A hot stone massage is a type of massage therapy. It’s used to help you relax and ease tense muscles and damaged soft tissues throughout your body.

During a hot stone massage, smooth, flat, heated stones are placed on specific parts of your body. The stones are usually made of basalt, a type of volcanic rock that retains heat. 

Massage therapists may hold heated stones as they massage your body using Swedish massage techniques such as:

• long strokes
• circular movements
• vibration
• tapping
• kneading