How to Give a Hot Stone Massage

Everyone has the natural talent to give a massage. How many times have you rubbed your own wrist after a long day at the keyboard? This is called self-treating and it is instinctive. Hot stone massage has become a popular, not to mention expensive, spa treatment over the past five years. But did you know that although the spa charges more for a stone massage than a Swedish massage, a stone massage is actually the easier of the two to give? If you follow a few safety guidelines, you and a partner can trade relaxing massages at home.

The first thing you have to do is find an affordable set of massage stones. Approximately fifty stones is an adequate amount with which to start. A quick web search produces results which vary from $40 to $200. You can find a $40 set on massageking.com or you can bid for a similar set on eBay and pay about $20 for the stones.

As with anything massage related, avoid paying an exorbitant price to someone just because he or she claims to be a guru and is hawking supplies that have supposed magical powers. I paid $15 on clearance for an entire Conair stone massage kit including the stones and the warmer at Walmart; although my internet search at the time of this writing suggests the item is discontinued I found the same package available for online auction.

If you can find a kit including the stones and the warmer for a price you are willing to pay, that is wonderful. But here's a secret from the pros: you can use a Crock Pot or any electric roasting pan. Just place the stones in the bottom of the pan, pour just enough water into the pan to cover the stones and turn it on to the lowest setting. Start heating the stones 15 or 20 minutes before you give the massage.

You will also need at least three towels and enough pillows and blankets for your "client's" comfort level. For stone massage you do not necessarily need a massage table because the heat from the stones does so much of the work that you won't be straining your back. You can buy a table online for about $140; I have even seen them for the same price at Sam's Club but for this modality it is perfectly acceptable to have the client lying on the floor or bed. Massage oil can be purchased online or at a health food store.

After your client is lying on his back comfortably, select eight very small stones from the water. Obviously, if the stones are comfortable for you to touch, they are the right temperature. Dry them with one of the towels. Place all the stones between his toes and wrap each foot in one of the dry towels. Put a big stone on the middle of each thigh and cover the legs. Give him a medium stone to hold in each hand.

Now put a large stone under each shoulder between the spine and the shoulder blade. Line the breastbone with medium stones and place a large stone on each pectoral muscle (the big muscles of the chest.) Put small stones under each cheekbone and place one directly in the center of the forehead. Of course, this is just my map of stone placement; you can vary it according to your creativity and your partner's comfort. Common sense will tell you where you can balance a stone. Some people put stones where the large muscles along the spine will lie on the table before the client lies on his back. It depends on how many stones you have; also, in my opinion it is awkward to try to lie down exactly in the right place when you use this method. But as long as you are not hurting your partner you can try whatever you imagine when giving any type of massage.

Go back to the feet; remove the stones between the toes and put all but one back in the water. If you find the stones in the water get too cool, put the lid on the pan. Apply massage oil to the feet and shins. Bend the legs at the knees and put oil on the calves as well. Use the small toe stone to massage the top of the feet, working all over the place where the foot and leg meet and around either side of the ankle. Rub the arch of the foot and the heel. Remember to ask if the pressure is deep enough. It is best to start out with light pressure and then use more force as your client allows.

Put the toe stone back in the water and pick out a cylindrical or rectangular stone. When you are working on the arms or legs, always travel from the feet or hands towards the body and avoid deep pressure on the backs of the knees or the bend of the arms. Slide the rectangular stone up either side of the shin bone or make little circles up the leg. Do the same thing all over the calf. The calves can be the most sensitive muscles for some people so be careful. Keep replacing the stone which you are using for a tool as it cools. Put the large thigh stones back in the water and work the thigh muscles just like you did the calves. On most people you can use a good bit of pressure here.

Cover the legs and put the hand stones back in the water. Put oil on the hands and arms. We will assume to avoid redundancy that you will apply oil to each body part you work except the face and scalp. Get another small stone and rub the palms of the hands and the wrists. Do some long strokes with the medium rectangular stone between the bones of the forearm and up the flat part on the other side. Then hold the arm between your arm and your body and work the upper arm.

Remove the chest stones as well as the stones underneath the client and put them back in the pan. Work the back of the neck by kneeling or sitting on a stool behind the client's head and, holding a small stone, make light strokes from the bottom of the neck up towards the head. Take the stones off the face, put them back in the water, and massage the cheeks in am upward motion. Rub the temples in circles and stroke your fingers across the forehead and eyebrows. You can even rub the ears gently as well as the jaw. Just remember not to use oil on the face. After you massage the scalp in a shampooing motion, get your partner to turn onto his stomach.

Put a large stone on the arch of each foot and wrap the feet in towels. Line the legs with stones, increasing the stones' size as you go up and then cover the legs. Line the big muscles on either side of the spine with stones and cover the back. Finally, work the feet, backs of the legs, then the back, with a rectangular stone just as you did with the front of the legs and the arms. Replace the stones as you go if they cool. Once you have moved on from the legs to the back, you can put new re-heated stones on the legs and feet again while you work on the back.

Always remember to avoid putting pressure on the backs of the knees, front of the elbows and spine. Stroke the limbs in a motion towards the body. Let your partner determine the right amount of pressure and temperature. Massage doesn't have to be a luxury; this is something you can share with your friends and family at home.