9 Key Questions for Finding a Hot Stones Massage Therapist

Find out how to choose the best massage therapist for a great and relaxing massage with stones!

What do you as a customer want? Research shows that the formula is simpler than we might expect: low prices and good customer service. Price wars often cause a back-and-forth volleying between companies, about who can claim the lowest prices in town. So customer service typically becomes the key. We enjoy a tasty restaurant meal less, if we must wait an hour for it to be served. We lose trust in Laundromats that refuse to compensate us after ruining our favorite clothes, with huge bleach spots. And learning that the warranties for our electronics or appliances will not be honored, due to some fine print that requires a magnifying glass to read—can be devastating. Like other goods and services, how can we find the best prices and services for massages with hot stones?

Dollars and sense
As customers, we are typically satisfied when we feel that there is value in our purchases. From hamburgers to houses, if we feel that we got a "square deal," then the price is not an issue, per say. That said, we work hard to earn a living. Even if a good or service is a good deal, we may not have the cabbage, lettuce, cheese or dough (translation: money) to buy it.

How much should a massage with hot stones cost? It depends. Factors such as the location, demand, type of therapeutic massages offered, and a therapist’s experience, can influence the cost. For example, prices tend to be lower in rural areas than in metropolitan ones. Also, day spas often offer more services (i.e. manicures, pedicures, facials, etc.), so their rates tend to be higher. You can also look for special deals for therapeutic massages. For example, some spas offer discounts for first-time customers, or for a package of massage sessions.

If you are satisfied with the massage, pay a little extra amount, or give the massage therapist a tip. I am a firm believer that competition breeds excellence, so I tip big if a therapeutic massage was relaxing.

Customer service is king
That brings us to the second important aspect of a massage with hot stones: customer service. The medical profession has recently been rediscovering and promoting an ancient form of stress-reduction: heat therapy. Massages such as those with hot rocks, have proven to reduce muscle tension, boost blood circulation, reduce heart rates, and improve one’s overall moods.

Asking the right questions
When searching for an excellent therapist for a therapeutic massage, learn the answers to these questions:

• Which certifications do you have?
• How much have you been trained?
• How long have you been giving therapeutic massages?
• What types of massages do you specialize in?
• Do you have personal references?
• What types of products do you use, and can I buy them?
• How long is the massage session?
• Can I make appointments?
• Do you have discounts for referrals?

A "good" massage
You should consider several issues after receiving a therapeutic massage with a hot stone kit. For example, do you feel better? Also, were you satisfied with the therapist’s personal techniques? Each therapist has his or her own "touch." Next, does your personality fit relatively well with the therapist? For instance, if you are a reserved person, you may feel uncomfortable with a therapist who is more talkative. Finally, did the therapist create a sense of trust? As with any other relationship, trust between the massage therapist and patient is vital.

"The customer is always right." We have heard that saying time and time again, but it still holds true. When searching for a therapist for a therapeutic hot stone massage, customer service and competitive prices are the keys to customer satisfaction. You work hard for the money, so you deserve to be treated rightly.

10 Simple Steps to Become a Hot Stones Massage Therapist

Discover the easiest of becoming a massage with stones therapist and why not start your own business?

Are you looking for your first career, or searching for a new career? One of my favorite films about jobs is "Office Space." The movie is about a protagonist named Peter, who gets promoted after trying to get fired. In the end, he realizes that job satisfaction is much more important than any other aspect of an occupation. None of us lies on our deathbed wishing that we had worked another day in our lives. But is it impossible to find a dream job?

Life is short
Unless we inherit millions of dollars or hit the jackpot in the Powerball lottery, most of us work for roughly forty years of our lives. Life is short, so we might as well enjoy our jobs. If that happens, we will be better motivated, more productive, and less stressed-out.

Health is wealth
According to recent research, healthcare will remain one of the most marketable fields in the near future. Baby Boomers make up over a quarter of the U.S. population alone. Within the next decade, their mass retirements will cause the demand for healthcare service providers to skyrocket.

If you are interested in joining the healthcare industry, have you considered becoming a therapeutic massage therapist? Through various types of massages, such as massages with hot stones, you can help to make the world a healthier and more relaxed place. Here are some considerations you should make, before launching your career as a massage therapist:

1. Questions, questions. Are you a caring person? Do you like working with others? Can you "connect" with people? Can you work in an extremely quiet environment? Can you work with minimum supervision? If you answered "yes" to these questions, then massage therapy might be the perfect job for you!

