“A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.” That is an observation that Lao Tzu, the Chinese philosopher and founder of Taoism, made. The essence of this expression is that starting a task is a major part of completing it. Fortunately, performing hot stone therapy does not require 1,000 steps. However, it DOES involve some major steps that the therapist should take in a sequential order. Here is the basic protocol:

1. Prepare the client

First, drape the patient by using a method that makes him or her comfortable. It is important to communicate with the patient, to ensure that he or she is comfortable during the entire process.

2. Prepare the stones

Therapists typically use a set of basalt stones, which originate from a volcano. The stones vary in size: large, medium and small. Usually therapists use special machines built specifically for hot stones, to heat the stones. You can add scents to the water, to give the stones a certain aroma. Make sure to sanitize the stones, to ensure that the bacteria are destroyed.

3. Place the stones on the patient’s body

You should place the largest stones on the largest parts of the body, such as the shoulders and hips. The next step is to place medium-sized stones on places such as either side of the spine. Finally, you should place the tiniest stones in areas such as between fingers and toes.

It is important to handle the stone carefully. They are quite hot, so use tongs to keep them safe. Wipe the stones on a towel before placing them on the patient’s bodies, so they do not slide. Also, communicate with the patient while placing the stones on the body. If he or she reveals that they are too hot, then you may need to let them cool for a while. Then you can place them on the patient’s body.

4. Remove the stones

After about 20 minutes, you should remove the stones from the patient’s body. It is best to begin with the heaviest stones, and then move onto the smaller stones. Continue communicating with the patient, to ensure that he or she is comfortable. If you see some redness on the patient’s skin, have no fear! This is simply a sign that the patient’s skin has absorbed some of the stone’s heat. It will not leave a permanent mark.

5. Perform the massage using a certain method

After removing the stones, you can use a particular massage style, such as Swedish or Shiatsu. It is important to massage the body soon after removing the heated stones. This is because the muscles are still supple, making the massage more effective.

When performing a hot stone massage, it is important to conduct the activity by using a careful step-by-step process. This will ensure that the patient remains safe and relaxed. A hot stone massage may not include 1,000 steps, but the first one, the last one, and all of the ones in between—are equally important!

Saggy skin in the abdominal area can result from many things- pregnancy, extreme weight gain and the loss and simply the loss of elasticity as you age. Whatever the reason, you’ve got loose skin draping over your waistband and you hate it. You can’t wear the size clothes you should and forget about going to the beach or pool.

A tummy tuck can help you with your problem. A tummy tuck can do a lot of things for you, but there are some things it can’t do. If you are thinking about having this procedure, you need to have realistic expectations. Here’s what you need to know:

A tummy tuck can…

1. Remove excess skin. In the case of pregnancy and weight gain, the skin gets stretched to its limits. After the baby is born or the weight is lost, the skin may not bounce back to normal. This is particularly true after multiple pregnancies or extreme weight gain and prolonged weight gain. This cosmetic procedure makes an incision in the pelvic region and the excess skin is cut away. The remaining skin is pulled taut, flattening the area and showing off your abdominals.

2. Restores muscle strength. While the incision is open, your surgeon can also pull your abdominal muscles together and strengthen them for better control. This is especially important after pregnancy because the muscles are stretched to their limits along with the skin. Strengthening the muscles also gives a more shapely contoured abdominal area.

3. Improve self-esteem. You will feel better about your body once the sagging skin is removed. Your clothes will fit better and you won’t be self-conscious in a bikini or with your shirt off. Intimacy may even improve because you are more confident in your skin and like the way you look.

It cannot…

1. Substitute for diet and exercise. A tummy tuck should be the last step in your weight loss process. Even if liposuction is used at the same time, it is only to remove the stubborn fat that you couldn’t lose. You should be at the weight you want before having this procedure.

2. Last forever. Yes, the results are permanent… at least until age starts catching up with you again. But, for the results to last you have to take care of yourself. Prior to the surgery, make sure you are at the weight you want to be and have maintained it for awhile and that you are done having children. If you can’t guarantee this, wait on the procedure. After the excess skin is removed, anything that stretches the area can create even bigger problems as well as ugly stretch marks. As you age, you will lose elasticity, but that will much further down the road.

Once you know you are ready for a tummy tuck, now you have to find the right surgeon. Make sure he is board certified and licensed in plastic surgery and has experience with this procedure. During your consultation, be clear about your expectations but also take your surgeon’s advice into consideration. He will evaluate your body and your health to make sure you are ready to proceed.