Hot Stones

[mr mej]

Okay.. my husband bought me the hot stone set from massage warehouse that comes with the heater. I am not happy with the heater.. it only stays heated if you keep it on preheat.. And my stones are not very smooth. It seems as if they don't stay warm long enough either.. I worked at a spa for a while and they had smooth stones that seemed to stay heated for a good while.
Can anyone suggest the best place to get smooth stones??

 

[VasileZalupu]

I HIGHLY recommend Desert Stone People. The stones were fantastic, absolutely beautiful and matched with care. The customer service was top-notch, and the stones were packed carefully.
I ordered a set from TH Stones for my 2nd office (had worked with those stones at a previous spa and thought they were fine... didn't have the money to get another set from DSP, unfortunately) and they suck. Half were oiled, half were not, not very good matches, kind of rough feel to them. I got what a paid for.
It's well worth saving up for a nicer set.

 

[Sailor Venus]

Most of my stones came from StoneTempleInstitute and I have been very, very happy with them.

Angie

 

[confused.]

I agree that you get what you pay for with stones. I had to use a stone set from MW (that came with the roaster set) at the salon where I used to work. Now, don't misunderstand me...I'm a big fan of MW and have purchased many things from them that I absolutely LOVE! But there stone sets are sub-par. I couldn't even find six stones that were flat/uniform enough to do a spinal layout. Could hardly match any stones, and they were all less than smooth. In the end, if I was scheduled for a stone massage, I would bring my own stones in and use those, just because it was such a different experience with good stones!

I got mine from Hawaiian Hot Stones (http://www.hawaiianhotstones.com/) and I LOVE them.

 

[Pompal 09.]

Rub Rocks has good prices and I was very happy with my stone set. All very smooth and easy to do spinal layouts, or place under the body. You can search threads on here for what kind of roaster to use, but a turkey roaster or a skillet from walmart are both inexpensive options that I use, and others here use to good effect.

Also, if you've got the time and a place nearby with river rocks, you can harvest your own. It takes a long time to pick through and find the perfect ones, but stones that are smooth, yet have "texture" can be really enjoyable. My clients prefer the stones with texture, and they get more grip and don't slip off the body so easily, so it's easier not to go over bony prominences and to do deep work.

 

[Janina]

thank you

thank you everyone for your replies..... i will keep you informed on my choice and results

 

[Pompal 09.]

I just buy a stone kit from http://www.hotstonehut.com . Im very pleased with the stones they select for me and the service was excellent. I can highly recommend them.

 

[Jeremiah]

I just buy a stone kit from http://www.hotstonehut.com . Im very pleased with the stones they select for me and the service was excellent. I can highly recommend them.

 

[Calm-A-Llama-Down]

Another vote for Desert Stone People. I got a set after taking LaStone Basic. I LOVE them! I even ordered an extra pair of "potato" size stones for work on hamstrings & quads. They were just as I described to the person on the phone (size & shape I was looking for). This place is operated by massage therapists.

 

[Blake]

Coloured Stones?

Hi All,

Has anyone come across coloured stones for use in hot stone therapy?

A friend of mine did a course, and her teacher had ordered some...I think from Mexico, but I have not really been able to find any.
They all seem to be the same basalt types, no matter where I look.

I know that the basalt ones are good at retaining the heat etc, but having had stone massages, and having done the Sacred Stones Course (very similar to LaStone) I have been thinking some variety in colour would also be beneficial....as long as they are smooth, and as effective as the basalt ones in keeping heat etc.

Anyone seen anything remotely close to colourful hot stones?

 

[al-in-chgo]

Not exactly extremely colorful unless one is discussing chakra stones (a series of gem stones placed on the chakras during a hot stone massage).

Although I have heard of some MTs using marble cold stones for contrast during a hot stone massage, especially on the face to "tone"...

There are also crystal facial massages that feature various colored crystals applied to the face.

I think I've heard of Jade stones also being used, and it is known to come in various colors (green, purple, yellow, red and black to my knowledge). Though this may also be used in the application of cold for contrast during a hot stone massage, I've never known anybody that had them.

Although, I will mention that that basalt stones my employer purchased from Massage Warehouse do have a few stones with a greenish cast.

And the basalt stones I received while taking my Gaia's Touch Hot Stone Continuing Education Course... well some of them are a bit reddish or pinkish in color.

The reason for the variation in the black basalt stones having slightly different hues is because of the additional mineral content in that area of the earth where these stones were formed.

The Columbia Encyclopedia, 6th ed., says "basalt , fine-grained rock of volcanic origin, dark gray, dark green, brown, reddish, or black in color."

So there would be some color variation even among basalt stones alone.

Hot stone massages can be fun! And your stones can be collected from places all over the world. That to me, makes each service special.

 

[RAFEEQ - DOHA]

I bought my set from Nature's Healing Stones at a seminar.
These are all smooth, hand picked, and MATCHED!
web address is
http://www.naturestonesinc.com/products/?qla_zbqhyr%40fgber

I have purchased from rubrocks also. The stones are okay - but they are not matched pairs. Sometimes you luck out and get a decent set.

I haven't purchased from this company - but they seem okay - here is a spinal layout set at a good price...
http://www.tirmassagestone.com/products/bodystones/8spinalstones.html

Considering what you paid for the MW set I would call them up and tell your story. The stone heaters DO cycle (off-on)- but if you have to crank it all the way to preheat then it sounds defective.
Tell them that the stones are not smooth enough for you to use and see what they can offer you. Even if you get a new set you will probably have the same problem.

It's great when you can select your own stones. Otherwise you will find yourself purchasing quite a few sets and picking through them to get what you need.

Some of my basalt stones are more green or gray. It all depends on the mineral content.

Moogie and peacefulharbor - neither of the links you posted worked

 

[Deke]

Moogie and peacefulharbor - neither of the links you posted worked

Thanks for letting me know. I've updated the link so it works now.

Angie

 

[starburst71795]

Hot Stones

Okay.. my husband bought me the hot stone set from massage warehouse that comes with the heater. I am not happy with the heater.. it only stays heated if you keep it on preheat.. And my stones are not very smooth. It seems as if they don't stay warm long enough either.. I worked at a spa for a while and they had smooth stones that seemed to stay heated for a good while.
Can anyone suggest the best place to get smooth stones??

raychalann, did you get your heater and stone from massage warehouse? that's where I ordered mine from when I started my business and have the same problems! I have only used them 2 times but I am NOT happy with them, especially when I spent 200 dollars on them!

 

[Corey]

Ikea sells very inexpensive super smooth stones in the gardening department. I love them, they're perfect! I have a hot rock warmer from "Conair" but I think that a crock pot would work just as well.

 

[queniano]

Hawaiian Hot Stones!!!

I have been LaStone trained and find their site is a great reference for all stone massages. I got my stone set from a company in Hawaii and LOVE them too, but I don't know if they are still in business. The stones need to be large enough to hold enough heat to transfer to the tissues and then complement with cold marble stones for a thermotherapy effect. Look into it at http://www.lastonetherapy.com for a resource.