You don't have to miss out. You can try one of the world's great pleasures, even though maybe you think you can't afford it just now, or there's not a therapist handy.
Hot stone massage is possible at home, or anywhere you choose. It's not really a massage; more a hot stone treatment, but it's still an extraordinarily relaxing and beautiful experience.
The only important requirement is the stones; you can buy some, or even better, you can have a look next time you're at the beach, and you'll easily be able to collect enough for your purposes.
The stones want to be smooth, flat, and not too thick. The size of the stones will depend on your body size; if you're tiny, then you'll need smaller stones than someone who is large. Lots of those used by professionals come from Hawaii or other exotic places, but many therapists like to collect their own, gradually collecting them over months of beach visits.
Set The Scene
Preparation is the key to success here, because you won't want to interrupt the flow once you start to relax. If you've a willing helper so much the better, but if not, you can still manage.
- For best results, you'll want to lie down, but you could do a mini treatment sitting in a chair.
- Warm draft-free room with do not disturb sign on the door
- Vaporizer with relaxing essential oils such as sandalwood and frankincense
- Soft gentle music playing in the background
- Blanket or large towel flat on the floor or bed that you're going to lie on. Or you could wear a toweling robe instead
- Extra towel to cover you, plus a blanket or quilt to keep you warm, placed within reach along the length of the bed, so you can pull it over you without having to change position
- Chosen stones
- Bucket of hot tap water, pair of tongs, a folded towel next to the bucket to dry them
How Many Stones Do I Need?
The stones are NEVER put directly onto the skin; always use a towel between them and the skin, to protect against burns. Should the stones ever feel too hot, simply take them away from your body. The idea is to gently heat as much of the body as possible with the warmed stones, so you can use as many as you like.
These are the simplest positions for the stones when you are doing them yourself:
- Largest flat triangular stone to go under the low back
- 3 pairs medium matched flat stones to go under upper back, on each side of vertebrae
- 1 pair large flat stones for under each thigh
- 1 pair large stones for the front of each thigh
- 1 large stone for the belly
- 3 medium flat stones for the centre front of body, from just below the neck to the abdomen
How To Do The Hot Stone Treatment
- Set everything up, get an idea of where your body will be on the bed so you know where to place the back stones.
- Fill the bucket with hot tap water, and, protecting your hand, put the stones into the water. Leave them in the water for at least 20 minutes to heat through.
- Open up the folded towel, take the stones out of the water, using tongs if necessary. Drop them onto one end of the towel and quickly pat dry. Place very close to the bed
- Place the 3 matched pairs of back stones onto the bed under the towel. Lie down and make sure they're comfortable.
- Cover your front with a towel.
- Find the large flat triangular stone and tuck it under the towel under your low back, just above the buttocks.
- Tuck the matched pair under the thighs.
- Place a large stone on the front of each thigh, one on your belly, and the rest lined up along your chest.
- Pull the blanket over you, rest your hands on the belly stone, close your eyes and let the relaxation take over.
- Enjoy the deep relaxation that comes from the carefully placed stones. They'll stay warm for quite a long time, so stay as long as you can.
But there's nothing like the real thing so find a hot stone massage therapist in your are and book a treatment today.
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