Hot Stone Spot Work -- Crockpots okay?

[gummybear]

Hey, folks!

Have just finished my first day of a two day workshop on hot stone massage (excellent!)

Thus far, I have been using a small crockpot when I am only incorporating a limited number of stones in "spot" work. Actually, I learned that from this great forum!

However, the instructors today said to be very cautious of using crockpots etc. for a limited number of stones -- because if any harm is done, you can be sued both by the client and the company that makes the crockpot because it says in the instructions, "Do not use this crockpot for any other purposes."

I really don't want to shell out another $75 bucks for a "legit" smaller stone warmer -- but it did make me wonder.

Any insightful comments on this? To be honest, I have never had a problem with my crockpot version! And it's such a dandy size! Could this just be pushing to "buy more product?"

Don't wanna be dumb -- but don't wanna take a chance on safety either!

TIA!

Sherry

 

[ms.prissy]

I use a small crock pot. I always take the stones out & let them cool about 10-15 min before using them. My rule has always been if they're too hot for me to hold comfortably, they're too hot to put on anyone. I had not considered the legalities, as stated in your class. Gives me something to consider!

 

[Angel Eyes]

I'd think that they make that statement to cover themselves, and for warranty issues. That way if you burned someone with a stone (or in some other use that the crock pot company wants to protect itself from) the client couldn't sue the crock pot manufacturer since it was being used for an "inappropriate" purpose. Also, if someone was using it for... who knows - drying herbs? When the inner pot cracks from the dry heat, they don't have to replace it.

I would ask, if you use the crock pot for other than cooking food, what are the damages done to the company that they could justifiably sue you for? Wouldn't they have to prove some type of loss first... and who would be bringing this to their attention? Some crock pot security secret shopper traveling the country getting hot stone massages and reporting back the equipment used? I'm first to volunteer for THAT job .

I'd only be concerned as far as if your insurance provider would have issues with it.

 

[hannababi]

Ever thought about just getting a thermometer to make sure that the water temp is at the temp it should be? That way you know it isn't to hot?
I can dip my hand in water thats 140 degrees and it feels the same (to me) as 125 degrees so I always have my temp guage in the water throughout the massage to make sure the temp is staying where it needs to be.

 

[Amani]

I wouldn't use a crock pot but not for the reason they gave you. I wouldn't use one simply because you have no way to "fine tune" the temperature. The crock pot can only be on one of two settings....low or high. You need to be able to adjust the thermostat to a greater degree than just high or low to get the correct temperature.

Just my :2cents:

Angie

 

[ROCKER_CHICK]

I use a crock pot for my stones. I also have a thermometer and the two work perfectly for me to do the stone massage that I offer.

The water (from the faucet) at my old place got really hot fairly quickly so if someone asked for hot stones when they came in I was able to run the stones under hot water for a minute or so then let them stay on 'high' for most of the massage and they stayed between 120-130 degrees.

At the office space I lease now, I do not have that luxury and the stones need to heat up in the crock pot so it takes about 45 minutes on 'high' to get them to be the perfect 125-130 degrees.

I always use a thermometer to let me know the temp and 125-130 is the perfect temp for me to hold and massage with the stones for a nice period of time. It has been very easy for me to regulate temp with the thermometer and to switch crock pot temp to "low" or "warm" depending on what my thermometer reads. 120-130 degrees has been the best working temps for holding, massaging, and placing stones.

If I can hold a stone for a period of time, then I feel that I can 'place it' on a client. Usually before placement I'll massage the stone near the area I would like to place, then I place the stones and I always ask if any of the placed stones are too hot. If they say no, I say, "let me know if any of them get too hot."

My crock pot has worked wonderfully. In older threads there has been mention of electric skillets keeping a constant temperature, but I have found that keeping my crock between 120-130 degrees is very very easy with the use of a thermometer. My vote: No need to spend extra on a "stone warmer".

My opinion is that there are millions of ways that people in general and people in the business world can be careful to avoid lawsuits. However, I don't advocate any of those ways...just common sense.