2. Meeting the requirements. Keep in mind that various towns, cities, and states have unique professional requirements for massage therapists.

3. A whole new world. Determine what types of massages you want to specialize in. Do you want to focus on hot stones massages or Swedish massages? Does practicing medical, pregnancy, or animal massages (Yes, even Fluffy and Fido get sore muscles) interest you in particular?

4. School of massage. After locating several massage training schools and programs through the phone book and Internet, find one that meets your persona and needs.

5. Guinea pig massages. Friends, family members, and local organizations are excellent sources to get vital experience as a massage therapist.

6. Be your own boss. Having your own business means more control and more responsibilities, so determine if it is right for you.

7. Landing a job. Find massage therapist jobs through your massage training school or program, newspapers, and the Internet. Also, health clubs, spas, medical clinics and companies need massage therapists.

8. Obtain and retain clients. Remember that the best advertising is through professional and personal referrals. Via outstanding customer service, you can retain your clients.

9. Be (more) professional. Reading magazines and books, taking classes, and receiving massages with hot stones yourself, will help to improve your professional career as a massage therapist.

10. Care for yourself before caring for others. Here are some tips to keep you fit:

• Eat at least three healthy meals per day.
• Get at least half an hour of exercise daily.
• For each hour you are awake, get a half hour of sleep.
• Use yoga or tai chi to maintain balance in your life.

Starting or changing careers can seem like a daunting task. But with some careful research and planning, it can become a piece of cake. Working as a therapist for massage stone massages can become one of the most rewarding experiences in life. It will not rub you the wrong way!

7 Top Methods to Create Soft Lighting for Hot Stones Massages

Find out the importance of the lighting during a massage with stones and get the best benefits from your massage!

Are you a "Star Wars" fan? While the Star Wars film saga includes some of the most entertaining films ever made, we must remember that it is still science fiction. For example, consider the "lightsabers" used for hand-to-hand combat in each of the films. The battles with these weapons include some of the most thrilling scenes of the movies. However, lightsabers in real life would actually pass through each other, without creating the sound of crack! Also, real lightsabers would continue until they meet an obstacle--which would be the ship’s hull!

Lighting up our lives
In the "real world," lights also play a significant role in our day-to-day lives. Sunlight nourishes the plants that produce our tasty vegetables. Laser beams are used for a variety of useful purposes, such as in surgery that requires precision cutting. And lighting at nighttime allows us to read, write, and avoid tripping over our children’s toys.

In addition to having an influence on our activities, lighting can also have a drastic effect on our emotions. A candlelight dinner creates a romantic environment for a pleasant meal and chat. Strobe lights at a dance club boost our energy levels as we do the latest dance craze. And flickering lights in a room grabs our attention, alerting us to an upcoming announcement.

Sad with SAD
In fact, even a lack of light can influence our emotions. Seasonal Affective Disorder, or SAD, is a type of depression. A lack of sunlight in some regions of the world, from the late autumn until early springtime, causes SAD. One of the treatments for this disorder is a "light box." The patient usually lies down inside the light box, which surrounds him or her with light, for up to several hours.

Lighting, science, and the Yin and Yang
Along with other elements such as soothing music, soft lighting helps to create a relaxing environment for those lying down during a hot stones massage. Scientifically speaking, soft light creates less glare on the eyes than harsher florescent lighting does. However, soft light is also linked to the holistic approach of Feng Shui, the ancient Chinese art of design. The focus on Feng Shui is to create the proper feel and balance between people and their surroundings.

Is Feng Shui still relative today? In fact, many public healthcare facilities contain florescent lights that work by blinking on and off, for a maximum of 60 times each second. In this case, the light seems quicker than the eye—but it is not really! The eye subconsciously notices these blinks, which can make it exhausted. Of course, this is counter to the therapist’s goal of creating relaxation. To establish more balance in the room, use windows to draw in sunlight, or lamps with incandescent light bulbs.

Hard and soft light
Along with flickering lighting, florescent lighting in general, as well as high wattage bulbs and direct light, also create unwanted "hard lighting" indoors. Such lighting is more ideal where focusing is required, rather than in a massage cubicle.

