tofino yoga

Hot Stone Massage Instructions

by Sarah Platenius

Hot Stone Massage involves the application of water-heated basalt stones of varying sizes to key points on the body, giving a deep massage and offering comfort and warmth to the client. The direct heat relaxes muscles and alleviates stress.

In cases of muscular injury and inflammation, frozen, cooling marble stones can be used. This creates a type of thermo therapeutic 'vascular gymnastics' in the circulatory system to help the body detoxify and heal. The warmer stones expand the blood vessels, pushing blood and unwanted waste materials through the body. This has a sedative effect on the nervous system. The cold stones cause the blood vessels to constrict, stimulating the nervous system and drawing blood and waste products along the body. This ensures that every cell in the body receives more oxygen and nutrients while at the same time waste material is removed more effectively through the corresponding increase in lymph flow. Not unlike changing the old oil and filter in your car for a newer filter with clean oil—a service for the body.

It is quite an experience to feel the deeply relaxing, penetrating heat from the basalt stones and if used, the alternating toning and refreshing coolness of the marble stones. The use of extremes of temperature (is) has long been scientifically and medically proven to be of benefit to the body.
-Adapted from http://www.pioneerthinking.com/fr_stonemassage.html

While you may wish to experiment with other types of rock, basalt is typically the type of rock used for hot stone massage. Basalt holds its heat for an extended period of time, making it an ideal choice for heated stone massage.

ba•salt: the commonest type of solidified lava; a dense dark gray fine-grained igneous rock composed chiefly of calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene

BENEFITS: Heated Stones on the Body:
• Relieves muscle spasms & tension
• Increases circulation
• Alleviates joint pain
• Deeply warms the body
• If client sweats, helps detoxify body
• Grounding—connection to earth

GENERAL RULE: Contraindications for massage with heated stones:
Most conditions contraindicated for normal massage are also contraindicated for stone massage. There are a few general rules that you can use to decide if something is CI: any condition that could cause pain (broken skin and bones), any contagious disease (like the flu and shingles), anything that makes a person unable to properly judge depth or pain (like intoxication, medications, or peripheral neuropathy), any disease that could be made worse by massage (like the flu, or, possibly, some types of cancer), any time there is the risk of causing infection (like cuts or surgery), or any condition that weakens a person's vitality all contraindicate massage.

Unlike regular massage, stone massage is CONTRAINDICATED for PREGNANCY. Usually starting at 4 months, and increasing up until delivery, the body produces a hormone called relaxin. Its job is to make the ligaments and tendons loosen to help deliver the baby. Adding heat or deep tissue massage to these already weakened parts could make them stretch too far, causing problems later on when they try to shrink back to normal.
-Adapted from http://experts.about.com/q/1818/3496211.htm

CONTRAINDICATIONS:
• Pregnancy
• Heart disease
• Varicose veins
• Surgery where nerves have been cut/loss of feeling
• Diabetes (use stones at 130 Degrees)
• Disease with nerve damage—Neuropathy
• Medication that may have side affects to heat or blood thinning medications.
• Skin conditions that may be aggravated by heat like eczema or psoriasis
• Obesity—where heart might have a hard time with the heat
• Weak or debilitated person— the heat will be exhausting to the body
• Autoimmune dysfunctions
• Caution with elderly—thin skin—more sensitive
• Caution with children—less temperature and time holding stones in one place.
• Epilepsy
• Mental disorders
• Any condition where Swedish massage is contraindicated

SUPPLIES:
I have been searching for ‘the perfect stones’ on this continent’s beaches and river beds for years. You may wish to enter into this quest yourself, but please understand that it is very important to test your stones before using them in a professional environment. Some types of stones may fracture with heat, and some shapes may be difficult to handle. To compliment my personal collection of hot stones, I have a commercial set of marble cold stones that I find invaluable.

