Using the benefits of hydrotherapy and thermotherapy along with the strokes used during massage, massage stones heated to the correct temperature create a deep, relaxing and healing treatment. The warmth from the basalt massage stones heats the skin to allow therapeutic and essential oils to be absorbed. At the same time the musculature of the body is prepared so the therapist can work into the deeper areas of the clients body.

Basalt stone is a type of igneous rock and is commonly used in massage therapy for hot stone massage. It is an extrusive stone, which signifies that it was formed as hot lava cooled after a volcanic eruption. There are individuals that sell stones that aren't basalt that may not work as well for massage as good, quality basalt stone. If you want to find a good source for basalt massage stone sets go to someone that sells certified basalt stone. This way you can be sure that you stone set will hold heat like it should, allowing you to provide a relaxing and healing experience to your client.

While it is important to have the correct hot stone therapy tools, it is equally important to follow guidelines and steps to ensure that your client receives a soothing, relaxing and beneficial hot stone massage. There are certain things that you can do to make sure that this happens. Please read the 7 tips that are included in this article for providing a relaxing and effective hot stone massage.

Don't soak your client with water; keep a towel handy to wipe excess moisture off the stones.

In order to make sure that you client is not burned, have them remove all of their jewelry. If a hot stone is placed on the belly of a client that has a metal belly ring it will heat up quickly and possibly burn them.

Start with the stones at one end of the roaster, and as you use a stone, move it to the opposite end. This assures that you are using fresh hot stones, and not the same ones every time you exchange them.

You can keep your bottle of oil in the heater to warm it and add to the soothing experience for the client.

With the exception of cold stones, always place a towel between a stationary stone and the client. When performing cold stone therapy, the cold stones should not be left in place for more than 10-15 minutes. The cold when using cold stones will help mask any damage could potentially occur, so check with your client to make sure you stay within their comfort level.

In order to make sure that your client will not experience any discomfort from any rough spots on the stones, as well as to ensure that they slide well on the skin, be sure to apply a liberal amount of oil.

If the stones are covered once they have been positioned on your client, they will stay warmer longer.

In order to learn more on massage stone therapy, please take a look at one of the many resources on the Internet. You can learn more about different ways to use basalt stone as well as the history of hot stone massage. One website you would find interesting might be Wikipedia's pages on this topic.