If you can hold a stone and it feels pretty good in your hand, then it feels kind of hot to your client and can be massaged on their skin and then a bit deeper into their muscles.

If it feels kind of hot in your hand, then it feels pretty hot to your client and you should move it faster and more superficial on the skin of your client.

If it feels just warm in your hand, then it feels nice to your clients if you move it slowly on their skin, or just place it somewhere.

I have 2 large (sacral/sternum) stones, 10-12 palm sized stones and 4-6 smaller stones that I use for a full body stone session along with 8 toe stones that I wrap in a gauze material to keep them contained and easy to find.

It is definitely more than just "spot treatment" but everything works smoothly and my hot stone clients LOVE the hot stones!!

Since you already work with a crock pot, then you most likely know how to use it for a hot stone full body treatment. Mine comes with a low, high, or warm setting. Typically I start with a high setting until the temp is 130 degrees, then I switch to low and if it still seems to high for my needs I'll switch it to warm or off depending on how much longer is in the session.

I do not have a set routine with my stones. I just go with the flow. If the stones are at a nice 125-130 degrees, I'll take out six and carry them all to the foot of the table to use for one leg for about 5-7 minutes. They do not lose heat too quickly when they are at that setting.

I keep the pot near head of the table so if the stones seem pretty hot I'll take out several at once and then just use them before they lose their heat. If I move to a leg or arm on the oposite side of the table I'll take a a couple more to carry over so I don't have to leave the area to get more stones.

When I was first starting with stones I practiced on a friend and she told me that when there were stones on her body she didn't notice when I left her body to fetch more stones. So in my practice I always make sure there are stones placed somewhere when I am fetching more stones to work with.

So that when I start supine, I might briefly star with the feet, place stones in the toes then start working the head, neck, and shoulders. Work my way down, then when I flip the client over I'll place stones along the erectors of the back and along the sacrum then work the legs and move my way up.

But no matter I always try to leave stones placed somewhere delicious while I am "working".... be it toes, hands, occiput, under knees, under shoulders, on the sternum, or wherever.

I did not learn a specific type of stone massage however, just a feel good variety, and I make it up as I go for each session as I see fit and as the temp allows.

 

[eckxkid]

akb --- Sa-weet post!

I used to work with an MT who did stone spot work. She used a crock pot and never had any problems.

Not as much info as akb, but hopefully it gives some added moral support.

BTW, if the course was excellent, would you mind adding it to the list in CEU's? I know we're all looking for those excellent ones to take.

 

[Darth]

Anita--
You are making me need a hot stone massage now.....Last week a friend and fellow therapist tested out a cool thing on me-a cold marble stone massage.It was quite hot last week here and she did the massage out on her back deck---absolutely awesome!! Out of the 50 stones I have I only use about 28,cause the rest are not too useful according to the routine I have been taught. Hot stone work is da bomb t026

Namaste,
Johnny

 

[Froggy McFrogfeet]

My crock pot has worked wonderfully. In older threads there has been mention of electric skillets keeping a constant temperature, but I have found that keeping my crock between 120-130 degrees is very very easy with the use of a thermometer. My vote: No need to spend extra on a "stone warmer".

Akb, I think it's great that the crock pot works for you. There are many, many different ways of doing things and the "right" way is simply the way that's right for you.

Personally, I use 2 of the electric skillets because I need to have greater control over the temperature of my stones. I use 2 skillets because I use different levels of heat depending on whether the stone is a placement stone or a working stone. But...that's the way I like to do it.

I know that I've been derided on this board in the past for using kitchen utensils in my massage practice, so I really hope that my previous post didn't sound like I was putting down the use of crock pots....it's just that they wouldn't work for me.

For what it's worth, my vote is also no on buying a "stone warmer." But...as I said there are many ways of doing things.

Angie

 

[Muse to my Ears]

Wow! Thanks for all the prompt and informative responses, Gang! I printed them all out to add to my Hot Stone file -- great ideas! And Akb -- that was a Hot Stone Massage Novelette you composed there! Bravo!

