Massage therapy can be an amazing experience. Whether you are looking for a way to relax at the end of a long week, hoping to help an injury recover a little more quickly or trying to find spiritual balance in your busy life, taking time to treat yourself to a massage can be very beneficial. There are a wide variety of massages to pick from, ranging from Swedish massages meant to relax you and ease your muscles, to sports massages that are designed to ease athletic discomfort and speed up the recovery process. There might be different health benefits associated with different types of therapy techniques, which is why you will want to consult with a knowledgeable therapist who has the proper experience and education from an accredited school.

Hot stone massages originated from Native American practices where stones were warmed on an open fire and applied to aching muscles to ease the pain. The modern version of the hot stone massage, however, was created by Mary Nelson, who trademarked her massage technique as LaStone Therapy. According to Anitra Brown with TripSavvy.com, though several spas will offer their own version of hot stone massages, the technique is one that should only be practiced by individuals who are trained and certified in the practice. If it is your first time trying hot stone massage therapy, Brown advises that you seek out a LaStone massage therapist as you will know for certain that they are trained and certified in the LaStone technique.