lay out of hot stone..

[Harmony ~beat it~ trolls]

okay. I know there is a lot of hot stone threads...but I kinda wanted to know how many people do the foundation lay-out...like placing stones on each side of the spine while laying supine , and some on the thighs , and under the traps..etc...I took two hot-stone classes, the first one did the whole lay out..it was Thstone...and then I went to a work-shop in october and the instructor did not do that....so, I guess what I'm asking do you all do the lay out foundation..or just do the massage using the hot-stones??

And I would also love to know if you have received a hot-stone , did you like the stones beside the spine while laying supine or did you not?

I have always done the lay-out by placing stones in various places and along the spine while supine and prone...just curious about your experiences..thanks!

 

[lekneppyday]

aw come on...no one??? :

 

[Andielep]

aw come on...no one??? :

Patience...patience....some of us were at work tonight.

I was trained to do the foundation layouts. I've had hot stone massages where they didn't and quite frankly I felt cheated.

When supine, I have stones laying under the client along the spine, stones under the hands, traps and neck, a "heart" stone, a stone (small) on the xyphoid process, a belly stone w/ 2 "ovary" stones, a large "anchor" stone on the thigh, a stone under the knee, 3 stones on the face and of course toe stones.

When prone, I again place stones along the spine, glut stones,stones in the hands, on the feet and 2 heavy ones against the ishial tuberosity.

The foundation stones are very important. They provide an encompassing heat and a significant grounding effect. The provide heat to warm the tissue. They also keep contact with the body so it doesn't feel as disruptive to the massage when you break contact to get more stones.

Angie

 

[The Lollypops]

I originally learned hot stone massage through Kay Peterson, who offers CE courses in the midwest. Her course is called Gaia's Touch Hot Stone massage. (The great thing is that she includes a set of stones in the price of the course.) We started with the client prone and therefore did not do the "lay out foundation" that you spoke of. I really enjoyed the class and would highly recommend it.
On the other hand, I am currently employed at a spa, and they of course want me to do the hot stone massage the way they do it. This means starting supine with a stone layout and placement stones.
As if learning to work with 2 new sets of stones wasn't challenging enough. :roll:

 

[Goodnatured]

I was trained in LaStone, and it does include starting supine with the spinal layout. I would definately include this, as almost every client, as I'm assisting them in laying back on the table, say "AAaaaahhhhh, that feels good!" first timers are so fun, cuz they aren't expecting for it to feel that good to lay on some rocks
I then put stones on the chakras (a large one on the belly, it feels like you're losing 20 pounds when I take them off) this is also something people really like. I think the combination of the spinal layout and the chakra stones creates a feeling of being "held" by the earth, very grounding.

 

[Girl]

I dont do the stone layout like that. I am always afraid the stones wont line up right and be right on the spine.

 

[bhai_saddam]

Thank you everyone. Yes, I do the lay out on the spine too and my clients enjoy that...feels like "hands are tending to every area of the body..I aline the spine..and I just tell my clients, if the rocks don't seem aligned along the spine let me know and so far noone has complained. I also put stones on the hands, traps, under the knees and the anchor stones on the thighs..and then prone, the back, hands , feet, and glutes and oh i forgot while supine, over the heart and a nice belly stone.. :

 

[Bryce]

I learned a routine where, beginning supine, placement stones are placed (yeah, redundant) underneath the client on either side of the spine, not right against it. I also use a belly stone and a stone or two on the sternum. Like stonegirl said, it's fun when they come off: talk about a "weight off your chest!" I point out that feeling of freedom if they don't (they usually do) and encourage breathes that really expand the lungs.
Mmm, I want a hot stone massage myself now!

 

[Paperlilly]

Two of the big proponents of spinal layouts, starting face up, are LaStone and Sacred Stone - both call their work Therapy rather than Massage. It does do so much more than a massage.

A lot of hot stone massage is just hot stone massage, no placement stones. People do what they were trained to do and/or what they've seen done by other practitioners of a video or something. Just massage with hot stones can be very effective on tight muscles and save the therapists hands. Quite a bit of hot stone massage is stone therapy, but the practitioner realised most people didn't know what stone therapy was and a lot of people knew what hot stone massage was so they call what they do hot stone massage.

Neither way is right or wrong, though it makes it a bit difficult for the client to know what kind of treatment they are going to get.

