What is Cupping?

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Massage Cupping is an adapted therapy that finds its roots in Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurvedic Medicine. We focus on using the suction cups within the paradigm of massage therapy. The effects can produce greater results faster that last longer.

Suction from the cups tugs the skin, tissues and muscles upwards to relax muscles, release connective tissue, and increase blood and lymph flow in ways that regular compression massage alone can't do.

​Cupping also helps increase the energy flow or Qi throughout the body, according to Chinese Medicine concepts.

Massage Cupping is a fantastic deep tissue and myofascial release tool.

In Massage Cupping, the cups are kept in motion over the body most of the time instead of leaving them in one spot for 10-20 minutes as is typical in Chinese Medicine. The Massage Therapist may "park" the cups over a trouble spot about 2-5 minutes to soften the area while working with the tissue under the cup by doing range of motion on a joint. 
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The effects are quite remarkable, especially when combined with traditional compression massage. 

There are a variety of cups used, such as glass, silicone, manual pump cups, and vacuum machine.  I do NOT do Fire Cupping (a flame is placed inside a glass cup to create the vacuum for suction.)

Please see Contraindications page to make sure you do not have a health issue that would prevent you from receiving Cupping.
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Negative pressure from the suction cups adds a whole new dimension as the suction and movement techniques combine as a deep and soothing approach to soft tissue manipulation.

Scars disappear, ROM improves, tissue softens and regains elasticity, lymph liquifies and moves, pain levels decrease, and blood flow increases to help move deep inflammation out of the tissues.

Types of Cups Used

Medical Grade Silicone

These soft and flexible cups feel great sliding over the muscles.

Magnetic Cups

These cups have a positive and negative magnet in them to stimulate energy flow.

Glass Cups with Bulbs

 Glass cups come in various sizes and shapes and are effective on neck/back.

Special Face Cups

Special light suction cups are used on face to prevent "marks." Helpful for sinuses, TMJ, lymphatic drainage, and headaches.

Manual Pump Cups

The vacuum is created by a manual pump pulling out the air in the cup.

MediCupping Machine

Machine controlled vacuum therapy.
Massage Cupping can achieve powerful results in:
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  • Reduce Appearance of Cellulite
  • Pain Reduction
  • Joint Mobilization
  • Lymph Drainage
  • Scar Reduction
  • Pre- and Post-Operative Therapy to​ Shorten Recovery Time & Enhance Surgical Results
  • Releasing Tight, Contracted Muscle Tissue
  • Contouring the Face & Body
  • Assisting with Weight Loss Programs
  • Athletic Performance Enhancement
  • Detoxification – Movement of Stagnation
  • Skin Toning and Firming
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Reduce the Appearance of Cellulite
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Olympian Athlete, Michael Phelps
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Hollywood Celebrity, Gwyneth Paltrow
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Possible therapeutic markings from moving cups. Does not hurt and will go away in 2-5 days generally.

What are the dark circles?
​Will I have them?

Making cupping "marks" is not necessarily an objective in massage cupping, but it can happen and will vary from person to person. Any temporary markings that may appear are therapeutic signs and nothing to fear.

Tell your Therapist if you have any concerns and she will work with you to minimize any potential markings.

Cupping increases blood flow, bringing fresh oxygen and nutrients to the tissues and helps to release and flush out toxins trapped in the tissues through the lymphatic system.

The marks can vary in color on the same person on different areas of the body. It depends on what is in the tissue in that area and if the cups are kept in motion or parked a few minutes.

​The dark purple red color is old stagnant blood and toxins that was trapped in the tissue that has been pulled to the surface for the body to release. They will generally disappear within a few hours to a week and up to two weeks in some cases.  

Even while keeping the cups moving, you may still have some type of markings on the skin, depending on what is in your tissue and what needs to be released. See back photo to the left.

They are NOT really "bruises."

Although they are often called "bruises," they are really not a bruise. They are more like a hickey. Although they may look scary, they don't hurt and often you would not know they were there unless you saw them in a mirror.

The darker they are the more old congested blood and toxins have been pulled up to the skin surface for the body to release.  

This short video will demonstrate how cupping marks reveal issues in the tissues.

Potential Cup Markings on Skin from Cupping:

The Mind-Body Connection

Working with the body is also working with the mind.
The subconscious mind is in the body and it holds emotional memory from past events. "The issues are in the tissues."

​This mind-body connection is why we feel "butterflies" in our stomach, a "broken heart" from grief, or our throat gets dry with the stress of public speaking.

One of the best ways to support personal transformation is to free your body.

By releasing "stuck" connective tissue and muscles and freeing the "energy" that has been trapped here, you are simultaneously freeing your mind and emotions to naturally and effortlessly respond differently.

This YouTube *video will give you a better idea of what to expect
​in a Massage Cupping session.
(*Not a video made by me.)

Interesting Articles:
​Effects on Fibromyalgia 
​Relief for the Face, Head and Neck
What are the Benefits of Cupping Massage
​Solid Bloat - What if We're Not Fat