Here are two websites that provide stone massage supplies, including full sets of stones:
http://www.allyouknead.com/massage-supplies/browse/browse-category/?dept_id=28
http://www.massagewarehouse.com/Hot+Stone+Massage/id=294/category.jhtml

Supply List:
• Basalt stones
• Roaster (make sure it’s a roaster with temperature settings)
• Rubber gloves that are heat safe
• Thermometer (the kind you use in the oven/turkey)
• Small fish net
• Tongs and/or plastic spatula
• Laundry bags/lingerie bags x4
• Plastic tub
• Hand towels x5
• Pillow Case x2
• Massage Oil
• Essential Oils
• Vinegar or Dr. Bonners or spa oxidizer
STONE ARRANGEMENT IN ROASTER:
Supine
1st Bag:
• 12-14 small spinal layout stones
2nd Bag:
• 3rd eye stone—very small flat and round
• Pillow stone—approx. 4inches long flat for under neck
• 5 chakra stones—heavy, med. relatively flat
• 2 hand holding stones—heavy, chunky, graspable
• 2 Psoas stones—med. relatively flat
3rd Bag:
• 4 leg massaging stones—med. hold heat fit well in therapists hands

4tth Fish Net:
• 8 toe stones—quarter to nickel size, flat

5th Bag:
• 6 Neck stones—2 pointy, 2 flat with edge, 2 pointy with some surface area holds heat
• 2 Face stones—silver dollar size, relatively flat

Prone
The following are the stones you will need for prone position—remember to place stones into roaster as soon as you are through working on the client in the supine position so they will be hot again when the client lies face down.
• Two of the largest Charka stones (you will use these as placement stones on the tailbone and/or under the belly)
• 1st Bag
• 5th Bag

STEP-BY-STEP SEA STONE MASSAGE PROCEDURE:
1. Check in with client
o Brief overview of session
o Contraindications?
2. Check stone/roaster temperature (135-145 degrees ideal)
3. Client sits up—towel down, 1st bag—spinal layout placement, towel over stones, client lays down carefully
4. Optional clean feet, neck and/or leg stretches
5. 2nd bag—place chakra stones (pelvis stones first), place hand stones in hand with sheet protection, place pillow stone under neck, place 3rd eye stone
6. 3rd bag—apply oil to leg, massage with 2 stones in hands, switch sides
7. 4th Fish net—place toe stones. Start with pinky toe, alternating feet so stones don’t cool off too quickly, cover feet with sheet.
8. Remove hand stone and apply oil to arm—then use same stone to massage key arm points. Then switch sides—place stones on counter
9. Remove 3rd eye stone, pillow stone, 5th chakra stone, (certain bodies, you’ll want to remove the first two spinal layout stones)
10. 5th Bag—massage face with two stones (generally no oil necessary), massage neck, tops of shoulders starting with 2 flat edged stones, then 2 pointy stones, then 2 larger neck stones—place neck stones directly into roaster
11. Remove toe stones/stretch legs
12. Remove chakra stones—chest first, place two of these stones directly into roaster
13. Client sits up with your support
14. Remove spinal layout stones and place directly into roaster
15. Client rolls over
16. Massage backs of legs only if time (no stones unless specific work needed
17. Massage back without stones
18. Place 1 or 2 tailbone stones and/or belly stone
19. 1st Bag—spinal stones use to massage back until stones go cold
20. 5th Bag—“neck stones”—work specific points along spine, neck and tailbone with heat—finish with effleurage stroke using 2 larger “neck stones”
21. Finishing hold/stretch
22. Quick tidy of room before stepping out of room (turn roaster off asap, unless needed for your next session)

TIPS TO A BETTER SEA STONE MASSAGE:
• Relax. Clients are using Sea Stone massage as a means of relaxation. Your tension will transfer.
• If a stone is too hot, prior to the session, fill the sink with about 2inches of cold water so you can dip the stone to cool it off—have a towel near by to dry it off prior to placing it on your client. Check continually about temperature with your client.
• If stone layout or chakra stones are too hot, place a pillow case or a towel between skin and stones.
• Ideal temperature for roaster is between 135-145 degrees.
• It takes about 10-15 min. on high for stones to heat up—remember to turn roaster back to 135-145 degrees after initial heat up.
• A fresh, hot stone can only be placed directly on skin when it is kept moving and first introduced with back of hands.
• Make sure to dry excessive water off stones before massaging
• Clean stones after each treatment with very hot soapy water or vinegar and water—make sure to use temperature-safe gloves
• Clean roaster at the end of the day with soap or vinegar and water
• Re-energize stones when necessary by placing them in a river, ocean or under a full moon

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