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Hot Stones
So I'm considering adding hot stones to my practice. I already do medical and deep tissue and I believe it could be a great addition for helping break up the tissue and to use them medically and help give my hands a break. Anyone out there that uses hot stones for medical or deep tissue? Thoughts, tips? Also do you charge extra for when you use them? Also open to any continuing Ed that's really great for this. Thanks!
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Barbara Helynn Heard on
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Aloha Trina,
I teach Mana Lomi hot stones continuing ed classes in Seattle and Tacoma, WA and in the northeast. Mana Lomi is a clinically focused, problems solving style of lomilomi, which is also spiritually grounded. This work is deep yet gentle and very specific and focused. Indeed, for me hot stones can work very well with medically focused work.
regarding pay: It's common practice for spas and therapists to charge more for a full hot stones massage. It takes time to set up and clean up the stones, and takes special training to do the work well.
I sometimes integrate a few hot stones into a treatment session rather than doing a full hot stone treatment and I do not charge extra for this. I have an electric radiator in my treatment room and place 4 full hand sized stones on this heater. I'l reuse them within a single session so I can use 8 or 12 stones in 90 minutes. Heating the stones on the radiator is much less work to set up and clean up than a water filled electic tank (turkey roaster, crock pot, etc...)
Please find more information about Mana Lomi on my website www.lomilomi-massage.org. Also feel free to email or call me for more information. You'll find my contact information on my website.
aloha,
Barbara Helynn Heard
Seattle, WA
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Permalink Reply by Gordon J. Wallis on
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For me...I dont like using hot stones, or getting a hot stone massage...But thats just my personal opinion...We offer hot stone massage in the spa where I work...You have to keep them very clean. So you have to have enough time between clients to do that..And the therapist spends too much time getting stones( 20% of the massage time) instead of massaging me. But that being said, Im sure there are therapists that are really into it and do a way better job then I do with them or have experienced.. And I think I have seen DVDs offered on how to use Hot Stones for deep tissue work.. Id hunt for that DVD and go from there. The spa I work at charges $20.00 more when using Hot Stones. Its just not my thing.. I mean they do feel good..But its just too much time away from my client...and if there is any flow with your massage...Getting the hot stones destroys that. But dont let me ruin your enthusiasm or interest.... Maybe go get a hot stone massage for your self and vibe it out...Then you will have a better idea.. There are so many paths to our career field, its mind boggling...Im just on another path... lol
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http://www.tirmassagestone.com/productDetailServlet?ProductStoreCat...
There ya go... Hot Stone Massage for deep tissue work DVD
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Permalink Reply by Trina Throckmorton on
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Thank you both so much for the information and input!
Barbara- I will definitely check out your website. That makes sense charging more when it's a full hot stone massage. I would also most likely use only 2 stones and incorporate them into the massage, not charging extra. An electric radiator sounds interesting, anything that helps cut down time and is more convenient sounds great.
Gordon- lol I too have experienced that kind of hot stone massage where it feels like the therapist is playing with the rocks most the time. But the other experience I had with it was very different, it was more the therapist using one in each hand and getting into the tissue in a deep clinical way. It felt very flowing and one of the most deeply relaxing, therapeutic massages I've ever had. I will check out that link, thanks :)
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Permalink Reply by Therese Schwartz on
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I started using Bamboo Fusion bamboo sticks. They are easier to manage than hot stones; they are heated in a moist heat heating pad. I fold the heating pad in half, and fold a pillow case in half with part of it making a lip over the top of the heating pad as a handle for my oily hands! The sticks go inside; some preheating is necessary, and some playing with the temperature. I generally find that 146 degrees F works well; it takes about 30 min for full warm-up and there is some time required for re-heat. Having said all that, they aren't that much trouble at all to use, and I incorporate them into virtually every massage. My clients just love them!
If you want to use the stones but not a stone heater, you might be able to use the same method I use for the bamboo sticks.
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Permalink Reply by jaelin thomas on
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Anyone can find more information about Hot stone massage and DVD
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Therese: thank you for suggesting the bamboo sticks. After watching a few videos of that style that really does make me think if I'd rather do the bamboo than stones. So are you doing part of the massage with your hands and then part of it with the bamboo? Do you find your clients like the bamboo just as much as hands on work? I am having trouble with my thumbs and hands with doing so much deep tissue and that looks like it would be a lot less tension on your hands. It looks like it also stretches out of the fascia well too.
Mark: thanks for all the info about the different stones! I really appreciate that. I didn't know that the tapping of the stones had an affect or that it was on purpose lol. Good to know! I'm really just trying to look at different options. I just know that I want to expand my repertoire! I am getting too tired and pain in my arms and hands, but I still want to deliver the same depth and quality.
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Hi Mark, I'm really concerned about safety and cleaning as well! I use Thieves Household Cleaner from Young Living. It has a hefty dose of essential oils in it, and you can mix it to what strength makes you happy. I spray it liberally onto paper towels and wipe the sticks down after each use. It has the added benefit of removing the oils without drying out the bamboo sticks. Also, bamboo sticks have a natural anti-microbial property, so it all works well.
