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ten for today 5. Ground with Stones Stones are old hat to lots of massage therapists. "Stones have an energy all their own," says Pat Mayrhofer, president of Nature Stones, Inc. "They're very grounding and incredibly balancing." 6. Work with Wood Patrick Ingrassia, founder of Nayada Institute of Massage in Amherst, New York, combines wood and stone in his Hot Stone Accu-Roller, a device that allows therapists to perform hot stone massage, deep-tissue work, and acupressure. "I'm using indigenous cherry wood that can be sustainably harvested," Ingrassia says. 7. Incorporate Crystals Just as stones can be transformed into massage tools, so can crystals. "You can massage with rounded wands made from crystal and use them on acupressure points," says Hibiscus Moon, owner of the Hibiscus Moon Crystal Academy in Pompano Beach, Florida. Crystals are also simply stunning to look at. "It's a visual experience," Moon says. "If clients come in and see the crystals laid out, it's a feast for the eyes, and the energy of the stones draws them in." 8. 9. Reclaim Bamboo Nathalie Cecilia, founder of Bamboo Fusion in St. Petersburg, Florida, says bamboo can be used to create a transformative bodywork experience. Cecilia uses different sized bamboo rods that are warmed on a heating pad to replicate tapotement, trigger point, and a variety of other touch techniques to relieve the stress on the bodyworker's hands. "It feels so good," Cecilia says. "The heat of the bamboo really relaxes the muscles and helps clients not to feel sore the next day." 10. Turn to the Ocean Technically speaking, seashells aren't "earth" elements, but they have many of the same benefits as stones when used during massage. The shells can be heated, "and the ridges of the shell help with exfoliation," says Julia Roman, owner and creator of Seashell Massage of Manheim, Pennsylvania. Integrate Amethysts One crystal in particular—amethyst—is the foundation for the BioMat, a device that allows heat and negative ions to penetrate the body, delivering warmth and stimulation. "Massage therapists like to use it in their waiting rooms so clients will relax and be more open before their treatment begins," says Connie Shank, customer support manager for BioMat. "Or they may use it on the massage table during treatment." Rebecca Jones is a tenured Massage & Bodywork freelance writer. She lives and writes in Denver, Colorado. Contact her at killarneyrose@comcast.net. www.abmp.com. See what benefits await you. 25