How to Apply Hot Stones

Placement of hot, smooth basalt stones on specific areas of the body helps to loosen up tight, sore muscles, alleviate pain and stress, and improve blood circulation. Typically, trained massage therapists or alternative healing professionals perform hot-stone therapy and massage for their clients, but you can attempt to perform this therapeutic technique at home if you closely adhere to specific guidelines and safety procedures.

Things You'll Need

• Massage or treatment table
• Sheet or towels
• Massage stones kit
• Massage stone heater
• Tongs

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Instructions

• 1

  Instruct your massage patient to lie on his or her stomach on the treatment or massage table. The patient should have no clothing on in the area of focus of the application of your hot stones. Place a sheet or towels over any area of the patient's body that is not currently being treated in the process.

• 2

  Place the massage stones into the massage stone heater. Most heaters of this kind include a pool of water that is heated to or above 125 degrees Fahrenheit, which is gauged on the side of the machine. Make sure that the stones are completely submerged in the water, for even heating.

• 3

  Remove the hot stones from the heater with tongs. Place each stone on your patient's body in areas such as along the spine and on the lower thighs, arms, palms and soles of the feet. Stone placement will differ based on the particular massage technique you are using. You can identify different techniques by following the instructions that came with the massage stone kit.

• 4

  Allow for the stones to cool naturally on your patient's body before removing them. Return them to the heater when you're not using them so that they can attain the correct heat level for their next use.