Elo Gen 2 Complete Guide

Elo Gen 2 brings heat, cold and deep pressure together in one modular thermal therapy system. Designed around the principles of traditional hot stone practice, the system combines precise temperature control with weighted stainless steel tools for full-body thermal massage, Gua Sha, targeted pressure work and thermal placements.

This guide walks through the main features and operation of Elo Gen 2 and accompanies the Elo Gen 2 Full Product Overview and Instructional Video.

For additional product information, visit the Elo Thermal System page.

The Elo Thermal System is the hub of the Gen 2 experience. Its slim design incorporates four silicone-coated soft-touch heating pads that accept any of the three Elo Deep Pressure Tools.

Internal sensing continuously monitors temperature during heating, while the LCD display and multi-detent dial provide access to temperature control, heating modes, orientation and other settings.

Use the supplied power supply and USB-C cable. Standard phone cables and laptop chargers may not provide the required power for proper heating.

The system can be positioned in either landscape or portrait orientation. Multiple Thermal Systems can also be placed beside one another to create larger setups or independent temperature zones.

The exterior is designed to resist common oils, gels and serums used during bodywork. After use, clean the system with an appropriate hydrogen peroxide wipe or diluted isopropyl alcohol solution.

Avoid immersing the Thermal System or allowing liquid to enter its electrical connections.

For mobile treatments or easy storage, the Premium Carry Case accommodates a full Elo Plus configuration, including two Thermal Systems, tools, cables and power supplies.

The Thermal System includes a warm 2700K ambient lamp designed to provide subtle illumination around the treatment area.

When the system is not heating:

When heating is active, the lamp is enabled by default. It can be disabled through Device Settings.

The lamp can remain active for up to four hours without interaction.

To start heating, press and hold the dial.

Elo Gen 2 provides two primary heating modes: Easy Mode and Pro Mode.

Easy Mode uses preset heat levels designed to make temperature selection quick and intuitive.

Turn the dial to increase or decrease the heat level. This mode prioritizes fast heat-up and is well suited to general thermal massage and treatments where exact single-degree control is unnecessary.

Pro Mode provides finer temperature control, allowing you to select temperatures by individual degree from 100°F to 130°F.

Because Pro Mode prioritizes temperature accuracy, heating can take longer than Easy Mode.

Temperature units can be changed between Fahrenheit and Celsius in Device Settings.

From a cold starting point, Elo tools can reach working temperature in approximately five minutes. A tool returned to the Thermal System after use can reheat much faster, allowing tools to be continuously rotated during a treatment.

The heating pads themselves become hot while the system is operating. Avoid unnecessary contact with the heating surfaces.

Higher temperature settings and Rapid heating are locked by default.

To unlock them:

Unlocking provides access to temperatures above Level 4 in Easy Mode and above 120°F in Pro Mode, as well as the Rapid setting at the top of the temperature range.

Rapid provides the system's most aggressive heating and reheating performance.

Unlike standard temperature settings, Rapid requires active monitoring. Check the tool as it heats and remove it from the Thermal System as soon as it reaches the appropriate temperature for your intended use.

If left on the system, the tool will continue heating toward the system's highest temperature.

Always confirm that a heated tool is at an appropriate temperature before applying it to skin. Use additional caution with high-temperature settings and never leave Rapid heating unattended.

The display uses simple visual indicators to communicate what the Thermal System is doing.

A pulsing white pill means the system is actively heating.

When a tool is first placed onto the Thermal System, heating begins immediately, although the system may take approximately 20–30 seconds to calibrate before the pulsing indicator appears.

A steady white pill indicates that heating has finished for the selected level.

The Thermal System continues monitoring temperature afterward and automatically maintains the selected heat level.

When operating in Pro Mode, the system can indicate when a tool has fully reached its displayed target temperature.

An orange pill means that the heating interface or tool may still be hotter than the temperature currently displayed.

This can occur when:

Treat the pads and tools as hot while the orange indicator is present.

You may see heating indicators change even when no tool is sitting on a pad. This is normal.

The heating pads preheat when the system starts and maintain operating temperature so tools can begin heating quickly when placed onto the system.

Device Settings can be accessed at any time while heating by pressing the dial.

Turn the dial to move through the menu. Depending on your configuration, settings include:

To change a setting, scroll to it and press the dial. Turn the dial to choose the desired option, then press again to confirm.

Your settings are retained after the system is turned off and remain stored even if the Thermal System is unplugged for transport.

For safety, the Thermal System automatically shuts down after approximately four hours without interaction.

