Making your own hot stones.

[xo NavyGirl]

I'm interested in making my own set of hot stones. I've already gone down to the creek & found a bunch of stones to start experimenting with.

I'm checking stones for smoothness, shape & size etc. but also for how long the rock will hold heat when boiled (trying to clean them). I find that the stones that are very pourous, don't hold heat very long.

Any other ideas on how to sanitize them completely & safely? Any other suggestions to help? This is fun!

thanks!

 

[CARNAGE *Anti-YOU]

You need to use igneous rock due to its ability to hold heat. Volcanic rock and plutonic rock are the two caeforum.xxxories of igneous rock. The best rock for hot stone massage is basalt rock, which is volcanic, which has a hardness of 7 with the diamond having a hardness of ten. Basalt is prefered for hot stone due to the fact that it has a high iron content which in turns allows it to hold heat longer.

You will want your stones as smooth as possible, and as uniformed in shape as possible. Don't know much about sanitizing stones, but after massage they need to be cleaned with soap and water. Soaking them over night in sea salt water can restore the energies for them too. Hope this helps.

 

[hmm.]

I got my set of stones and heater for less than $70. The stones I got at http://www.rubrocks.com (they were auctioned on ebay) and my stone heater is actually a GE 18 qt slow cooker from walmart.

At work we clean the stones with hot water and antibacterial soap then we rinse them in cool water. Dry them, place them back into the heater (on top of a white hand towel, makes it easier to see what stone we're picking up and it's quieter). Then we sprinkle epsom salt over all the stones.

If we have stones massages back to back we put fresh epsom salt in the water if we don't have time to change out the water. Also, we keep our chakra stones and smaller basalt stones in a little green fish net. That way we always know where they are and they're always together.

Steph!

 

[smilenow]

hot stones

I just got back from a great class, here is the website if you would like to take a look at it. http://www.gaiastouch.com the instructor is Kay Peterson. I learned a lot from her. Her class is very informative and rather inexpensive, and you can get CE for it. I registered early so i got the class for $215 and it includes 50 stones!!! I recomend that you at least take a look. No matter if you are a new therapist or a seasoned therapist, it is a great learning experience! Our class ranged from being a MT for a few months to 20+ years.

Hope this helps!

She also uses epsom salts it the water and some cleaner, I bought it but can't remember the name it is at my office.

Jenny McColleyLMT

 

[Captain Nerezza]

Well, I was doing it more as a fun project & was wondering if it was possible. I work at a spa & will have my professional rocks provided for me as well as training.

You're right SalemRose, there are sets on that site for really great prices.

I may just put a set on my Xmas list to use on others & complete a set for fun (I've always been a rock collector- it's kind of a hobby).

 

[Lucas]

I think it is the collecting that would be half the fun! I don't think we have too many rivers around here that I could collect those kind of rocks from. I could just see me at the home improvement stores sifting through the stones! LOL

I found some really nice palm sized "tumbled" stones in different minerals, agate, ocean jasper, rose quartz, etc. from one of my wholesalers. My favorite is my amazonite.

I'm working on incorporating them into massage sessions. I'm not sure as hot rocks or cold stones. Some could take the heating and cooling process and not be traumatized, but some won't.

Confession... for as much as I'm into rocks, I don't currently offer this type of stone massage! At some point, I need to take a hot rock massage class. We had a teaser in school, but not enough to make me comfortable offering it.

Ooops... I think someone turned on my "babble button!" t042

 

[Larin]

Stone Massage With Crystals

I read an article in Massage magazine ages ago (my boss still has the issue, I'll look it up) about crystal massage. So very interested, anyone familiar with this?

Steph!

P.S. Talenyn, I found a goddess shaped stone on your site and it's made it's way to the top of my yule list! I'm keeping my fingers crossed that my hubby gets it for me! :mrgreen:

 

[Pompal 09.]

I have heard about crystal massage but not really familiar with it. I would really like to learn more about it also.

Jennifer McColleyLMT

 

[Devin]

sanitary stones

i just started using stones in my practice after a great class last month. i didn't feel like the salt was enough in terms of cleaning them between back to back clients, so i've been adding a bit of tea tree oil to the water. (trader joe's has a 1 oz. bottle for $7) any thoughts on this?

