The Idea Behind Cupping
Most massage techniques push tissue down. Cupping is the opposite. The cup creates suction, which pulls the skin and superficial fascia up. That lift creates separation between layers that have stuck together, increases local blood supply, and decompresses tissue that's been compressed by hours of bad posture or repetitive movement.
We use silicone cups primarily, sometimes glass with a manual pump for deeper work. No fire, no flames. The technique is precise, controlled, and adjusted based on what your tissue needs and how you respond.
Two Ways We Use Cupping
Stationary cupping: The cups sit in place for five to fifteen minutes over a tight area. This is what creates the round marks people associate with cupping. Those marks aren't bruises. They're stagnant fluid being pulled to the surface, where the body can clear it. They typically fade within three to seven days.
Sliding (gliding) cupping: The cup is moved across oiled skin while maintaining suction. This feels like an inverted massage stroke. It's our go-to for tight backs, glutes, and IT bands. It rarely leaves the same darker marks because the suction isn't held in one spot.
What It Helps
- Chronic back tightness, especially the upper traps and rhomboids
- IT band issues in runners and cyclists
- Tight glutes and hip flexors from prolonged sitting
- Old scar tissue that's restricting movement
- Sluggish lymphatic flow and minor swelling (with light sliding technique)
- Stubborn knots that don't respond to standard pressure work
What to Expect
If cupping is your full session, plan on 60 minutes that includes setup, warm-up, and the cupping itself. As an add-on, we usually allocate fifteen to twenty minutes within a longer massage. The sensation is unusual the first time. It's a tight pulling feeling rather than pressure. Most clients describe it as oddly satisfying once they get used to it.
Yes, you may end up with circular marks on your back. They're not painful. They're a visible sign that cupping did what it was supposed to do in that spot. If you have a beach trip or wedding photo coming up, mention it during booking and we'll go lighter or skip stationary cups.
Aftercare
Drink water. Avoid hot showers and heavy training the day of. Mild fatigue is normal. Most clients feel noticeably looser the next morning, sometimes immediately.
When to Skip Cupping
Avoid cupping if you bruise easily, take blood thinners without doctor's clearance, have skin conditions in the treatment area (eczema flare-ups, sunburn, open wounds), are pregnant (we modify or skip), or have a history of deep vein thrombosis or other clotting disorders. We'll always screen at intake.
Pricing
60-minute cupping-focused session is $115. Cupping as a 15 to 20-minute add-on within a 90-minute massage is $25. Travel within our service area is included. Combo packages with deep tissue are popular and discounted, see pricing.
Stuck Tissue, Meet Cupping
If you've been chasing the same knot for months, it's time to try something different. Book a cupping session and let's see what we can do.
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