Even with automatic shutoff enabled, power the system off when it is no longer being used.

Gen 2 introduces three solid, forged stainless steel Deep Pressure Tools: Release, Sculpt and Soothe.

Their weight is intentional. Instead of relying entirely on force from your hands, the natural downward pressure of each tool assists massage and pressure work.

Stainless steel also stores significantly more thermal energy than traditional stone, allowing tools to remain warm or cold for longer periods.

The non-porous surface can be used with oils, gels, lotions and serums, while the hand-finished mirror surface changes how the tools interact with skin:

Tools can be cleaned with a suitable hydrogen peroxide wipe, diluted isopropyl alcohol solution or soap and water.

Release is the primary full-body massage tool. The oval tool weighs approximately one pound, giving it enough mass to provide deep pressure while remaining comfortable to move across larger muscle groups.

Use Release for warming massage, cold massage and general full-body work.

Learn more about Release.

Sculpt is a half-pound Gua Sha-style bar with contoured edges for more precise work.

It can be used on the face or body for:

Its dimensions also make it suitable for longitudinal placements alongside areas such as the erector muscles.

Learn more about Elo Sculpt.

Soothe is a two-pound weighted slab designed primarily for stationary thermal placements and compression.

Its larger mass is suited to placements such as the abdomen or lower back. The weight can also assist pressure work over larger muscle groups such as the legs and glutes.

All three tool types can be used with the Elo Thermal System.

Each Elo tool includes a fitted silicone Thermal Barrier.

The barrier creates a layer between the stainless steel and the body, allowing warmth or cold to transfer more gradually during stationary placements.

Always use the Thermal Barrier when placing a heated or cooled tool on the body and confirm that the tool temperature is appropriate before placement. Position the tool barrier-side down.

The silicone surface also provides grip, allowing compatible tools to be stacked for deeper-pressure layouts.

When stacking, make sure the tools are stable before beginning the placement and continue monitoring them as the body moves.

During cold massage, the Thermal Barrier can be used around the tool to reduce direct cold exposure to the practitioner's hand.

For warm massage on another person, direct temperature feedback from the tool is important. Do not insulate your hand in a way that prevents you from sensing excessive tool temperature.

Release and Soothe can be heated while their barriers are installed. This can be particularly useful in cool or heavily air-conditioned environments.

Sculpt should not be heated with its Thermal Barrier installed because the covered tool is not designed to fit into the Thermal System.

Clean barriers using diluted isopropyl alcohol or soap and water. Allow them to dry before reinstalling.

Elo Gen 2 tools are designed for both warming and cooling applications.

Because stainless steel has high thermal capacity, the tools can absorb and retain substantial amounts of cold, allowing everything from a refreshing room-temperature massage to intensive cold treatments.

No preparation is necessary for a mild cooling experience. Stainless steel naturally feels cool at room temperature.

If you intend to use a tool this way, keep it away from the Thermal System before treatment. Residual heat from the dock can warm tools even after heating has been turned off.

For more intense cold:

Tools can reach a distinctly cold state after roughly 10–20 minutes in a freezer.

For the lowest temperatures, tools can be frozen for 8–24 hours or overnight.

Always assess the temperature before placing or moving a deeply cooled tool across skin, and use the Thermal Barrier where appropriate.

Thermal System's onboard sensing can classify the temperature of a cold tool.

To check it:

Whenever you replace one cold tool with another, turn the dial back down to the snowflake position so the system can recognize and evaluate the newly added tool.

Thermal System can also gradually raise the temperature of a deeply chilled tool.

For example, a tool beginning at a very low freezer temperature can be brought upward toward a less intense cold or fresh temperature before use.

This provides more control over cold and contrast protocols without requiring the tool to simply warm at room temperature.

After each treatment:

Never immerse the Thermal System in water.

For a straightforward first experience:

Once you're familiar with the basic workflow, explore Pro Mode for single-degree temperature control, multiple Thermal Systems for separate temperature zones, or Cold Mode for cold and contrast experiences.

For a system containing the complete range of Gen 2 tools, see Elo Essential. Professionals building larger multi-dock setups can also review Elo for Professionals.

Thermal therapy involves exposure to hot and cold surfaces. Always confirm tool temperature before skin contact, use additional caution at higher temperatures, and actively monitor stationary placements.

Use the Thermal Barrier for placements, do not leave Rapid heating unattended, and discontinue use if a tool or treatment feels excessively hot, cold, painful or uncomfortable.

For additional product and usage information, see the Elo FAQ and the instructions supplied with your Elo products.