Heat-Wave Amethyst Synergy Stone - Contoured Hot Stone Massage Tool for Neck, Back, Legs & Feet - Ultra-Smooth Relaxing Therapeutic Massager for Skin with Oil or Over Clothes - Perfect for Spa, Home Relaxation & Pain Relief Therapy

I'm a master massage therapist who worked in a chiro office for almost a decade & we didn't use hot stones so I got this to tabble a little & see if I like using this. I've used it a few times & its nice but only have access to a microwave to warm it & it is hard to estimate time to head. Instructions that came with it said 90s (if I recall correctly) and in a microwave that doesn't get the stone warm, much less hot. I put it on 2 mins or a little bit over & its blazing hot and I can't use it for 30 mins. This is inconvenient since my microwave & session room are a long distance apart. I don't have time to wait for it too cool off either. I'm considering a kit they sell on their website to warm it in a tray w/heating pads but IDK if I want to spend that $$$ for one tool yet. Maybe a towel cabbie warmer, but I don't have one & they're $$$ too & I know those suckers get HOT. I like the idea of knowing what temp your setting it to with the tray kit, but I imagine that they hold heat exponentially the longer they lay on it, or am I wrong? I'm now self-employed in my own practice & would like to try the other tools too but the price of this particular one went up from the $80 range to $105 in less than 2 months since I bought it. Not sure why. Won't spend more than I have to.I'm a birth doula and acupuncturist, and I thought this would be a nice addition to my bag of tricks. I have hot stones already, but I love the idea of being able to quickly microwave a tool instead of waiting for it to heat in water.In that regard, the Heat Wave delivers. It is very simple to heat in the microwave for about a 90 seconds. Unfortunately, I found that to get it hot enough to really be felt through clothes makes it too hot to hold in the hands, and it only retains heat for about ten minutes. Ten minutes is fine if I'm just using it at the end of a treatment, but if I want it for a mom in labor, it's a little disruptive to keep heating it, and having multiples to rotate through is just beyond my budget right now.The product itself is quite heavy. It's fine while someone is face down, but upright, it puts strain on my wrists. That said, the weight of it actually feels quite nice on the body. It's a really great amount of pressure and substance that you don't get from a plastic massage tool. I found that, on my self, it works sublimely under the occiput or between the scapula while lying back on the bed or floor.I tried it under my head in the bathtub, leaning back against a bath pillow and it was a pretty spectacular sensation.I think I would have given this product a higher review if the price point was lower. Much lower. I never would have spent this much on this tool if I didn't have a gift card. I very much appreciate that it is handmade and from a small company, and I'm happy to pay a little more to support that, but, gosh, my entire portable massage chair with carrying case was the same price. Yes, that chair is mass manufactured in a factory far away, and I'd much rather buy from a company here that does things by hand, but it is still a pretty steep for a piece of stoneware.Overall, it's a good tool. If you have wrist issues and will be working on someone upright, it may be too heavy for you, and though it feels great through clothes, you can't really feel the heat then, so I'd recommend it as better for bare skin, which is a bummer if you are doing work in public.However as a tool for yourself, or as a little luxurious addition to body work, it's quite lovely.I was in Seattle last week at the Market when I happen to see the Synergy Stone stand. As a massage therapist I'm always interested in different ways to make my clients pain free. As soon as I saw this tool I knew it was special, but when it was demonstrated on my back I thought I had gone to heaven it felt so good. Right away I thought of my clients and how they would benefit. I would've bought it from the seller right away but I couldn't carry it with me since I was only a visitor. Then I found out I can order it on Amazon, which was great. By the time I got back from my trip it was waiting for me at the door. Heat it for 90 seconds in the microwave and it's ready to go, not too hot on my hands, it can easily glide over clothing, I tried it on bare skin without oil it works too. I rather do it over the sheet just in case it's too hot for the client.I recently re-purchased hot stones to use at work for relaxation, and ran across this company on Amazon. Since I work on a military base in a fitness center, finding new and inventful ways to do deep tissue massage which would make life a lot easier on my body, and make my services more unique is important. I was immediately extremely impressed with the weight as soon as I opened the package. I've warmed in a hot towel cabby, as well as the large skillet warmer I use for my hot stones. It is a perfect blend of using warmth, weight, and surface to do deep tissue. I ordered the Heat Wave and two of the Sublime, and I will be placing another order today! I'm looking forward to having the entire set for not only Relaxation, but to use in my Deep Tissue and even Reflexology. WELL WORTH the price!Shipped super fast with a nice personal thank you note! Product is light weight, nicely crafted, and warms up in a timely manner. Have not used on clients yet, but my teenage son enjoyed on his shoulders!Can’t believe I waited so long to order this! Worked beautifully! Great addition to my massage business. Heavy, but in a good way! No trouble handling or using. Extra gravity to allow me to use less body weight! Saving my fingers and wrist! Good heat length! Quick reheat! Just love itI love this stone! I am a massage therapist and I bought this stone to help enhance the therapeutic effect that hot stones brings to a deep tissue massage. I tried it first in my stone warmer like any other stone, but felt it was a bit heavy and awkward. I then got a heating pad and wrapped it a towel around it, and left it to heat in that. Fantastic results! Heating it this way allows me to keep reheating it to use on other areas, not just once.Then I decided to try self massage, to see how it felt.... if you are an MT you need this stone... I literally can work anything by myself.Wonderful product!This product is sent from heaven! Warms up in microwave and last for a while! Bought massage oil too! Feels greatGreat product I love it I can’t order any moreBecause of no reason amazon changed the price no worries