Massage stones are volcanic river stones with a high iron content. The iron content in the stones enables them to hold heat for long periods of time, which makes them ideal for massage. Massage stones come in a variety of sizes and shapes. Because the stones are naturally occurring, there are no standard sizes, but most massage sets have at least one oblong stone for the neck, large stones for the body and smaller stones for the toes. The size and shape of the stones depends on how the supplier packages its product. You can buy massage stones and heaters at massage supply stores and online.
Preparing the Stones
Step 1
Place one of the hand towels in the bottom of the heater. The towel will help keep the stones in place and make the stones easier to find.
Step 2
Stack the stones, by size, on one side of the heater---leaving the other side free. Fill the heater with enough water to cover the largest stones, add 10 drops of tea tree oil and set the heater to 125 degrees F. It should take the stones 30 minutes to heat.
Step 3
Fill a ceramic bowl with room-temperature water and set the bowl next to the heater. Use this water to cool the stones if they are too hot. Fold another hand towel and put it in front of the heater. Use the hand towel to blot the stones before using them on the person receiving the massage.
Step 4
Dress your massage table with the linens, while waiting for the stones to heat.
Using the Stones
Step 1
Use the tongs to remove five large stones from the heater, one at a time. Blot each stone on the towel and place the stones on the table. Put two of the stones in the area of the lower back, on either side of the spine. Place two more stones in the mid-back area. Place the final stone between the shoulder blades.
Step 2
Have the person receiving the massage sit on the table and lie back, slowly, onto the stones and cover her with the sheet.
Step 3
Take the oblong stone from the heater, blot it, and place it under his neck. Place another large stone on the chest, between the breasts or nipples.
Step 4
Take two palm-sized stones from the heater, blot them, and place one in each of the hands. Take the tiny stones from the heater, blot them, and place them between the toes.
Step 5
Uncover one of the legs and remove the small stones from between her toes. Put the small stones in the empty side of the heater---this way you can tell which stones are hot and which are reheating. Gently rub a small amount of oil into the leg.
Step 6
Take two palm-sized stones from the heater, blot them, and cup one stone in the palm of each hand to massage his leg and foot. If he says the stones are too hot, you can dip the stones in the cool water to cool them down. Use broad, slow, strokes and circular motions. The heat and texture of the stones assists the massage so you don't need to use a lot of pressure.
Step 7
When the stones cool, put them back into the heater and retrieve hot stones. Refresh the stones two or three times per leg and arm.
Step 8
Uncover one of her arms, remove the stone from her hands and put it in the heater. Apply a thin layer of oil to her arm and massage her arm with palm-sized stones. Use similar motions to those on the leg.
Step 9
Remove the oblong stone from his neck and massage her neck and shoulders with stones that are slightly smaller than palm-size.
Step 10
Remove the center stone from his chest and have him sit up. Remove the stones from the table and put them in the "reheat" side of the heater.
Step 11
Have the person receiving the massage turn over onto her stomach. Put the small stones back between her toes, arrange four of five of the larger stones, in a line, down the center of her back and put one palm-sized stone in each of her hands. Massage the legs and arms in the same manner as on the front.
Step 12
Rub oil into your hands and remove each stone, from the back, by sliding your hand under each stone and massaging the area where the stone used to be. After removing all the stones, use palm-sized stones to massage the back.
Tips and Warnings
- Some retailers sell stone kits without heaters. If you do not have a heater, you can also use a turkey roaster or a crock pot. Keep the stones divided between the "hot" side and "reheating" side to avoid confusion and get the most heat out of each stone. By the time the "reheating" side is full, the stones should be hot enough and you can use them again. The stones hold heat on both sides so, when one side cools, flip the stones over or use the edges.
- Do not heat the stones without water. Dry heat will make the stones too hot to use.
Things You'll Need
- 38-piece (or larger) basalt stone set
- Hot stone heater
- Tea tree oil
- 5 white hand towels
- Silicone tongs
- Ceramic bowl of cold water
- Massage table and linens
- Light massage oil
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