Cupping therapy has been around for thousands of years in many parts of the world, including China, Russia, and Iran. Its foundations stem from traditional Chinese Medicine with the idea of mobilizing blood flow, or Qi in the body, and promoting natural healing from within. Local suction is created on the skin with glass or plastic cups. The practitioner may also slide or glide the cups to create a connective tissue drag, to move stagnation, and release heat trapped in the body. Cupping promotes circulation as it lifts the skin and muscle tissue to get deep into the fascia. The cups are incorporated into the massage and can be used on any part of the body; however, the majority will be along the sides of the spine, neck, and shoulders. The cups will remain on the skin for 5-15 minutes and will typically leave a mark or “bruise” for a few days up to a few weeks. It is advisable to refrain from strenuous activity post-cupping, maintain adequate hydration, and remain covered from wind, excessive heat, cold, or swimming for at least 24 hours, and preferably wait until the next day to shower.

Gua Sha is translated to “scraping to make red.”

We use a gua sha stone, or stainless steel tool, to gently scrape the body along the muscle channels and tight fascia to break down adhesions and relieve pain. The repetitive scraping brings the heat up from within, or “sha”. Similar to cupping, there is an effect of achieving redness, where the pain or stagnation is trapped. The redness should disappear in a week or so.