Hot Stone Massage is a specialty massage that uses smooth, heated stones to promote relaxation and to help open up the energy pathways. As the stone cools, the therapist replaces it with another. The heat of the stones helps muscles release more quickly than in traditional massage. The therapist might also leave heated stones in specific points along your spine, in the palms of your hand, on your belly, or even between your toes to improve the flow of energy in your body. You should speak up if the stones are too warm or the pressure too intense. If you have inflammation or muscle injury, cold stones are sometimes used.

The benefits of Hot Stone Massage are to: promote deep muscle and tissue relaxation, alleviate stress, release toxins, relieve pain, and improve circulation. The health conditions that can be treated with Hot Stone Massage are: muscular aches and pains, back pain, muscle guarding due to arthritis, fibromyalgia, stress and anxiety, circulatory problems, insomnia, and depression. A Hot Stone Massage is not indicated or would have to be modified in someone whom has a lack or change in skin sensation related to temperature in any area of his or her body and advanced diabetes where the circulation is severely impaired in the extremities.