What is cupping massage?
Using soft silicone cups rather than heated glass cups, this ancient technique’s purpose is to promote health and healing of the body. Cupping loosens soft tissue and connective tissue, and helps to promote lymphatic flow and circulation. The technique also helps to remove stagnation around scarring and adhesions. The cups are moved over the skin using straight gliding and circular rotating techniques as well as cross fiber strokes. The suction/negative pressure created by the cups creates a lift to the soft tissue, facilitating stretching, decompression, increased movement of fluids into tissues–creating hydration, lubrication and space. Sometimes the cups are left on a spot for a short time (static application) to help encourage soft tissue release and relieve trigger points.
Who should or shouldn’t receive this add-on modality?
Cupping is contraindicated for people with pace makers, people on blood thinners such as coumadin or gingko biloba, or drugs used in the treatment of cancer. If your medications are being adjusted or you know that you have a blood clot, this is not for you.
The marks
The marks which are sometimes left by the treatment are from trapped debris that is dredged up and pulled through the tissue, as well as small broken capillaries (due to suction). These are not bruises that are the result of blunt force. Post-cupping marks will be a bit sensitive depending on the deepness of the work. Marks fade within several days to two weeks and are not harmful. If a person receives cupping in subsequent massage sessions, the areas may become less and less discolored as the tissue becomes healthier!
A bride getting married in a strapless dress may not want cupping on their back before the wedding; people in shorts might not want cupping marks on their IT bands (side of the leg)…
What to expect
Currently, I am adding soft silicone cupping to 75, 90 or 120 minute table massage sessions only. As the back is worked on manually, spots that may benefit from cupping will be worked on with the client’s permission. This will be integrated into the table massage session and a total of 10 – 20 minutes of cupping will be added. Some marks may appear as mentioned above.
Please plan to arrive well hydrated and rested to achieve maximum benefits from the massage and cupping.
A cupping add-on to your massage is $30.
Click here to view a short video of soft silicone cupping!