 

[guachimansito]

sanitary stones

i didn't feel like the salt was enough in terms of cleaning them between back to back clients, so i've been adding a bit of tea tree oil to the water. (trader joe's has a 1 oz. bottle for $7) any thoughts on this?

Is there any smell with the Tea Tree Oil?

Steph!

 

[ERIN R]

We do 1 of 3 things to cleanse the stones between clients (if back to back), it's the therapists choice.

1) Non-chlorine shock treatment, I don't remember the name. I can get it if you want it.

2) Epsom salts AND hydrogen peroxide in the water together.

Or

3) rubbing alcohol, which is NOT my favorite choice.

 

[xcutecorexx]

1) Non-chlorine shock treatment, I don't remember the name. I can get it if you want it. 3) rubbing alcohol, which is NOT my favorite choice.

If you think of the name please let me know and why don't you like using rubbing alcohol?

Steph!

 

[Kelly- RIP MJ]

The non-chlorine powder is called Renew. I found it at this site- http://www.soncov.com/html/spa_shock_treatments_non-chlor.cfm


I don't prefer the rubbing alcohol becuase it stinks.

 

[Amanda & Jess S]

The non-chlorine powder is called Renew. I found it at this site- http://www.soncov.com/html/spa_shock_treatments_non-chlor.cfm

I don't prefer the rubbing alcohol becuase it stinks.

Thanks for the link and uh.................good to know! Thanks!

Steph!

 

[-_-]

I also highly recommend Rub Rocks. I bought my stones from them for $100 and I got so many that I actually created 3 different stone sets. I have crock pots of varying size that I put them in.

For regular massage sessions I have a small "crockette" that I keep filled with warm stones that fit nicely in the palm. I love to finish a client's back with warm stones. It gives the massage session that extra touch and the clients really appreciate it.

 

[Jinstar]

Cleaning stones

The class I took (from Anne Williams at Oregon School of Massage) recommended changing the water between sessions (unless you have enough stones to never return used ones to the pot), and spraying the stones and pot with alcohol if you don't have time to clean them (with antibacterial soap - stones used on the feet are kept seperate and always washed between clients).

She also said that a dishwasher is an excellent sanitizer, and if you are concerned about the energetic effect of the machine, you can scrub them with baking soda and lemon juice.

I'm not fond of the alcohol smell either. I've been researching the possibility of some kind of tea tree oil based cleanser to spray on for quick cleaning. It seems like it would be even better than alcohol b/c of the anti-fungal properties. It does smell, too, but I like the smell better. I might add lavender, lemon, or other antiseptic oils to temper the tea tree scent.

I also thought maybe the Citrus II Germicidal would be appropriate. I'm waiting to hear from a local woman who is working to convert our hospital cleaning protocols to more eco-friendly options that meet sanitation standards.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Seen this tread and wanted to share my solution to expensive stones. There is a landscape place here in town that sells what they call Japanese river stones. I went down there and sifted through them. The ones I have look just like the ones they charge a fortune for online. Not all are black. Some are reddish and some are green. Which, by the way, the green ones hold the heat WAY longer than the black ones do. If I'm not careful with my temp, I have to set the stones (all colors) aside to cool which sometimes takes over 5 minutes to do so. So I know they hold the heat every bit as well as the lava. Which they may be for all I know. They are the perfect sizes. Anywhere from palm size to ones small enough and thin enough to put between toes or on the face. Off to the side they had the larger ones from which I got 2 awesome sacrum stones and ones that are nice size for laying out on the back and the abs. Even got 2 that are egg shaped for the client to hold in their hands and works wonderfully for doing the neck. They only charge .38 cents per pound. I ended up getting so many stones that they don't all fit into my 18 qt. roaster. Cost me no more than $20-22.00 by the time I was done. So for those who are wanting to do stone massage but either don't want to or can't afford to buy the ones online, I'd suggest calling around to various landscapers and seeing what they have available. No one in the school I graduated from ever buys online anymore. One lady even started making up hot stone kits and selling them as a side line at a pretty decent profit.

Anyways, just wanted to post this as an idea for some.