All About Massage Cupping (and is it for you?)

Remember when Michael Phelps showed up to the 2016 Olympics covered in round purple spots? That was cupping—an ancient therapy that’s been around for thousands of years but made its flashy modern debut on international TV.

Since then, cupping has gained popularity in both athletic recovery and massage therapy. But is it just a trend? Or could it actually help you feel better?

Let’s break it down.

What Is Cupping?

Cupping involves placing soft silicone or plastic cups on your skin and creating suction. Instead of pressing into your tissue like traditional massage, cupping gently pulls your skin, fascia, and superficial muscles upward.

This change in direction does two things:

1. The Vacuum Effect: Creating Space and Circulation

The suction separates layers of tissue—loosening tight fascia and encouraging more fluid movement. You can think of it like lifting and decompressing stuck muscle fibers or “ungluing” spots where things don’t slide well anymore.

This upward pull:

• Improves local blood and lymph flow

• Creates space between layers of tissue

• Helps release tension in hard-to-reach or pressure-sensitive areas

• May interrupt pain signals in the nervous system

It’s especially useful in places where direct pressure might feel too intense—like over the spine or near joints.

2. Controlled Inflammation: Triggering a Healing Response

Cupping also causes a very mild, superficial bruise—which is exactly the point. The suction draws blood just under the surface of the skin, breaking small capillaries without damaging deep tissues.

That small, visible bruise signals the body to respond—as if it were healing a deeper injury. This controlled inflammation:

• Triggers immune and repair mechanisms

• Increases circulation long after the cups are removed

• May reduce pain sensitivity in the area

It’s a clever biological trick: your body thinks something needs fixing and shows up to help, even though the tissue underneath is perfectly intact.

What Does It Feel Like?

Cupping feels like a gentle vacuum pulling on your skin—not painful, just unusual at first. Most people describe it as deeply relaxing once they settle into it.

You might see red or purple marks where the cups were—similar to a hickey. These aren’t painful and usually fade within a few days. For some people, they may last longer, depending on circulation and skin sensitivity.

Types of Cupping

We mostly use two kinds in the clinic:

• Fixed cupping: Cups stay in one spot for a few minutes

• Moving cupping: We apply oil and gently glide the cups, giving a massage-like effect

Often, we’ll do cupping on just one area—like your back or shoulders—while continuing hands-on massage elsewhere.

And no, it won’t eat up your session time—we can place cups on one area while we work on a different part of the body. So you’re not “losing” massage time if you want to try it.

What Cupping Is Commonly Used For

People often try cupping for:

• Muscle aches and tension

• Back or shoulder pain

• Stress or anxiety

• Fatigue

• Sports recovery

It’s also been used for things like allergies and colds, but the strongest evidence is for muscular pain and recovery.

Cupping isn’t a miracle fix or a “detox” cure-all. But for tension, soreness, and poor circulation, it can make a noticeable difference.

Is It Safe?

Cupping is generally safe when done by trained professionals.Possible side effects include:

• Temporary skin discoloration

• Mild soreness

• Rare skin irritation

⚠️ At our office, we use silicone cups only—no fire, no glass, no heat—so there’s zero risk of burns. We also check in throughout your session to keep everything comfortable.

Who Should Skip It?

Cupping might not be a good fit if you:

• Have very thin or fragile skin

• Have a bleeding disorder

• Are on blood thinners

• Have open wounds or rashes in the area

If you’re not sure, just ask—we’ll help you decide safely.

So… Is It Worth Trying?

If you're dealing with tension that won’t quit, or you're just curious about something new, cupping is a low-risk experiment.

It’s included at no extra charge during your massage if we think it’s a good fit. And if you don’t like it? We just move on. Nothing lost.

Just ask about it at your next session—we’ll walk you through it.