While soft lighting is ideal for massages with hot stones, what exactly is soft lighting? "Soft" or "ambient" lighting originates from an indirect light source that uses reflection to create mild and relaxing illumination. Sources of ambient lighting include:

• Pink lighting
• Lamp shades
• Dimmed lighting
• Indirect light (i.e. sconces – lighting decorations attached to a wall)
• Yellow lighting
• Low wattage bulbs
• Floor uplights or torchieres

When creating an atmosphere for a hot stones massage, ambiance is equally as important as the massage techniques used. This will ensure that the patient’s body and mind are completely relaxed after the massage session. Using soft lighting rather than hard lighting will improve the overall experience of our patients. Light up their lives (softly)!

6 Super Benefits of Massages and Massage Stones

Do you know the importance of a massage in your life? Find out the best benefits of a massage with stones!

Do you have muscle spasms? Have you recently experienced a muscle-related injury? Or are you simply dog-tired? Regardless of why you have one, a massage can help to treat what ails your muscles. We know that massages make us feel like new again. On several occasions a massage has eliminated excruciating muscles spasms in my neck and back, as well as migraines. Our bodies tell us that the massage we just had has done wonders for our bodies. But exactly what impact do massages and massage stones have on our aching bodies? The answer to this question can give us a better understanding for, and appreciation of, the healing benefits of massage:

1. From stone to cascade. Massages can have an enormous, cascading influence on the human body, resulting in significant changes in both our physiological and chemical make-up. In fact, those suffering from health issues including arthritis, high-blood pressure, burns, and asthma, have experienced significant health improvements, due to massages.

2. Healing your body and brain. A relaxing massage can benefit a cornucopia of physical and mental health conditions, including:

• anxiety
• back pain (lower)
• circulation problems
• depression
• exhaustion from strenuous workouts
• immune system (low)
• joint flexibility
• migraines
• muscle problems (i.e. tight, weak, cramps, spasms, overused)
• pregnancy (resulting in shorter and easier labor)
• skin (poor condition)
• swelling after surgeries
• tissue damage

3. Making good health a habit. Regular massages can help to maintain a healthier mind and body. Think of it as an investment. If your car needs a tune-up, you would probably dedicate the time and funds needed to get it running more efficiently. Likewise, regular massages can help to ensure that you body and mind remain in good health, and better protected from fatigue and diseases. So it is a wise to set aside a regular time to get one or two massages each month. It is one of the best investments in yourself.

4. Mind over mayhem. Massages with massage stones affect not only our bodies, but our minds as well. Recipients of massage often experience an ability to think more clearly and to focus better. It may at first seem ironic that an activity that improves our physical state can influence our mental state as well. But the mind and body are closely linked. Simply consider how being stressed physically affects us mentally, and vice versa.

5. Stress buster. Aside from helping to cure what ails you, massages can even be used to prevent diseases. Health experts suspect that up to 9 out of 10 diseases are related to stress. That’s right—90%! Is a healing stones massage a panacea that will eliminate 100% of your stress all the time? No, but it can certainly help to control stress levels in our lighting-fast paced world. Less stress can produce positive results in our general health, including reduced anxiety, more energy, better concentration, and longer sleeping sessions. That is a good thing!

6. The magic touch. The benefits of massage lie in the sense of touch that it produces. How can a simple technique influence mental and physical ailments, and reduce stress? This happens in a similar way that hugs can benefit our physical and mental wellbeing. Experts continue to discover the benefits that touch, such as through a massage, can have on humans.

Massages and massage stones provide more than a relaxing experience. They can treat stress, improve physical and mental ailments, and even safeguard your body better, against various diseases. For whatever reasons you decide to get a massage with a hot massage stone, the benefits will cascade from the top of your head, to the tip of your toes.

6 Amazing Tips for Cleaning and Maintaining Massage Stones

Find out some useful tips to keep your massage stones in the best conditions to have a relaxing massage with stones.

