Hot Stone Massage - What's Your Experience?
I was actually getting a cold stone facial, which was fantastic, but the esthetician also laid about seven hot stones on the table, covered them with a thin towel, then discovered she had run out of the cleanser she wanted to use, so she left the room. Here I was laying on these stones, and one of them in the upper part of my back felt really hot. I would have asked her to move it if she would have been in the room, but she wasn't ... so I shifted around a bit, and by the time she came back, the stone had cooled and it was fine.
I noticed, though, that when I showered later that day, that one stone left a bright red circle on my back that was there for 3 days! If that stone would have been a little hotter or my skin a little more sensitive, I might have scarred from this experience! Have anyone else had a similar experience? Do you use hot stones at all in any of your treatments? I'm just curious.
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Claire Barnes on
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A few years ago i had a hot stone massage and I was trying not to be a big baby and complain, but omg, those stones were hot!! I didn't like the massage and i wasn't sure if they were supposed to be that hot and i was just being a wimp. I also didn't find it relaxing as every time she tried with her metal tongs to get the stones out of the large hot stone crock pot, she scratched and scraped causing the whole experience to be hot and noisy.... don't think i will attempt one of those again and if i do...i will not be a wimp and shout out instead! :)
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Permalink Reply by ASCP on
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Oh no! You know, I've had some hot stone massages I thought were great, but now that you mention it, I remember one time how noisy it was, as you said, with the tongs scraping, and then she dropped one of the stones on the hard tile floor. I almost jumped off the table it was so startling! I had forgotten all about that! LOL!
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Permalink Reply by Cindy Greenwood on
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Wow - bad therapist! The crock pot should have been the giveaway. :D
I know that if I cant reach in or hold the stone myself then it is TOO HOT for the client!!
I also put something in the bottom of the stone heater so the stones don't rattle and clang.
I HAVE however dropped a stone or two (not on client), and that can be a little startling to both of us.
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I know ... you would think common sense would tell you that if the stones are too hot for you to handle, they are too hot to use on the client. But, sometimes, common sense isn't all that common!
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Permalink Reply by Deborah Kenney on
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I am a massage therapist as well as an esty, I do use hot stones, when asked for HS massage. I lie clients down gently to make sure they are not too hot, I also use 2 different stone warmers one at a lower temp for foundation stones and the other warmer for working stones. I think it was grossly incompetent to leave you alone until your body had time to adjust, readjust, cool down or, whatever. You were burned and could have been badly burned, before you'd realized it. I had a client recently tell me alot of places weren't offering the service anymore. I suspect for the burning. I have seen mt's pick up stones with tongs, I was taught if you can't pick them up with bare hands they are too hot for client and also to test on under side of wrist, but even that can be too warm for the client. Your story should be a good reminder to all those using hot stones, to be more careful in the future. I agree it can be noisy if you drop them, I've had that happen.
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Hi Deborah, You know, we're all human, so I totally understood dropping the stone. I'm a bit of a butter fingers myself, so I can sympathize! But, yes, your point is very valid that the therapist should not leave the room during any treatment, really, and that the stones should be able to be handled without burning the therapist's hands. Even then if they are in one spot on the client's body, it might spell trouble. Good for you, though, in being cautious. Warm stones are great ... hot stones, maybe not so much!
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