Former service. This page describes a service of Hot Rock Spa (Carp) that we no longer offer — it’s kept here for reference. ALX Massage & Bodywork is now a massage & osteopathy studio at 1415 Woodroffe Avenue, Ottawa. See our current massage menu or all former services.

Hot leaves front treatment

This treatment is gentler than the hot leaves back treatment but is equally as effective. The procedure begins with a non-contact warm-up. The Sauna Master takes the hot air from the top of the room and distributes it along your body. By increasing the intensity of the strokes they pump air the air creating the feeling that you are in a dense, warm bed of feathers.

Then the master proceeds to apply hot compresses to the neck, chest, abdomen and thighs. Intensive percussion techniques are used in this procedure only on the thighs and arms – from the shoulders to the fingers.

In addition to providing a general relaxing effect this procedure is good for relieving colds, reducing cellulite on the thighs and abdomen (in combination with body wraps), relieving tension in the arms and improving sleep – especially when adding a special combination of herbs to the hot leaf wraps.

We are still looking for a location with a sauna. Sauna ceremonies and hot-leaves treatments were the heart of Hot Rock Spa, and we haven’t given up on them — we hope, and quietly dream, of bringing real sauna services back to Ottawa one day. Know a property that could host a sauna? Tell us about it.