Most massage and bodywork techniques are traditionally performed with the client unclothed; however, it is entirely up to you what you want to wear. You should undress to your level of comfort. You will be properly draped during the entire session. For Chair Stone Massage Therapy only shoes and socks need be removed for the foot massage portion of treatment.

The practitioner will leave the room while you undress, relax onto the table, and cover yourself with a clean sheet and/or light blanket.

You will be properly draped at all times to keep you warm and comfortable. Only the area being worked on will be exposed.

A typical full-body session will include work on your back, arms, legs, feet, hands, head, neck, and shoulders.

A relaxing Swedish massage is often a baseline for clients. In a general Swedish massage, your session may start with broad, flowing strokes that will help calm your nervous system and relax exterior muscle tension. As your body becomes relaxed, pressure will gradually be increased to relax specific areas and relieve areas of muscular tension. Often, a light oil or lotion is used to allow your muscles to be massaged without causing excessive friction to the skin. The oil also helps hydrate your skin. You should communicate immediately if you feel any discomfort so that another approach may be taken. Massage and bodywork are most effective when your body is not resisting.

Geo-Thermal Therapy utilizes warm smooth stones (cleansed and warmed in fresh indigenous waters) and cool gem and mineral stones which are placed in areas of stress or imbalance, applied and sometimes massaged on the skin in the most sublime and energetically effective way for the stones to “dance” and share their healing properties.

There are numerous types of massage and bodywork; various techniques utilize different strokes, including basic rubbing strokes, rocking movement, posture and movement re-education, application of pressure to specific points, and more. St8newalker has found after 20 years of massage experience along with her mentorship under traditional tutors in Lakota-Dakota healing arts, that the most effective methods include the use of gentle pressure and temperature of warm and cool gem and mineral stones. Myofascial Release, Swedish Massage, and Aromatherapy are also employed where needed for their added benefits. We can discuss which methods may be most appropriate for you.

Prior to the massage, feel free to ask the practitioner any questions about the technique or the upcoming session. During the massage, make yourself comfortable. The practitioner will either gently move you or tell you what is needed throughout the session (such as lifting your arm). Many people just close their eyes and completely relax, communicating if/when they need more or less pressure, another blanket, or anything else relevant to the session. If you have any questions regarding the session or about the particular technique you are receiving, feel free to ask.

Most people feel very relaxed. Some experience freedom from long-term aches and pains developed from tension or repetitive activity. After an initial period of feeling slowed down, people often experience increased energy, heightened awareness, and greater productivity which can last for days. Since toxins are released from your soft tissues during a massage, it is recommended you drink plenty of water following your massage.

Massage and bodywork can help release chronic muscular tension and pain, improve circulation, increase joint flexibility, reduce mental and physical fatigue and stress, promote faster healing of injured muscular tissue, improve posture, and reduce blood pressure. Massage and bodywork is also known to promote better sleep, improve concentration, reduce anxiety and create an overall sense of well-being.

Yes. That’s why it’s imperative that, before you begin your session, that you inform the practitioner of any health problems or medications you are taking. You will be asked to complete a form outlining any health issues to help jog your memory so that you may fully inform practitioner of the location of any previous injuries, trauma, or areas of concern or health problem areas. Depending on the condition, approval from your doctor may be required, and if you are under a doctor’s constant care for more serious health issues, it is strongly advised that you receive a written recommendation for massage or bodywork prior to any session.

This Geo-Thermal therapist provides traditionally mentored life-long relationship and respect for Stone Nation in offering the natural healing energies from selected gem and mineral stones’ gift as apprenticed over years of training and mentorship with Lakota-Dakota “medicine” teachers and practiced alongside and in harmony with well studied modern massage technique, including Myofascial Release Therapy.

Each stone is ceremonially scrubbed, cleansed and rinsed before each use. Warm stones are heated in pure warm (not hot) water with a drop of grape seed extract added (a natural antibacterial) or naturally warmed by the sun. Cool stones are cleansed and refrigerated or kept cool under the stars overnight, energized in fresh cool spring water for best results before application.

Stones in the collection of this Stonewalker have not been purchased in “sets” from commercial vendors, but have been intuitively gifted and/or collected over many years from long walks in forests, fields and woods, along sea shores and riverbeds, or gifted from special friends and powerful “medicine” teachers. Out of respect for Stone Nation these are regularly and naturally “re-charged” by placing them out of doors to absorb natural energies from sun and moon as they have done for eons.

Please note: This is not a run of the mill “hot stone massage” as advertised and provided by the majority of practitioners and spas who are well meaning yet misinformed and under-trained in this art. Many of those who attempt to practice stone massage today have only taken a four or eight hour seminar or DVD course, thus what they practice could pose some danger to clients and prove disruptive to the best energetic use of stones. Our Stones are never heated to “hot”, therefore special thermal mitts, steel tools to remove them from scalding water, or towels that divide clients from the natural healing elements of mineral stones, or stones that have been inappropriately over-heated are not needed nor used by this authentic and traditionally Lakota-Dakota mentored Geo-Thermal Therapist (Inyan Pejuta Winyan).

100% pure Jojoba and/or organic Almond oil are usually applied as theses are most easily absorbed on the skin and help the stream and wind smoothed stones to glide.

Please let your St8newalker know if you have any allergies, preferences or concerns in advance of application of aromatherapy or essential oils.

An air ionizer may be in use to continually purify the air, and soft music and/or heartbeat drum may also be employed as a soothing agent. If you prefer complete quiet, let St8newalker know. Ear plugs are also available upon request.

Sage, indigenous to the Black Hills, traditionally hand picked by St8newalker, Cedar, Juniper and/or sweet grass or California sage may be burned as a candle, the smoke of which is used to cleanse the air and for it’s calming and aromatherapy qualities. These have also been employed for centuries as an integral part of ceremonial Lakota-Dakota (Sioux) “medicine” ways for the best healing effect.