New Year New Cupping

The new year is upon us again and like every year people are making resolutions. I have been a cupping therapist for 4 years now and I think it should be on everyone's list this year. Cupping like massage therapy has many healthy benefits and helps aid with chronic issues. Cupping has been around for centuries, yes even before Michael Phelps made it very popular in the Olympics a couple years ago. Cupping uses cups placed with suction there are several different ways this is done but most are glass or silicone cups. Before trying out cupping this year there are a few things one should know:

1. It should not be painful
As massage therapists we aim to make your session as comfortable as possible so if you feel any discomfort during your session let the therapist know. The cups are placed on the skin with suction so we can adjust the pressure on the cup to make sure comfort level is tolerable. I always say you will feel pressure but should never feel pain.
2. Marks on the skin
You could possibly be left with markings on the skin which is completely normal. Whether the therapist is leaving them stationary or massaging with them, cupping can leave red circle markings or streaking on the skin for a couple weeks depending on the person. This is just from things being brought up to the surface whether from old injuries or chronic
. This is why drinking a lot of water is very important after a cupping session so you can flush it out of your system.
3. After care
Besides drinking a lot of water you should take it easy for the next day or two depending on how you feel. Everyone reacts different to cupping some maybe a little sore while others may feel no effect. A woman I recently did cupping on had severe pain after the treatment but the next day her hip pain was dramatically better so it all just depends on the individual.

These three things are just basic guidelines to help you feel comfortable with getting a cupping massage. If you don't like the idea of massage being part of it cupping can also be done by leaving the cups stationary in one area with the same great benefits. Whether you want to get rid of a chronic issue or just relax for the year before I think cupping is something you should add to your 2018.