Monday 10 August 2009

11 Super Steps to Give the Perfect Massage With Massage Stone

Can something constructive come from something destructive? In short, yes. Consider that the Hawaiian Islands, which many have called “paradise on earth,” originated from volcanic activity. It is ironic, when you think about it. The temperature of lava from the Hawaiian Islands’ volcanoes can reach temperatures of 1,250 degrees Celsius (2,282 degrees Fahrenheit), destroying anything in its path. Yet that very lava can create some of the world’s most gorgeous landscapes. In addition, massage hot stones often originate from volcanoes. That includes the type of rock known as Basalt. But what exactly makes these stones ideal for therapeutic massages?

Why basalt is best

Basalt rocks are frequently used as massage stones. These smooth, black volcanic rocks become perfect for massage regimens, when heated. Why is that? Basalt rocks can easily absorb heat, making them a perfect tool for professional therapists, when creating a balanced regimen of heat and cold. The tiny grains in Basalt rock are responsible for their smooth appearance.

Due to their originating from hot magma, Basalt rocks are classified as igneous rocks. These massage stones contain a very high amount of magnesium and iron. When volcanoes erupt, Basalt comprises 90% of the material that escapes from the volcano. In its lava form, Basalt is often fragile and soft. Amazingly, flows of Basalt blanket nearly three-fourths of the Earth’s total surface!

After the eruption of a volcano, super hot Basalt spreads quickly, to create a layer of lava that is frequently hundreds of kilometers wide. Besides being prevalent on earth, Basalt is also the most common rock that makes up the seabed. These rocks are also related to the gaps between the Earth’s plates, which form its surface.

One in a million

Considering how commonplace Basalt stones are throughout Earth, it should be a piece of cake to find an ideal one for massage, along a shoreline by a volcano, right? Well, not exactly. You should consider various factors when searching for massage stones to use as part of your massage regimen:

• An important characteristic of a massage stone is its capability to retain heat, and retain it for a long time.

• Massage stone kits are ideal for finding the perfect stones. These kits include stones that have been buffed and treated, creating the perfect stones for massage sessions.

• It is important to use stones of various sizes and shapes. The massage therapist must position the stones on various body parts, so the variety of stones will make the process easier.

• The stones’ weight and density are the most important factors when shopping for your massage hot stones.

Ready to roll

Like a brand new car, a massage stone must be properly cleaned and maintained, to increase its effectiveness. After each session, make sure to sanitize the rocks by completely cleaning them. This process is particularly important when you use oils during the massage, as they could eat away at the stones. You will just need a brush and a soft antibacterial soap used for washing dishes, to clean the stones. Make sure that they are dried completely, to avoid them becoming tarnished. If you used oil during the session, it is also advisable to clean and then air out the basin of the heating machine.

When heating your stones for massage, place a wet towel at the base of the heating machine’s basin, to previous your precious stones from becoming burnt.

While conventional wisdom says that it is wise to avoid volcanoes while they are erupting, what they produce can be truly amazing. Look at Hawaii! In addition, as Basalt lava transforms into Basalt rocks, the vital element for a massage with hot stones, is formed. We can thank Mother Nature for transforming such a destructive event, into a truly magical stone!



Your Massage Presentation Professional For Massage Business Success

For those of you who are planning on going into the field of massage therapy, or if you are already in the field, you should make sure that you present yourself in the best possible light. Brush up on your people skills and learn how to make a conversation open and pleasant. Learn how to listen instead of talking and learn when, not to say anything. One of the secrets to being an excellent massage therapist is by learning the importance of communication skills in your massage business.

But the biggest impact that you can make in your massage therapy business is learning how to present yourself, in a professional and business-like manner. I know that this may sound like common-sense but more likely, either you forget about the importance of it or you forget that your massage business, even though it is a very nurturing, holistic and relaxed atmosphere, is still a business.

Your business still must pay the bills, support yourself and your family and most of all, meet the need, to have a steady stream of clients, both old and new. In my 10 plus years of working for myself and various spas, I contribute most of my success just purely on my presentation alone.

Here are some questions to consider.

•How do you speak? Are you speaking in terms that your potential clients understand?

•Are presenting yourself in a professional and clean manner?

•Are dressed professionally?

•Is your hygiene where it should be?

•Where are you conducting your business, do you have a clean and professional facility?

These are just some of things that you need to consider, the other thing is, how do you want to brand yourself?

The branding aspects are so important here, it is the very thing that will make you a successful bodyworker or massage therapist or it will drive you out of this business. Most massage therapist, do not consider the branding aspects and fail they miserably. The most successful corporations are successful because of this element of branding alone, their branding value, in many cases will be much higher than their market value. Think about this way, what if you walked into a McDonald’s, one of the best known brands in existence today and it was dirty and not kept up, would you go back? This is precisely my point.

When I first started my career as a massage therapist, I was working at corporations doing chair massages. One day while working at Yahoo, this was one of my biggest accounts, I all of sudden realized that the whole time I am doing a chair massage, the customers, only view were my shoes. They were good shoes, not dirty, a little worn and had some signs of aging. But here I am working on Managers, Supervisors, Dept heads and regular staff members, and I had some Rockports from Mervyn’s, not quite the professional, I am successful look that I wanted to put out there.

That very next day I went out and broke down on a pair of $175.00 pair of ECCO’s, it was a very steep cost at that time, but instantly when I returned to my corporate sites, I was getting compliments after compliments on my shoes, which directly increased my leads for massage services outside of the corporation. I also went out and got manicures every other week, my hands were my money makers and I treated them as such. Presentation to success; is what I would tell every massage therapist out there in the field.