How to Give a Hot Stone Massage

Everyone has the natural talent to give a massage. How many times have you rubbed your own wrist after a long day at the keyboard? This is called self-treating and it is instinctive. Hot stone massage has become a popular, not to mention expensive, spa treatment over the past five years. But did you know that although the spa charges more for a stone massage than a Swedish massage, a stone massage is actually the easier of the two to give? If you follow a few safety guidelines, you and a partner can trade relaxing massages at home.

The first thing you have to do is find an affordable set of massage stones. Approximately fifty stones is an adequate amount with which to start. A quick web search produces results which vary from $40 to $200. You can find a $40 set on massageking.com or you can bid for a similar set on eBay and pay about $20 for the stones.

As with anything massage related, avoid paying an exorbitant price to someone just because he or she claims to be a guru and is hawking supplies that have supposed magical powers. I paid $15 on clearance for an entire Conair stone massage kit including the stones and the warmer at Walmart; although my internet search at the time of this writing suggests the item is discontinued I found the same package available for online auction.

If you can find a kit including the stones and the warmer for a price you are willing to pay, that is wonderful. But here's a secret from the pros: you can use a Crock Pot or any electric roasting pan. Just place the stones in the bottom of the pan, pour just enough water into the pan to cover the stones and turn it on to the lowest setting. Start heating the stones 15 or 20 minutes before you give the massage.