Cupping is an ancient Chinese form of massage therapy where glass, plastic, or bamboo cups are used to create suction on the skin’s surface. This mobilizes blood flow and allows for a deeper release during the massage. The suction in the cups causes the skin and superficial muscle layer to be lightly drawn into the cup.
Our cupping technique uses a glass that is warmed to create a partial vacuum, so that it can be “stuck” on the skin. In some cases, the cup may be moved while the suction of skin is active. This causes a regional pull of the skin and muscles (known as gliding cupping), which is an attempt to “re-start” the circulation of blood in the body.
Cupping is one of the best deep tissue therapies available. Scientifically, this technique is known to help activate the lymphatic system, promote blood circulation and aid deep tissue repair. It is thought to affect tissues up to four inches deep from the external skin. Toxins can be released, blockages can be cleared, and veins and arteries can be refreshed within these four inches of affected materials. Even hands, wrists, legs, and ankles can be ‘cupped,’ thus applying the healing to specific organs that correlate with these points.