| Hot Stone History | | | | Stones for Hot Stone Massage are selected |
| Hot stone massage seems to be the 'in' new thing | | | | according to their composition, size, texture and |
| on Day Spa Menus worldwide. But stone massage | | | | shape. The composition of stones refers to the |
| is not a new therapy. Hot stones have been used | | | | types and minerals the stones are made of - |
| for massage for many thousands of years by | | | | such as iron, copper, nickel, manganese, |
| Indigenous Cultures from Russia, Hawaii, Japan and | | | | serpentine and olivine. The stones for hot stone |
| North America. The stones used in Hot Stone | | | | massage are igneous or metamorphic and come |
| Massage are mostly basalt stones created by | | | | in a variety of colours depending on the mineral |
| Volcanic activity. The surfaces have been | | | | make up of the stone: green, black, brown, blue, |
| completely smoothed - in river beds or tossed by | | | | and gray. |
| the ocean for many years. | | | | The shape of a stone is important for particular |
| A Stone Massage Session | | | | body placements, such as a cylindrical stone for |
| Smooth warmed basalt stones are used to | | | | the neck or an oval stone for the palm. The |
| massage the body in long flowing strokes to relax | | | | texture is important as you don't want to scratch |
| and unwind muscle tension and stress from the | | | | a client. Be careful when choosing stones you |
| body. The sensation produced by gliding, heated | | | | don't use ones that have sharp edges or any |
| stones over the body along with the occasional | | | | sharp cracks. Most natural stones have curves |
| "click" of the stones touching each other, is | | | | and crevasses and as long as they are smoothed |
| something that can only be appreciated by | | | | they are excellent to use in massage. A slightly |
| experiencing it. The heat of the stones, combined | | | | rough stone can be used for exfoliation. |
| with the soothing gliding movement, warms and | | | | Finding Massage Stones |
| relaxes the muscles to a much greater extent | | | | Stones are found in areas of old Volcanic activity |
| than that achieved by simply massaging the body | | | | - take a look in river beds or around ocean |
| with the hands alone. Using stones in massage is | | | | headlands nearby. Be careful though when you |
| similar to 'ironing'. The warm stone 'irons' the | | | | are picking up stones that there isn't a spider or |
| muscle effectively helping to unwind and relax | | | | snake hiding. Use a stick to move the stone. |
| tight tense areas. | | | | Stones for massage are best when they have |
| What to Expect | | | | been tossed by the water for many years. This |
| The stone massage varies from therapist to | | | | process is natures way of tumbling them. |
| therapist. The stones will be warmed in a heater | | | | Heating the Stones |
| and then placed on your body. A variety of very | | | | When you heat basalt stones always make sure |
| specific shapes and sizes of basalt stones are | | | | they are heated in water as there is always a |
| used throughout the massage, applied to specific | | | | possibility of them cracking. If you heat them in |
| areas and energy centers on the body. The | | | | water, the water will contain any damage that |
| therapist will massage you with the stones in a | | | | may occur due to the stone breaking. This is |
| similar manner to normal relaxation massage - | | | | highly unlikely - but you still need to be aware of |
| mostly the only difference is that the therapist is | | | | the possibility. NEVER heat the stones in a |
| holding a stone while they are massaging. | | | | microwave or in a dry oven. Have a container |
| The stones should be warm - not very hot even | | | | with cool water in it to place in a stone that you |
| though the massage is called Hot Stone Massage. | | | | may feel is too warm for your client. The stone |
| When the therapist places the stone on your | | | | will cool quickly. The water in the stone heater |
| body ideally you will feel a sensation similar to | | | | should be a temperature that is comfortable for |
| getting into a warm bath or shower. The | | | | you to place your hand in - it is quite simple really |
| temperature should be wonderfully warming and | | | | if the stone is too hot for you to handle it is too |
| inviting and never be a shock to the body or feel | | | | hot for your client to have on their body. By |
| as though it may burn. If you are at all concerned | | | | taking precautions with your stones you will |
| in your massage that the stones are too hot - be | | | | ensure a safe session for both you and your |
| proactive and ask that they be taken off straight | | | | client. |
| away. With an experienced Stone Massage | | | | The stones feel wonderful for the therapist to |
| Therapist you will be in very good hands and half | | | | work with and at the end of a session don't be |
| an hour into your massage you will be blissed out. | | | | surprise if you feel as renewed and relaxed as |
| In fact you may not even remember all your | | | | your client. The therapy that once early man |
| massage. | | | | found effective is now being used once again in |
| Tips for Therapists | | | | our modern day practices. Try it - you will |
| Stone Selection for Hot Stone Massage | | | | understand why. |