If someone books in with me for a stone treatment they get the full stone therapy experience, stones under and on the body, and massaged with more stones. If I know I've got a client with a really tight back/legs, I'll heat up about 10 stones and use that to massage their back/legs without doing a whole layout.

 

[adrilorepena]

I dont do the stone layout like that. I am always afraid the stones wont line up right and be right on the spine.

The way I was taught was to have the client sit up and then do a visual alignment to place the stones on the table so that they go up either side of the spine leaving plenty of area between them so that the spine isn't on the stone. It's quite easy really and you can always make sure that the client knows to let you know if the stones are uncomfortable in any way.

Neither way is right or wrong, though it makes it a bit difficult for the client to know what kind of treatment they are going to get.

I agree that there is not one way of doing things. We should all feel free to do our massage as we please. I know now to always ask before I book a hot stone massage if they do the layout stones or not, then I choose to book with the therapists who do.

Angie

 

[MELINDA B]

Been doing this for going on 3 years now. I didnt have any training with hot stones in school, I took a video course for it! The video course did teach the back lay out while supine, I just never did very many hot stone massages.

I use hot stones in almost all my sessions, just a few... 5 or 6. And, up until about 3 months ago, full stone massages were few and far between. Then, I picked up a client who wants one every month, and is thinking about going to every two weeks.

Personally, I have never experienced a hot stone massage myself. I think I should get one and see how it feels for myself.

 

[Anthony]

Personally, I have never experienced a hot stone massage myself. I think I should get one and see how it feels for myself.

You have got to go and experience one for yourself!! They are truely blissful.

t023

Angie

 

[HarryWells]

I would also suggest trying several different therapists - everyone's style is so different. And honestly, I have had hot stone massages that I was not impressed with, and other than them putting stones between my toes, it had nothing in common with my hot stone massages. so just like regular massage, everyone will have their own little twist, as well as different training backgrounds. If I thought my hot stone massage felt anything like that 1 I had that I wasn't impressed with, I would not continue to do them, it was that mediocre. But I'd had lots of others that were out of this world.
I find for myself I learn just as much receiving the work as I do from training videos, classes, etc.

 

[Uncle Jez]

I find for myself I learn just as much receiving the work as I do from training videos, classes, etc.

I totally agree with you. It happens from all types of massage that I recieve.

 

[leo lion]

stonegirl, could you plesase share what made some of the hot stone therapy's youve had "out of this world" something that some of us will keep in mind while giving our own hot stone massages?

 

[? ? ? M1CH3LL3 ? ? ? ?]

great question.
these are things I love in a hot stone massage:

Spinal layout with the stones hot enough and the table sheet in between my skin and the stones.
Chakra stones- heavy ones.
SMOOTH stones - some of the mediocre stone massages I've had, the stones felt rougher than ones I could pick out of my driveway. I like them to be tumbled smooth.
the massage - I like for the therapist to REALLY massage with them, not just run them over my skin.
I like them to use flat stones' edges to go around scapula, "scraping" from spine to scapula. also on either side of the spine, pulling the muscles away from the spine. yum. Basically, use the stones to do some deeper work, the muscles just let you in with that nice heat of the stones, so why not take advaneforum.xxxe of it?

hm... that's all I can think of right now. I haven't had a good one in a long time

what are some things others here like in a hot stone massage?

 

[BDS]

Chakra stones?? Could you elaborate??

 

[Captain Failboat]

larges stones placed on the belly & chest (I think I use 6 or 7 total) and a small one on the third eye on the forehead. when I take them off, I start from the forehead down, and slowly with their breath. the last one is nice and heavy and feels like the weight of the world being lifted off from the client. something so simple, yet feels profound.

 

[SLF]

I've never received one yet...waaaah think I'm going too..thank you stonegirl for sharing your experiences with hot stone..sounds lovely

 

[John S.]

I too use the stone layouts with my hot stone massage. I don't necessarily call them massage as much as I call them Hot Stone Treatments. Because each client will come off the table with a new found experience. With the heat from the stones, the placements and the massage techniques the clients feel a deep profound experience. I also incorporate the chakra stones as well. Each chakra stone is placed during the supine position on the correct chakra with the corresponding stone. This helps to open the chakra while you are working. An open energy pathway deepens the relaxation of the client and heightens their experience.