Baby, it’s cold out there! If your boss will not let you take time off to escape the cold grip of British winter, you can still escape the cold weather and take a soak in … heated stones. If you venture out to the delightful Hove near Brighton you can indulge in a new type of wellbeing treatment called the Taizen Japanese hot stone bath.

Japanese men and women living around thermal spas with high volcanic activity have been benefiting from hot sand baths for years. The beneficial effects of volcanic sand range from easing aches and pains to soothing arthritis and joint inflammations.

Shadi Danin Spa in Hove has brought this treatment over to Europe exclusively and have built a special-made tank in the premises to be able to offer the Japanese bath experience.

Unlike a sauna (because believe me, it’s hot in there!) the Japanese hot stone bath feels like a combination of receiving a deep tissue massage while being enveloped in a massive hot water bottle. The temperature in the stone bath averages 45 degrees Celsius and some people may find it too hot so you have been warned, but if you like steams and saunas you are likely to enjoy it.

Shadi Danin Spa has invested extensively in researching the Taizen Japanese bath experience and how to supply it to the British public. Instead of volcanic sand, which would be washed off after every bath, the spa uses small volcanic stone pebbles which are about 2mm wide.

These pebbles contain a wide range of minerals which are beneficial to the skin. The stones are washed after every session and the water they are rinsed in goes through a state of the art UV system to kill all bacteria.

During the hot stone bath you notice that your whole body becomes a giant heartbeat and you feel the blood pumping as the temperature and the pressure make you work harder at trying to cool down. In other words, your blood vessels get a bit of a workout. I challenge anyone to resist more than the suggested 10 minutes! I did manage an honourable 20 minutes and it did feel like a marathon but I kept focusing on the detoxing process my body was going through.

When I had the treatment in December I felt the muscles in my back releasing and my energy levels improving: clear head, clean body plus a fantastic scalp massage to round things off. It is an expensive treatment but it is ideal for special occasions and when  you need a pick me up without having to pick up a luggage trolley and passport.

Paola Bassanese of Energya is an award-winning massage therapist and health & wellbeing writer; she received the ICNM award for Best Practitioner and a special award from the Italian Chambers of Commerce in Trieste for services to industry.