Stone massages provide temporary relief from mild to chronic pain by using warm stones as a tool in the therapeutic setting. The masseuse may glide a warm stone liberally over the body or locally in a painful area. Regular massages cleanse the body of toxins, provide stress relief, calm body aches, improve skin tone and may slow the process of aging as the body removes free radicals. Those experiencing mental stress, trauma and injury, sports training, volatile sleeping patterns or have poor posture are among the recipients who would benefit the most from a stone massage.
Step 1
Create a massage environment and gather massage supplies. Dim the lights and turn off noisy distractions, such as the telephone and television. You may play soft music or burn incense for a calming environment. Get together extra towels and place a clean set of sheets on the massage table or bed.
Step 2
Mix the carrier oil and essential oils into a small bowl, combining 6 drops of pure essential oil per 4 tsp. of carrier oil. You may choose up to three different essential oils. For mind detox, try cedarwood, sandalwood, lemon balm, lime, geranium, jasmine, lavender, rose and ylang-ylang essential oils. For body detox, try peppermint, lemon, mandarin, peppermint, pine or rosemary essential oils. Vegetable-based carrier oils such as olive, peanut, sweet almond, grapeseed or sesame oil are suitable for most skin types.
Step 3
Heat the stones in a pot or saucepan over the stove, and remove into a large bowl after water reaches 125 degrees F. Filling the pot with just enough water to cover the top of the stones, and use a cooking thermometer to determine the water's temperature because temperature varies with different types of cookware. Use kitchen tongues when removing the stones, and cover the large bowl with a towel to retain the warmth.
Step 4
Rub a quarter-sized amount of massage oil between your palms, and apply the oil on the recipient. Start at the feet and work up the legs and over the buttocks. Cover the back, shoulders, arms, hands and neck with the massage oil. Always massage using upward strokes, toward the heart. Massaging downward may push blood against closed valves and cause damage to blood vessels.
Step 5
Pick a warm stone from the bowl and glide it over the length of one muscle, using slow stokes and moderate pressure. When the stone cools, set it aside and pick a new stone from the bowl, working on a new part of the body. For instance, start at the bottom of one leg, gliding the stone over the left side of the leg, over the left side of the calf and thigh. Return to the ankle of the same leg and smooth the stone over the right side of the leg, over the right side of the calf and thigh. When the stone cools, get a warm stone and move onto the other leg, then to the back, shoulders and arms using the same concept of gliding the stone over the muscles on each side of the bone.
Step 6
Place the stones on pressure points as an alternative. The pressure points are the palpable nodules along the muscle fibers, and you can feel those knots or nodules as you glide the stone over the muscle. Concentrate on those areas, and apply more pressure with the stone. Follow the several repeated glides on the knots with a long stroke over the entire length of the muscle. Place small stones between the toes and fingers, and remove after the stones cool, which takes about 10 minutes.
Step 7
Apply additional massage oil on the recipient, and massage the areas of knots or nodules. The heat that transfers from the stone to the pressure point makes the muscles relax and more pliable for working out the knots or nodules.
Tips and Warnings
- If the stones are too hot to hold in your hands, they are too hot to place or use on the recipient. Pink spots on the skin after removing the warm rocks are normal, and indicate that the area received heat. Use larger stones for larger muscle groups such as the hamstrings and back muscles that run along either side of the spine. Use smaller stones on the arms, neck, face and toes. Stones cool quicker when using them for massage versus placing stones on the body's trigger points. Do not apply massage oil to the rocks. Use your hands when applying massage oil to the recipient's skin. Disinfect all rocks after each use. Boil the rocks in a pot of water, for 5 minutes, adding a dash of sea salt to the pot for quicker, organic cleansing. Use cool stones on areas of inflammation. Chill stones in ice water for 10 minutes and apply to the area.
- Remove rocks immediately if the recipient is uncomfortable. Do not perform a hot stone massage on those who are pregnant, or have diabetes, high blood pressure, fever or flu. Do not use hot stones on open wounds or varicose veins.
Things You'll Need
- Sheets
- Towels
- 4 tsp. of vegetable-based carrier oil
- 6 drops of essential oil
- Small bowl
- Large bowl
- Basalt stones
- Pot
- Sea salt
References
- Sage Magazine; Stone Therapy; Nina Gart; Spring 2004
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