As the saying goes, "Money makes the world go 'round." We need money for food, clothes, and shelter. We need money to operate our car or truck. And we need money for that motorized marshmallow turner we have been dying to buy. But before there was money, there was bartering. People would exchange things of value, for things that they needed. Livestock and crops were the first items that people bartered with. So instead of buying a cow with cash, you would trade some goats for it.

The evolution of money

As time marched on, the use of currency began to evolve. The Chinese used the first medium of exchange, which included the shells of sea snails. Later, they used manmade versions of the shells, as well as metal tools, as forms of currency. Within time, humans produced the first silver coins, and eventually various ancient empires stamped the images of different rulers and gods, on them. The Chinese also used the first paper money, from roughly the 800s to the 1400s A.D. While gold was once the standard for currency, the practice virtually ended after the Great Depression of the 1930s. Today, electronic money and globalization have revolutionized the way that money is used and exchanged.

Plastic, stones, and value

With today's monetary system, it is advisable to pay for your hot stone massage with cash or a credit card, rather than with chickens or apples. A massage with hot stones is certainly a good investment in your health. It includes numerous benefits. A hot stone massage reduces stress and calms your mind. It also serves as a pain reliever, while relaxing tissues and muscles. A massage with hot stones furthermore improves your blood circulation, while releasing toxins that your body does not need.

In addition, a massage with hot stones can treat a variety of health conditions, such as:

• Anxiety
• Arthritis
• Backaches
• Blood circulation problems
• Depression
• Fibromylagia
• Insomnia
• Multiple Sclerosis
• Muscular aches and paints
• Stress

Not carved in (hot) stone.

So whether you suffer from a disease that affects your muscles, or simply need to reduce the stress in your body, the value of a hot stone massage makes it worthwhile. That said, like buying a house or car, we usually want to get the most value for our money. How do we know if we are paying the "industry standard" price for a therapeutic massage?

A hot stone massage costs more than a basic Swedish massage, due to the extra preparation required, and the longer length of the massage. Typically, the cost is roughly $125, but that price is not carved in stone. Prices of therapeutic massages can vary, due to factors such as the location of the spa, the grade of the spa, and the amount of experience that the therapist has. For instance, spas in rural areas tend to have lower prices than those in urban areas.

Avoiding rock-shock

Before availing of a hot stone massage, you should know what to expect. Remember that this massage involves heat therapy and does not include stones that you could easily dig up from your backyard. Typically, therapists use basalt, which is a black rock from volcanoes. A hot stone kit includes stones of different sizes and shapes.

Here is how the massage works. The therapist holds the heated stone while providing a traditional Swedish massage. Also, he or she might place heated stones in particular points on the body, such as on either side of your spine, and in between your fingers and toes.

A massage with hot stones is an investment, but certainly a worthwhile one. It will make you feel like a million bucks, without spending a fortune!