Choosing a massage shouldn’t feel like a guessing game. Two of the most popular—and very different—options are hot stone  and deep tissue  massage. One soothes with warmth and flow; the other digs deep to release chronic tension. Below is a clear, practical comparison to help you decide which is best for your needs, plus examples of who benefits most, how sessions can be combined, and how to communicate pressure and expectations with your therapist. What hot stone massage doe