Beach Road in Mouille Point Cape Town, is literally a stone's throw from the sea, and when I arrived I already felt relaxed — set apart from the hustle and bustle of the inner city.

My therapist set to work immediately, kneading the stress from my body. The warmed basalt stones are used to massage the body in long flowing strokes to relax and unwind muscle tension and stress.

The heat of the stones relaxes the muscles so you get a much 'deeper' massage in a sense. The massage was much like any other full body massage I've had, but much better and more effective, enhanced by the heat flowing through my muscles.

A great stress-relieving experience

This particular massage also helps to release toxins, pain, improve circulation, and apparently also calms the psyche. Health conditions that can be treated with hot stone massage include muscular aches and pains, back pain, MS, Arthritis, insomnia and depression amongst other things.

The treatment room at Elixir is warm and light, and with the sun shining through the glass and reflecting against the sandstone walls it created a natural and cheerful aura, which is especially welcome this time of year… my body longing for the rays of summer.

The treatment lasted one and a quarter hours, but I could have spent the rest of the afternoon being kneaded, baking myself in the warm light of the room…

After the massage I was actually quite energised and walked along the promenade near Elixir Spa, the waves were dancing in the sunlight, and I felt completely at peace — a great stress-relieving experience that I will definitely repeat.

Elixir offers not only a number of interesting massages (including double trouble, Shiatsu and scalp therapy) but a host of treatments from facial, tanning and waxing, to package treatments like A Day in Heaven (total body exfoliation, followed by a delicious body wrap, hydrotherapy bath, luxurious facial, hedonistic hot stone massage, magnificent manicure and a pedicure), Champagne and Kisses (the ultimate romantic treatment for couples, which includes a luxurious aromatherapy body massage, a sumptuous facial, magic manicure and a pedicure for both lovebirds), and Life's delight (an invigorating salt scrub, detoxifying body wrap and lymphatic drainage massage for starters).

So treat yourself this Women's Month and start summer off with a body spring clean…

To enter our competition to win treatments from Elixir Spaclick here.

Elixir Spa is located at the Aquarius building, 87-91 Beach road, Mouille Point Cape Town. Call them on +27 21 439 2266 or visit www.elixirspa.co.za