Are you a "Star Wars" fan? While the Star Wars film saga includes some of the most entertaining films ever made, we must remember that it is still science fiction. For example, consider the "lightsabers" used for hand-to-hand combat in each of the films. The battles with these weapons include some of the most thrilling scenes of the movies. However, lightsabers in real life would actually pass through each other, without creating the sound of crack! Also, real lightsabers would continue until they meet an obstacle--which would be the ship's hull!

Lighting up our lives

In the "real world," lights also play a significant role in our day-to-day lives. Sunlight nourishes the plants that produce our tasty vegetables. Laser beams are used for a variety of useful purposes, such as in surgery that requires precision cutting. And lighting at nighttime allows us to read, write, and avoid tripping over our children's toys.

In addition to having an influence on our activities, lighting can also have a drastic effect on our emotions. A candlelight dinner creates a romantic environment for a pleasant meal and chat. Strobe lights at a dance club boost our energy levels as we do the latest dance craze. And flickering lights in a room grabs our attention, alerting us to an upcoming announcement.

Sad with SAD

In fact, even a lack of light can influence our emotions. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression. A lack of sunlight in some regions of the world, from the late autumn until early springtime, causes SAD. One of the treatments for this disorder is a "light box." The patient usually lies down inside the light box, which surrounds him or her with light, for up to several hours.

Lighting, science, and the Yin and Yang

Along with other elements such as soothing music, soft lighting helps to create a relaxing environment for those lying down during a hot stones massage. Scientifically speaking, soft light creates less glare on the eyes than harsher florescent lighting does. However, soft light is also linked to the holistic approach of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of design. The focus on Feng Shui is to create the proper feel and balance between people and their surroundings.

Is Feng Shui still relative today? In fact, many public healthcare facilities contain florescent lights that work by blinking on and off, for a maximum of 60 times each second. In this case, the light seems quicker than the eye-but it is not really! The eye subconsciously notices these blinks, which can make it exhausted. Of course, this is counter to the therapist's goal of creating relaxation. To establish more balance in the room, use windows to draw in sunlight, or lamps with incandescent light bulbs.

Hard and soft light

Along with flickering lighting, florescent lighting in general, as well as high wattage bulbs and direct light, also create unwanted "hard lighting" indoors. Such lighting is more ideal where focusing is required, rather than in a massage cubicle.

While soft lighting is ideal for massages with hot stones, what exactly is soft lighting? "Soft" or "ambient" lighting originates from an indirect light source that uses reflection to create mild and relaxing illumination. Sources of ambient lighting include:

• Pink lighting
• Lamp shades
• Dimmed lighting
• Indirect light (i.e. sconces - lighting decorations attached to a wall)
• Yellow lighting
• Low wattage bulbs
• Floor uplights or torchieres

When creating an atmosphere for a hot stones massage, ambiance is equally as important as the massage techniques used. This will ensure that the patient's body and mind are completely relaxed after the massage session. Using soft lighting rather than hard lighting will improve the overall experience of our patients. Light up their lives (softly)!