Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage feels wonderful and is quite effective! The heat from the stones warm the muscles and allow the strokes to work deeply with minimal effort.

The traditional stones have been smoothed in a river bed, though some therapists have mentioned some beaches where they have found their stones.

From the massage therapist point of view, hot stone massage is great because the therapist uses the stones instead of his/her body (fingers, hands, elbows) to press into the client. This saves the body from the normal wear and tear that comes with massage (regardless of how good the therapist's body mechanics are).

Before beginning...

The precautions for massage are tenfold when dealing with hot stone massage.

Please read the safety page. Pregnant women should not receive hot stone massage, and the giver should be quite cautious with the elderly and young, as they are much more effected by heat than healthy adults. If in doubt, don't do it!

The most common 'injury' from massage are burns. For that reason, I don't recommend non-professionals perform this massage, but I have seen kits in department stores so I will run though the basic concepts to keep in mind.

Never heat the stones in an oven or microwave because they could explode. Stick with the crock pot to heat the stones. If they break, they will crack gently in the water instead of explode.

Be sure the stones are clean and double check that they have no cracks or sharp edges to them since the last time they were used.

What you need...

Stones of various sizes

Crock pot

Antibacterial soap

Slotted spoon or tongs

Massage oil

A couple towels (I like a large bath towel and one hand towel!)

Thermometer: The temperature gauges on most crock pots are not accurate enough to determine the specific temperature of the water, and it is very important not to make the stones too hot. I like digital thermometers because they are very specific, and mine notifies me when the water has reached the perfect temperature!

Water for the crock pot (Tap water is fine)

A bowl of cold water (I throw a few ice cubes in to really chill it)

1. Heat the stones in the water with the crock pot. The temperature should be between 115 - 130 degrees Fahrenheit. I prefer the stones around 115 because it's more comfortable for my hands. If the stones are too hot when you take them out of the crock pot, you can let them sit for a minute or two to cool. Or you can add some of the ice water to the crock pot.

2. While the stones are heating, apply massage oil to the part of the body you will be working on. You don't need a lot, but it allows the stones to run more smoothly along the skin.

3. I like to place a warm stone in each hand and use lots of long, slow effleurage strokes. It's good to keep the stones moving, especially if they are quite hot, but by moving slow, it allows the heat to soak into the muscles a bit more.

4. If the stones are cool enough, you can leave them on the body. I like to place one or two of the stones along the spine and/or on the sacrum and then work a smaller area with another stone. I once had a therapist place stones on the table and then had me lie back on the stones at the beginning of the massage to warm up my back while he worked on my toes. It was cool (or should I say HOT!)

One word of caution... always stay by the client/receiver if you are going to leave anything hot on the body and tell the client to let you know if anything is too hot. Do not go off into the other room while the stones are "working their magic". You should remove the stones immediately if the client says it's too hot. If you don't remove the stone quickly, the receiver could start to burn, even if it's just a few moments extra with the stones.

5. Use the different shapes and sizes of the stones to work on the body in different ways during the hot stone massage. Smaller stones are good for smaller areas. Smooth, narrowed edges of the stones are good along the bone (like between the scapula and the spine.)

6. After the hot stone massage, be sure to clean the stones. Allow them to soak in some water with antibacterial soap and scrub the oil off with a brush. Towel dry them or allow them to air dry. Store in a safe place where there is no chance of them chipping or breaking.

As a fun alternative to hot stone massage (and to cool the client off a bit) I sometimes place a few cold stones that I've left in the ice water on the client. It can be a bit of a shock to the system if not done properly, but it can also feel quite nice. It cools the body after the hot stone massage which helps prevent the client from getting dizzy when he/she has to get up. You might want to try cooling some of the smallest stones in your collection and placing it on the forehead or in the hands of the receiver.

An interesting note... some therapists get really into hot stone massage and bond with / form a spiritual connection to their hot stones. I could see how this could happen. Though I'm not particularly attached to mine in this way, I am quite fond of them and have gotten used to the shape.

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