Stone massage therapy is the use of smooth hot or cold stones, usually basalt or marble, during massages. When heated stones are used, muscles relax allowing the massage therapist to work deeper into the muscle without the discomfort of regular deep tissue massage. Many times stone massage therapy will use cold stones placed on sinuses to help a client with sinus congestion.

Stones of all shapes and sizes and varying temperatures, ranging from zero to 140 degrees, are used during a Stone massage therapy to elicit physical healing, mental relaxation, and a spiritual connection to earth energy.

Warm stones encourage the exchange of blood and lymph and provide soothing heat for deep-tissue work. Cold stones aid with inflammation, moving blood out of the area, and balancing male/female energies.

Stones are placed in varying positions on the body for energy balancing or may be used by the therapist for specific trigger-point work. The alternating heat and cold of thermotherapy brings the entire body into the healing process, with a rapid exchange of blood and oxygen and alternating rise and fall of respiration rate as the body seeks homeostasis.

Stone therapy requires less effort from the practitioner’s own body and delivers healing warmth to the hands, benefitting the therapist, as well as the client. Founder Mary Harrigan drew from the wisdom of ancient healers in using thermotherapy as the basis for her approach.