Cupping gets a little publicity every now and again – celebrities and athletes sporting big ugly round marks that look like they came off second best in a fight with a vacuum cleaner. The most common reaction being – I’d never do that, it looks like it HURTS!!!! Well let me tell you brother, you are MISSING OUT. The sensation is a deep, glorious pull on all that built-up tension — and most people are surprised by how good it feels.
Cupping is a wonderful thing that has been around for centuries, used in a plethora of different ways, all across the globe – even in Greek and Roman times.
Now don’t get me wrong, cupping can be a bit of a menace in the hands of the wrong person. The most common mistake being the one strength fits all approach – MEGA-STRONGGGGGG – leaving people strutting about like black and blue peacocks and feeling completely wiped out. For some people these marks are going to happen regardless – when muscles are badly tight and bound up or injuries are old, even a light application can leave a nasty dark mark – but for most of us, if cups are applied with consideration of your body type and condition, marks should be much less angry, or even not there at all. And we do prefer the term marks, rather than bruises, because bruises are caused by injury! Science isn’t exactly pouring resources into finding out what those marks actually are, and nobody can tell you with certainty. The traditional explanation is that cupping draws stagnation to the surface — that’s how the technique has been described for centuries, rather than a physiological finding.
As a practitioner I have found cupping invaluable for musculoskeletal work in particular. My favourite practice is that of ‘sliding cups’ performed using silicon cupping vessels – a modern technique created and taught by cupping guru Bruce Bentley. When these cups are moved very slowly over a tight muscle group, the effect is quite different to static cupping – slower, broader, and most people find it deeply relaxing. It’s my favourite technique for muscular tension and tightness. You really need to check it out for yourself.
A quick note — cupping isn’t for everyone. If you’re on blood thinners, have a skin condition where we’d be working, or you’re pregnant, say so before we start.