Congratulations! You just received your new kit of premiere massage stones. They are magnificent: shiny, smooth, and symmetrical. You are ready to give your patient (a customer or that someone special) a relaxing massage, using the stones. But you are uncertain about which procedure best heats the stones. Should you let them sunbathe outside? Should you put them in a big bucket of hot water? Should you nuke them in the microwave? As with any other tool, a massage stone must be used properly, in order for its effectiveness to be maximized. Hot rocks for massaging are no exception. It is vital to follow the correct procedures when heating your massage stone collection:

1. Stone soup. Some people use appliances such as crock-pots, to heat their stones for massages. If you use this technique before you get your massage stone heater, be certain to follow some important steps. The temperature should be set to medium, and the stones should be arranged evenly around the container’s basin. This will ensure that the stones are heated evenly and gradually. However, it is advisable that you secure a proper heater, as they are specially designed to heat massage rocks, rather than meat and potatoes

2. Breaking in the stones. Before the first time you use your stones for massage, rinse them in warm water, and then oil them using massage oil. Next, let the stones sit for a while, so they absorb the oil. Then the stones are ready to be heated, and used for a relaxing, invigorating massage.

3. Good as new. Between massages, it is important to clean your massage stones. For roughly 5-10 minutes, boil the stones in a deep pan that has been filled with water. Does the type of water matter? River or sea water should be your first option. However, boiled tap water with some sea salt added can work well as an alternative. After cleaning the stones, let them cool naturally at room temperature.

Special products on the market, such as disinfectant, will help to make your stones clean as a whistle, before you place the first one on your patient’s back. Products such as alcohol and tree oil can be used. However, the stones could absorb these substances, including their scents. In addition, some people may even have an allergic reaction to such liquids.

4. Too hot to handle? How do you know when a massage stone is too hot? As a general rule, if you can handle them without any difficulty, then the stones are not too hot. While heating and using the stones, check them periodically to verify that they are not too hot.

5. Gentlemen, start your heater! Various types of massage stone heaters are available. Typically, they resemble shallow pans that hold water that has been heated. Thus, the rocks are able to achieve a temperature that is even. Whichever heater you choose, it is of the utmost importance that it does not overheat the stones, as they can seem to take forever to cool off. Also, for any heater that you use, ensure that the heating fixture emits a temperature that is stable and adjustable.

6. Rock on! (but not too soon). After cleaning your stones for massage, wait a while before you reuse them. The stones will be too hot after the cleaning process. You should let them first air dry indoors or outdoors.

After you get your massage stones, spend some time learning how to clean, maintain, and heat them. Though the stones are perfect for massages, follow some basic steps to ensure that they will continue to serve their purpose well. Then your stones will be ready for the main event!

5 Simple Steps to Create Your Own Hot Stone Kit for Massages

Find out some useful tips to have your own hot stone kit for a relaxing massage with stones.

Are you a do-it-yourself-er? Do you use home remedies to battle insects in your house or treat the common cold? Would you rather try to fix your car or appliance, instead of hiring someone else to do it? We choose to sometimes do tasks ourselves, for a variety of reasons. It could be a hobby. Perhaps we need to budget our resources more carefully. And other times, we are simply curious about how something works, or want to prove to our spouse that we are useful. The range of do-it-yourself (DIY) tasks we can do at home is virtually endless. Should hot stones for massages be included on the list?

The school of life
Today, do-it-yourself-ers perform tasks that range from plumbing to painting, and from audio systems to aircrafts. But where did this trend originate from? Since the 1960s, the DIY movement has evolved significantly. Towards the end of the 1960s, society began to realize that many important "life skills" were not being learned in schools. In other words, schools were teaching abstract concepts, but few applications existed in the "real world."

Bookmarks then and now
The first do-it-yourself projects were basic, focusing on the restoration of older homes. However, as time passed, informational "tools" such as journals, books, and classes; and concrete "tools" such as garden tools, carpenter’s tools, and mason’s tools, became the means for completing do-it-yourself projects. As the decades passed, magazines, television, and the Internet were added to the means of DIY instruction. In particular, DIY enthusiasts began to focus on personally improving their homes.

From the river to the heater
Today, as a do-it-yourself-er, you can create or fix nearly anything in your home, including hot stones for massages, with the right materials and tools. Well, you cannot make new stones, but you can prepare stones for the function of massage stones. Here is how:

1. Rock River. Go to a rock quarry, to collect river rocks. Some rock quarries and landscape companies actually sell river rocks to the public.

