You may remember the 2016 Rio Olympic Games, when Olympic swimmers Michael Phelps and Natalie Coughlin stood on the medal podiums with round bruises noticeable on their backs and shoulders. Their interviews revealed the secret behind the “marks.” Both reported using cupping to help enhance their performance. Many professional athletes consider cupping as their “most effective health and fitness ‘secret.’” Nicole Beasley Massage and Bodywork in Lavonia offers cupping as an add-on service to our massage therapy. Cupping, paired with general massage, is encouraged to address musculoskeletal issues, promote quick muscle recovery, increase circulation and release of toxins, enhance sports performance, target acupressure meridian points, and increase overall health.
Reasons You Should Add Cupping to Your Massage
Reasons You Should Add Cupping to Your Massage
What is Cupping?
Ancient Chinese healers have used vacuum pressure as treatment for ailments for as long as massage practices have been recorded. At Nicole Beasley Massage and Bodywork, we apply the small plastic cups to various locations on the body and use a hand pump to draw out the air.
When the suction is created, it holds the cups tightly against the skin, keeping air from entering and drawing the skin up into the cup, stretching and loosening the tissues. Cupping draws blood to the body's surface, triggering hormonal reactions that stimulate healing and fight inflammation. It also allows for easier muscle manipulation, which enables deep tissue manipulation without pain and discomfort. It is said that five minutes of cupping is equivalent to 30 minutes of deep tissue massage. Some rely on cupping alongside massage to bring pain scores down faster and to achieve relaxation and healing in less time than it would take with massage alone.
How to prepare and what to expect from a Cupping Treatment
If this is your first time seeking a cupping treatment, you’ll likely have questions about how to prepare and what to expect from the process. The professionals at Nicole Beasley Massage and Bodywork will obtain your health history and any pain or musculoskeletal issues that need to be addressed. Your massage therapist may perform a light general massage, applying further pressure to the body areas designated for the cupping session. Stretching and some massage in the cupping areas may take place. The stationary cups are used for areas of need and are left for up to six minutes or so.
After your session has ended, you may experience circular “redness” or “bruising” marks where the cups were applied. Those will fade over time, and it is part of the process. It is important that after your massage, you hydrate and stay warm (cupping can make some feel feverish from pulling toxins out of the body) and rest if needed.
If you are suffering from muscle pain, trust that Nicole Beasley Massage and Bodywork can help you approach the pain with holistic healing solutions. Book today!