I just finished the two day seminar -- exhausting but so well worth it! I will also add it to the CEU list but will mention it here. It is "The Art of Hot Stone Full Body Massage" Seminar by Nature's Stones Inc. (http://www.naturestonesinc.com.) The two presenters are Pat Mayrhofer (Founder and President) and Judy Ford, Director of Education. They are two dynamite ladies with so much combined experience and information that it is rather mindboggling! You can check out all their seminars on the website. Highly recommended!

In addition to teaching the full body hot stone massage -- they show you how to use the hot stones in any modality of massage -- MFR, Trigger Point, Swedish etc. The difference is quite amazing!

I had already bought my heater and stones and some DVDs -- and was just "fooling around with them" because I didn't have a lot of confidence and didn't even know how they feel. Well -- this seminar changed all that. I can use them on clients tomorrow with total confidence.

Ah -- back to the initial question! When I checked my e-mail this morning I read through the responses already in -- and saved myself the $75 on the smaller stone heater! Now I have full confidence in using the bigger heater and set -- but will keep my beloved crockpot for spot work.
Thanks all!

P.S. Their "pocket" for carrying around hot stones is wonderful -- as are their hot stone wraps in three sizes. They have three pockets so you can tuck the hot stones in and lay them on the client. It feels wonderful!

Hugs, Sherry

 

[mr p]

I had already bought my heater and stones and some DVDs -- and was just "fooling around with them" because I didn't have a lot of confidence and didn't even know how they feel. Well -- this seminar changed all that. I can use them on clients tomorrow with total confidence.

2 things about this comment - first - that is the exact reason why going and getting some training or lots treatments from different therapists where you experience a modality you are unfamiliar with is important. If you don't know how something is meant to feel how are you meant to do it? I think DVDs can be great for adding techniques you are familiar with, but using it for something you have no idea how good the results can be seems like a waste.

Second comment, you have a large stone heater already? If you really take to using stones properly, you will just have it going and use it for your spot work. Why do you want something else?

I use a chocolate mini crock pot for warming crystals, it's not big enough for stones. It has a dial for temperature control, goes from off to 125deg, supposedly if you heat chocolate over that temp it's a problem (which is also rubbish if you know what you are doing, but it makes a perfect, not too hot hot stone warmer). I would not use anything for stones with a breakable insert, which crock pots have. One day a stone will slip and if it is a decent sized stone, it will have enough of an impact to chip the crock pot insert, then you've got to buy a new crock pot. False economy if you ask me. (the crystals I heat are smaller than stones, they're more likely to chip than the insert. The chocolate warmer has a stainless steel exterior so it doesn't look too kitchen like)


Considering the professional stone heaters are just Nesco roasters, I see no reason why you couldn't just get one of those, though I think I'd go for the square 4qt one rather than the oval 6qt, so much easier to organise things when the heater has straight sides, and the 4qt one is new, it isn't associated with home cooking at the moment. (I don't think you should have readily identifiable things from the "real" world in your treatment room, if you are after a relaxing environment for the client, why make them think about the dinner they have to cook when they get home? So that rules out obvious rice cookers/crock pots/roasters/frypans, but other people seem to think it is ok)


I've viewed about 30 differtent stone DVDs, I just tend to get them off eBay because I know how bad most of them are, and most of them are terrible, complete waste of money, but I put them on eBay again and someone else buys them. I'd only recommend a couple of them, Bruce Baltz http://www.spiriphysical.com (and that covers cold stones too), very difficult to find on eBay because it is so good people keep it. The Sacred Stone ones are very good too http://www.sacredstonehealing.com again not seen on eBay often because people tend to hang onto them. Japanese Hot Stone massage ones are very good, but almost impossible to get becasue they are out of print. Other than those, almost all the others have been a complete waste of time to various degress, Healing Stone Massage ones are probably the best of the rest and on eBay all the time, and it just goes downhill fast from there.