2. Size matters. All of the rocks that you select should be flat and relatively smooth in texture. You will need to select three sizes of rocks: small, medium and large. Choose eight small rocks whose sizes range from approximately the size of a quarter, to roughly the size of an egg. Next, you will need seven pairs of medium-sized rocks that are easy for you to grip in your hand. Finally, choose two huge oval stones. They should be roughly eight inches in length and six inches in width.

3. The heat is on. You will also require a heater for the stones. You can purchase a massage stone heater on the market. To use a more do-it-yourself approach, a slow cooker with a capacity of at least 6-quarts (to heat all of the stones simultaneously); or a huge tabletop skillet that includes a lid and sides of at least three inches tall, would be ideal.

4. Accessorize, accessorize. Accessories that you will need for the hot stone massage include:
• Food thermometer
• Massage rocks
• Strainer
• Tea towels (2)
• Tongs

5. Get ready to rock and roll. Prepare the hot stone heater, slow cooker or skillet. Then clean the rocks and stack them in whichever warmer you use. Next, fill up the warmer until the rocks are completely under water. Lastly, position your hot stone kit and accessories on a solid surface, nearby an electrical outlet.

In our Information Age, do-it-yourself projects have become easier than ever. With the right equipment, some diligent studying and an innovative spirit, what we make or fix can include almost anything—including massage stones. However, keep in mind that these homemade stones can never replace the original and best smooth-as-silk hot stones!

5 Practical Tips for Starting and Varying Massages with Massage Stones

Find the perfect way to relax your day after all the stress with a perfect massage with stones.

After receiving a massage with massage stones, one important question remains: Do you feel better? If a massage is done properly, our bodies feel relaxed and rejuvenated. The tight muscles are gone. The spasms are gone. The every-time-I-move-I-wince-in-pain feelings are gone. You feel as through you have a new body! On the other hand, if the massage was sub par, the opposite is true. Your muscles feel no better than before, and in some cases, even feel worse. The question that needs an answer is: what went wrong?

When giving a massage with hot stones, technique is of the utmost importance. While switching steps or alternating one of them may seem like a minor action, it can have a drastic influence on the outcome of the massage. To maximize the benefit of the massage, certain procedures should be mastered before moving on to more complex techniques:

1. Getting ready to rock and roll. Preparation is key to giving a massage with a massage stone kit. Fill your massage stone heater with water so that the stones will be completely under water. The temperature should be set to exactly 125 degrees Fahrenheit. Also, the stones should always maintain this temperature prior to being applied to the patient. Never handle the stones with your bare hands. Also, if the instruction manual recommends that a higher temperature than 125 degrees Fahrenheit be used, wear insulated gloves and operate a spoon to remove the stones from the heater. Use a thermometer to always check the stones’ temperature. Regardless of what temperature the stones should be heated to, always let them cool, before applying them to the massaged person.

2. Applying yourself. When applying the stones, make sure to follow some important guidelines. Before placing the stone onto the person’s skin, make sure to clean away all extra water on the surface. Also, verify with the patient that the temperature of the stone is ideal. Then if any adjustments to the stones’ temperatures are needed, you can make them accordingly. Finally, never place hot stones directly onto the person’s bony regions, as it could result in unwanted bruising.

3. Caution! rolling stones. After the massage, have the patient be very careful when dismounting the massage table, as he or she has stones on the body. To avoid becoming bruised, it is vital to lift off of the table, instead of sliding off.

4. Stone-cold option. An alternative type of massage includes cold stones, rather than hot ones. This process will create a difference in both the cellular and physical level. It will increase circulation in local areas of the body, and will also increase the amount of oxygen that the body takes in.

5. Call me the Stone Master. As with any other new skill, you will need some time to improve your massaging with stones for massage. As the saying goes, you must crawl before you can walk. However, after you have mastered the basic methods using massage stones, try using more advanced techniques. Let the massage stone become an expansion of your hands. Also, use more complex procedures, such as the trigger-point and deep-tissue methods. Try reversing the steps in the manual for your hot massage rocks, and then try adding some new steps to your repertoire.

Besides mastering the basic steps of massaging with massage stones, it is important to use particular pre-massage techniques, and to add variety to your massaging routine. While the former will provide a better experience for the patient, the latter will help to hone your skills and keep you challenged. But the bottom line is that a massage stone can make a good massage - great!