Stone Waters Massage™: Mission Statement

Interview with Eliana & Slaven Trinaistic of Stone Waters Massage Education, October 07

Why should prospective students of massage choose your massage school or program to train as a hot stone therapist or practitioner?

Since establishing our school in 2001, and during our work in the field of massage therapy since 1997, we have grown significantly both as therapists and as educators. At this point we feel we can offer a truly comprehensive training that combines Eastern with Western bodywork. We offer a continuing education type of training that is pursued mostly by registered massage therapists, but we do have beginners in our classes as well as people interested in cross-training (such as estheticians, yoga teachers, naturopathic doctors, etc.).No other school has made such a consistent and significant effort over the years to formulate the theory of (hot) stone massage by trying to bridge the gap between Eastern and Western bodywork.

What type(s) of massage therapy (massage program) do you teach at your massage school, and can you give a definition and background/history on this particular type of massage technique?

We teach primarily stone therapy (hot and cold) at several levels (Introductory, Advanced and Advanced with Clinical Practice) and we provide home study courses for people who cannot reach us.We also work with the general public providing training in pregnancy shiatsu (for expectant couples) and generally promoting birthing at home. The history of hot stone therapy is still unclear, but our research suggests that it is based in the Eastern practices rather than Native tradition as was originally thought.  Volcanic stones have been used in massage in China and Japan from the 6^th century onward. 

However, practices such as acupuncture, cupping and moxibustion diminished the need for stone massage and it eventually disappeared.

 

What makes your massage school different than the rest?

Well, as we have mentioned previously – it is the combination of styles and techniques we apply that makes us truly unique. Being therapists ourselves, we have great concern about how practitioners use their bodies and their life energy, and we try to work with the Chi while gaining an increased awareness of body ergonomics and breathing.

Providing therapy for someone in need is a sort of karma yoga practice too and it can bring health and joy if the Chi is used in a mindful and balanced way. We are also approved in all Canadian provinces (except B.C., where we have not yet applied) which makes us the most universally recognized Canadian hot stone therapy training option.

At the moment, we are also engaged in establishing a similar level and format of training in Eastern and Southern Europe.

How long is your massage program(s), and what kind of commitment is required?

We realized long ago that massage therapists are busy professionals, and the type of knowledge they use best is mostly kinesthetic. Therefore, our courses are short –  one, two, or 2.5 days at most – with some additional home work so as to accumulate the number of hours required by a variety of Massage Colleges.

In terms of commitment, it does require some discipline because it is a partially self-directed learning, although there is usually an 8-month deadline for submissions to be completed and certificates to be issued.

 

Do you have a program for international students of massage?

At the moment we do not accommodate international students in Toronto, but in summer we go to Europe (Croatia) to teach and to continue working toward establishing an international massage therapy centre.

As a matter of fact, next summer (September 2007) we are organizing a massage therapy retreat that will qualify for CEUs and provide an opportunity to travel and learn near the beautiful Mediterranean Sea. More details will be posted on our web-site in November of 2006, so please log in and check us out often.

And finally, in your opinion, what makes a good massage therapist or massage practitioner?

The ability to embrace our own humanity is the condition necessary for us to grow as therapists.  The etymology of the word “therapist” suggests someone “who walks with me”. The pace of walk and life changes quickly, and we as therapists are not always able to either follow “the walker” (client) or lead him/her if required, or even to be compassionate and patient enough to wait for change to happen.

However, we can try our best, and in this constant effort of trying our best while being humanly as much as we can be, we sometimes experience and witness truly amazing moments. When healing happens to someone, part of me will be healed too.

 

We have been recognized by following Colleges and Associations: