How to Do Lower Back Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage takes traditional massage to a new level. The hot stones not only help to relax and penetrate sore, tired muscles, they also give the therapist a break as they require less force and pressure than using just your hands. With a few simple tips you can learn how to give a lower back massage using hot stones.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Begin by warming up the muscles of the entire back. Heat your lotion or oil in a special warmer or a pot of hot water before applying. Place a small amount of lotion or oil in the palms of your hand. Stand at the head of your massage table with your client face down and begin long, smooth massage strokes beginning at the neck, working down the spine and back up again.

2. Place a hot stone in each palm once the back is warm. Again, standing at the head of the massage table, place a stone on either side of the spine just above the pelvic bone. Move the stones along the top edges of the pelvis and then push back in towards the spine.

3. Repeat the outward and inward massage strokes, working up to the base of the rib cage. From the base of the rib cage, begin to make small circular motions as you work down the edges of the spine. Be extremely careful, especially with hot stones, not to work directly over the spine or any bones.

4. Reach the base of the spine and repeat the motions. Finish the low back hot stone massage by connecting the low back to the upper back. Draw the stones slowly and firmly along the edges of the spine all the way to the base of the neck. Move the stones down the edges of the neck, out to the shoulders and back down the spine. Repeat a few times before moving to the upper back portion of the massage.