Hot Stone Massage Course

Add Hot Stone Massage To Your Treatment Menu

Hot stone massage places smooth, water-heated stones at points on the body and works them through the massage routine, so the warmth does some of the work your hands would otherwise have to. Clients book it for deeper muscle relaxation than a standard massage gives them, and it is a treatment that sits at a higher price point on a treatment list because of the setting up it involves.

You study online at your own pace. Each unit has video tutorials and an eBook covering the theory, and every unit is assessed as you go — if an assessment needs another attempt, you can resubmit as many times as you need, at no extra cost. You keep your course materials for life, so you can go back over the routine whenever you want to refresh it.

What You’ll Be Able To Do

• Carry out a full hot stone massage — the routine from start to finish, and the aftercare advice that follows it.
• Work with the stones themselves — a dedicated unit covers the stones, how they are heated and how to handle and place them safely.
• Explain what the treatment offers, including the spiritual tradition behind it, both covered as units in their own right.
• Work to the hygiene standards the treatment needs, which has its own unit alongside the general health and safety training.
• Screen your client properly, recognising contra-indications and handling contra-actions if they arise.
• Read the anatomy that matters — skin, muscles, the skeletal system, blood and circulation and the lymphatic system — and recognise skin types, diseases and disorders so you know when to refer a client on.
• Set yourself up to work — insurance, promoting your services, reception duties and taking payments are all covered in the Foundation module.

What To Learn Alongside Hot Stone Massage

Hot stone massage builds on the same handling as a classical massage routine, so it pairs naturally with the rest of our massage training. Body massage is the full-body Swedish routine most therapists learn first, Indian head massage works the head, face, neck and shoulders, and bamboo massage brings bamboo canes into the treatment. If you would rather learn more than one, the Ultimate Massage Course covers body, Indian head and hot stone massage in a single package.

Hot Stone Massage Course FAQs

Do I need any experience or an existing massage qualification?

No, though it helps to be comfortable with a standard massage routine, because hot stone work builds on the same handling. The course assumes no prior training and takes you through the Foundation, anatomy and physiology and skin healthcare modules before the stones.

Why do clients book hot stone massage?

Most book it for a deeper sense of relaxation than a standard massage, because the warmth of the stones lets the work go further with less pressure. It is also a treatment clients see as a step up from a regular massage, which is why it usually carries a higher price on a treatment list.

What stones are used, and how are they heated?

The course covers the stones as a unit in their own right — the stones themselves, how they are heated in water, and how to handle and place them safely through the routine.

How long does it take?

There are thirty-one units, the most of any of our single holistic courses, because the treatment module alone runs to eight. There is no deadline, and most students complete their training within a few weeks to a few months.

How is the course delivered?

Everything is online. Each unit has video tutorials and an eBook covering the theory, including stone placement and the routine itself, and you can study from a computer, tablet or phone.

How am I assessed?

Every one of the thirty-one units has an assessment you complete online. The Hot Stone Massage module is assessed across eight units covering the introduction, hygiene, benefits, the stones, the spiritual effects, contra-indications, the routine and aftercare. If you do not pass first time, you can resubmit as many times as you need, at no extra cost.

Is the course accredited?

Yes. The Hot Stone Massage Course is accredited by ABT, IPHM and IGCT, and recognised by insurers including Towergate, Radius, Insync and Balens. Insurers set their own requirements, so check what your chosen provider needs before you start taking clients.

Is business training included?

Yes, and it is worth using here because hot stone sits at a higher price point than a standard massage and takes longer to set up between clients. The Foundation module covers promoting your services, reception duties, taking payments, insurance and the legislation that applies once you start working with clients.

What support do I get?

You get feedback from experienced tutors as you work through the units, and access to our private student group where you can ask questions and share your work.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes. You can spread the cost over three interest-free payments at the checkout.