We perform Stone Massages October through April, or the Fall and Winter months. We use a clean set of stones for each client. The stones are heated, oiled, and used as an extension of the hands as they are effleuraged up and down the arms and legs, for example. Effleurage is a Swedish massage stroke where an open handed stroke is meant to warm the surface of skin and the muscles beneath. The stones can be turned on their sides and used to friction areas where adhesions have formed. This happens in the lower back due to long periods of sitting and not enough time to rest or stretch. The fascia (or the under-lying tissue) become bunched making certain movements like walking easier to maneuver on one side versus the other. One of the hips may feel tired and stuck; it all has to do with everything being connected.
When we are finished with a Stone Massage session, we place the stones in the dishwasher. They are washed and run through the full cycle. Then they are placed in a container until they are needed. We only have so many stones, so we can only do so many Stone Massages in a given day. The stone heater, modeled after an 18 quart turkey roaster, has an insert pan. This pan is also taken out and washed between treatments.