Hi Trina, yes I do part of the massage with the sticks and part of the massage with my hands, and as much as possible with forearms and elbows. I bought both of Val Guin's Forearm Dance DVD's and between those and the bamboo sticks transformed how I do massage about 2 years ago. I have doubled my business with so much less pain! I still overdo my hands occasionally but it's a minor issue compared to before the sticks and Forearm Dance. My clients absolutely LOVE the bamboo work! I have the heater set at 146 degrees F which is a bit warmer than recommended but my clients love it. The only time it's an issue is if the sticks have been sitting in there for an hour - the can get really hot. I just set them aside for a minute and they cool to something usable. The sticks enable me to do deep work in a way that's not objectionable to people. I often joke that I've done all this continuing education, traveled all over the country and can do all these things, and what my clients rave about is the least expensive and fastest thing I've learned!
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Permalink Reply by Linda LePelley, RN, NMT on
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You might want to check out Sassi Stones when you get to the Festival, they are supposed to be there. They have the most incredible rechargeable hot stones - they get good and hot, and stay that way for over an hour and a half, up to 2 hours. They are easy to sanitize between clients, no fussing with water temp, dripping, and burning yourself, etc. (One side stays cool so you can hold them) You can check it out at www.sassistones.com I love them, they are the best tool I've ever used, I really think they deserve an award for the best product of the century. I've tried so many things over the years to get just the right amount of heat that kept my hands on the client without fuss, this is it. (Disclaimer, LOL!! I do not know them, and don't own stock in their company although I wish I did!)
Mark Evans said:Hi Therese,
I plan to check out the Bamboo Fusion booth at the World Massage Festival in Las Vegas. It looks interesting. My concern is cleaning the sticks. How is that done? I’m just a nut about germs and cleanliness.....
That is one thing everyone needs to know about when working with stones too. The stones MUST be cleaned and sanitized between clients. The stone heater will need to be cleaned and sanitized every day. This adds time to day and time in between clients but, it can’t be overlooked! Safety, safety, safety!
Mark
Therese Schwartz said:I started using Bamboo Fusion bamboo sticks. They are easier to manage than hot stones; they are heated in a moist heat heating pad. I fold the heating pad in half, and fold a pillow case in half with part of it making a lip over the top of the heating pad as a handle for my oily hands! The sticks go inside; some preheating is necessary, and some playing with the temperature. I generally find that 146 degrees F works well; it takes about 30 min for full warm-up and there is some time required for re-heat. Having said all that, they aren't that much trouble at all to use, and I incorporate them into virtually every massage. My clients just love them!
If you want to use the stones but not a stone heater, you might be able to use the same method I use for the bamboo sticks.
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Therese: wow that's awesome that you've gotten such great feedback about the bamboo from your clients! That's also good to know that those 2 DVD's helped you feel ready to start using it. I am really seriously considering the bamboo and wondering if I should try to find a seminar, receive a bamboo massage from someone in the area, etc to decide whether it's for me. If I decide I do want to do the bamboo I wasn't sure if I'd have to pay a lot for some CED on it, so knowing the DVD's are adequate is great :)
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Linda: I checked out that site. They look interesting :) Do they just come in the one size/shape? They just appear to be more relaxation than medical/deep tissue?
Linda LePelley, RN, NMT said:You might want to check out Sassi Stones when you get to the Festival, they are supposed to be there. They have the most incredible rechargeable hot stones - they get good and hot, and stay that way for over an hour and a half, up to 2 hours. They are easy to sanitize between clients, no fussing with water temp, dripping, and burning yourself, etc. (One side stays cool so you can hold them) You can check it out at www.sassistones.com I love them, they are the best tool I've ever used, I really think they deserve an award for the best product of the century. I've tried so many things over the years to get just the right amount of heat that kept my hands on the client without fuss, this is it. (Disclaimer, LOL!! I do not know them, and don't own stock in their company although I wish I did!)
Mark Evans said:Hi Therese,
I plan to check out the Bamboo Fusion booth at the World Massage Festival in Las Vegas. It looks interesting. My concern is cleaning the sticks. How is that done? I’m just a nut about germs and cleanliness.....
That is one thing everyone needs to know about when working with stones too. The stones MUST be cleaned and sanitized between clients. The stone heater will need to be cleaned and sanitized every day. This adds time to day and time in between clients but, it can’t be overlooked! Safety, safety, safety!
Mark
Therese Schwartz said:I started using Bamboo Fusion bamboo sticks. They are easier to manage than hot stones; they are heated in a moist heat heating pad. I fold the heating pad in half, and fold a pillow case in half with part of it making a lip over the top of the heating pad as a handle for my oily hands! The sticks go inside; some preheating is necessary, and some playing with the temperature. I generally find that 146 degrees F works well; it takes about 30 min for full warm-up and there is some time required for re-heat. Having said all that, they aren't that much trouble at all to use, and I incorporate them into virtually every massage. My clients just love them!
If you want to use the stones but not a stone heater, you might be able to use the same method I use for the bamboo sticks.
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I'm having a hard time finding therapists in my area that do Bamboo Massage, which is a good thing! lol But I wanna try it. Any suggestions on how to find someone close that does it?
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