Cupping is a modality part of the Chinese Medical system that involves glass cups being suctioned onto an area of the body with the help of fire. Cups are either moved around or placed stationary and left on for a certain amount of time, decided by the practitioner, depending on what is being treated. 

Cupping has a variety of benefits, including releasing muscle tension, improving circulation, breaking up knots, draining lymph nodes, and strengthening the immune system. It is best for pain conditions caused by musculoskeletal issues or for anyone who wants deep tissue relaxation.

Cupping works by bringing old stagnant blood to the surface so that new blood can be produced and supplied to the area.

During a treatment, you can feel tightness from the suction of the cups but it feels amazing and very releasing. It is often described as feeling similar to a deep tissue massage but instead of downward pressure, there is a decompression of the muscular tissues.

It is common to have marks left on the skin that resemble a bruise after a cupping session that can last for up to a week, depending on each individual. The marks left behind is the old stagnant blood that has been brought to the surface and new blood will be replacing it. As time goes on and the area starts to heal and feel better, the marks will become lighter and disappear a lot faster.

No, and most often you forget they are there. After treatment, most patients feel extremely relaxed, 24-48 hours later you make feel a muscular soreness, similar to what you would feel after a tough workout. There is lactic acid that is built up in our muscular tension being released and re-absorbed by the body. Even though you felt relaxed, there was a lot of work done to your body so you feel as if you worked out.