How to Perform a Hot Stone Massage at Home

I had a professional hot stone massage once. It was deliciously relaxingÂ…until I had to pay up. $120 for some roasted rocks seems a little steep to me, even for the joy they brought to my weary muscles. Still, I couldnÂ’t wait to have another. That was two, long, achy years agoÂ…

Two things I absolutely love are relaxing self-indulgences and saving money. When I have the opportunity to combine the two, itÂ‘s nothing short of sweet bliss.

In my pursuit to find ways to pamper my friends and myself, I came across this gem: at home hot stone massages. Three words: sign me up!

I havenÂ’t tried it yet, and IÂ’m surely no trained masseuse, but itÂ’s going to happenÂ…really soon. Because I love my friends dearly and would never want to harm them, IÂ’m going to use my husband as my guinea pig. He signed up for my experiments when he said, Â‘I do.Â’

If youÂ’d like to try the home hot stone massage treatment on your favorite victimÂ…errÂ…recipient, hereÂ’s the recipe for relaxation:

What youÂ’ll need:

Smooth stones in a variety of sizes (if you donÂ’t want to search riverbeds for some, you can find them online or at a massage supply store)
Crock-Pot or roasting pan
Baby oil or massage oil
Towels
Serving tongs or a slotted spoon

What to do:

1. Season your stones by rubbing them down with baby or massage oil
2. Place your stones in the Crock-Pot or roasting pan and cover with water
3. Heat the water until the stones are nice and warm, not piping hot
4. Use the slotted spoon or tongs to remove the stones from the water and dry them on a towel
5. Test the temperature of the stones on your wrist, burns are the opposite of relaxing
6. Have your lucky recipient lie, stomach down, on a flat surface
7. Gently place the largest stones on larger muscles (shoulder blades, both sides of the spine, and lower back)
8. Ask him where else he feels tension and place the smaller stones accordingly
9. Other areas to consider are palms, arms, neck, legs and feet
10. As the stones cool, you can replace or remove them and rub the muscle with your hand, letting the recipientÂ’s preference guide the amount of pressure you use

And voila! YouÂ’re in business! After youÂ’ve successfully completed his hot stone massage, ask him to return the favor as payment.

Image Source: flickr.com/photos/50115060@N03/4602198466