Hot Stones Wizardry

I recommend the “Therapist’s Choice® Portable Hot Stone Warmer with 12 Stones for Massage Therapy” for $79.99 off Amazon along with thin basalt stones. The warmer comes with river stones which have a rougher texture and don’t hold heat as long. This warmer can be cleaned with a wet cloth with a little dish soap; vinegar can corrode the metal plates.

Personally I don’t like using the Himalayan Pink Salt stones because you can’t get any water on them since it causes them to dissolve. So most spas clean them with vinegar and a cloth, but the stones are porous so I don’t like using the same ones for multiple clients. Also the moisture in the massage oil or gel can cause the stones to dissolve a little bit, creating rough spots.

Other supplies that MTs use for hot stones are the crockpots with or without water inside, or the heating bags or cases.

>Surface/folding tray table with cotton hand towel: The towel prevents the warmer from sliding around while in use, and provides a place to set stones if they need to cool down.

>Heat transfers: The MT should usually do a couple heat transfers with the massage oil, transferring the heat from the stone to their hand then the client’s skin, before directly putting the stone on the skin.

>Check in with the client regarding the first stone’s temperature and adjust accordingly.

>Start with more rapid shallow strokes with the hot stone on the client’s skin to help the temperature difference between the stone and skin lessen.

>Then you can use the stone(s) with a slower pace and more pressure when they are at the ideal heat.

>Once the stone is no longer hot and just lukewarm, pop it back into the clamshell hot stone warmer to reheat. They reheat faster when they have oil/lotion/cream/gel on them so keep that in mind.

>After the session is complete, clean the hot stones with a dedicated scrub brush or sponge with hot water and dish soap (I like using Dawn for it). Clean the hot stone warmer after it has cooled down with a cloth, hot water, and a small amount of dish soap.