Therapeutic Cupping
A Traditional Technique Thoughtfully Incorporated Into Massage
Cupping is a bodywork technique that uses gentle suction to lift the skin and underlying soft tissues. Unlike massage techniques that primarily compress the tissues, cupping creates negative pressure, allowing your therapist to approach areas of muscular tension and fascial restriction in a different way.
At Williamsburg Massage & Lymphatic Therapy, cupping is used as an adjunct to massage—not as a separate service. When appropriate, it may be incorporated into any Therapeutic or Relaxation Massage to help soften muscular knots, address fascial restriction, encourage local circulation, and improve tissue mobility.
All of our massage therapists are trained in cupping and will determine whether it may be beneficial based on your needs, comfort level, and goals for the session.
The History of Cupping
Cupping has been practiced for thousands of years, with variations appearing in ancient Chinese, Egyptian, Middle Eastern, Greek, and other traditional healing systems.
Historically, cups were made from materials such as bamboo, clay, glass, or animal horn. Heat was often used to create suction inside the cup.
Modern massage cupping uses specially designed cups to create controlled suction without fire. The amount of suction can be adjusted throughout the session, allowing the technique to be personalized for each client.
Our practice uses dry cupping only. The skin is never punctured or intentionally broken.
How Is Cupping Used During Massage?
Cupping is not intended to replace your massage. It is one of several tools your therapist may incorporate when it can enhance the overall session.
Your therapist may use cupping to:
Address areas of muscular tightness or “knots”
Gently lift and mobilize restricted fascia
Prepare tight tissue for massage
Work with areas that do not respond as well to compression alone
Encourage local blood flow
Support comfortable movement and flexibility
Reduce the amount of sustained pressure needed in sensitive areas
Because every session is individualized, cupping may be used in one specific area or intermittently throughout your massage.
The Cups We Use
We use both flexible silicone cups and firm polyurethane cups. Your therapist will select the type, size, and amount of suction based on the treatment area and the goal of the technique.
Silicone Cups
Flexible silicone cups allow the therapist to easily adjust the amount of suction. They are especially useful for dynamic cupping, in which the cup is gently moved across the skin.
Firm Polyurethane Cups
Firm cups allow for more focused placement and controlled suction. They may be used when your therapist wants to work with a specific muscle, knot, or area of restriction.
Stationary and Dynamic Cupping
Your therapist may use one or both techniques during your massage.
Stationary Cupping
During stationary, or static, cupping, one or more cups are placed over a specific area and remain there briefly.
The suction gently lifts the skin and superficial tissues into the cup. This technique may be selected for a concentrated area of muscular tension or fascial restriction.
Stationary cupping is more likely to leave circular marks, although marks do not occur on every client or with every application.
Dynamic Cupping
During dynamic cupping, massage oil or lotion is applied to the skin so the therapist can gently glide the cup across the area.
This creates a lifting and mobilizing effect as the cup moves over the muscles and fascia. Dynamic cupping can be integrated smoothly into a massage and typically uses lighter suction than stationary cupping.
Although dynamic cupping is generally less likely to create defined circular marks, temporary redness or mild discoloration can still occur.
What to Expect During Your Massage With Cupping
Before Cupping Is Used
If you have never experienced cupping before, your therapist will explain the technique, discuss the possibility of temporary marks, and obtain your permission before using it.
You are also welcome to decline cupping or request that it be stopped at any point during your session.
Please let your therapist know if you:
Bruise easily
Take blood-thinning medication
Have a bleeding or clotting condition
Have fragile or highly sensitive skin
Have a skin condition, rash, sunburn, or active infection
Have recently had surgery or sustained an injury
Are pregnant
Have previously experienced an uncomfortable reaction to cupping
Your therapist will evaluate the area and determine whether cupping is appropriate.
What Does Cupping Feel Like?
Cupping should feel like gentle-to-moderate pulling, lifting, or pressure as the tissue rises slightly into the cup.
Stationary cups may create a concentrated pulling sensation. Dynamic cupping may feel similar to a massage stroke, but with the tissues being lifted rather than compressed.
You may feel warmth, softening, or increased movement in the area. The sensation should not feel sharp, burning, or excessively painful. Let your therapist know immediately if the suction feels uncomfortable so it can be adjusted or the cup can be removed.
Understanding Cupping Marks
Will Cupping Leave Circles on My Skin?
Stationary cupping may leave temporary circular marks on the skin. Some clients develop very little discoloration, while others may notice more visible circles. It is also common for different areas of the same body to respond with different colors.
The marks are created by the suction of the cups and are simply a visible response from the skin and tissues beneath the surface. They are usually not painful and will gradually fade on their own.
What Do the Different Colors Mean?
The color gives your therapist some information about how each area responded to the cupping. In traditional cupping practices, darker areas are often associated with greater stagnation or longer-standing tissue restriction.
Marks may appear as:
Light pink or red: A mild response that often fades fairly quickly. This may occur with lighter suction, shorter placement, or in areas with less restriction.
Deep red: A stronger response that may appear in areas of increased muscular tension or reduced tissue mobility.
Purple or burgundy: Traditionally associated with areas of greater stagnation or more persistent tension. These marks may take a little longer to fade.
Speckled or uneven coloring: A normal response that can happen when different areas beneath the cup react differently.
Very little or no color: Also completely normal. A lack of visible marks does not mean the cupping was ineffective.
The appearance of the marks can also be affected by the strength of the suction, how long the cups remain in place, the treatment area, skin tone, circulation, medications, and how easily the individual bruises.
Because so many factors influence the color, we never use cupping marks by themselves to determine the severity of tension or restriction. Your therapist considers the marks along with how the tissue feels, your comfort, movement, and overall response to the session.
How Long Do Cupping Marks Last?
Cupping marks are temporary. Light redness may fade within a few hours or days, while darker marks may remain visible for several days and occasionally a week or longer.
The marks should gradually become lighter as the body naturally clears the discoloration.
Please consider upcoming events, photographs, vacations, or clothing preferences before receiving stationary cupping. If you would prefer to avoid visible marks, tell your therapist before the session. We can use lighter suction, dynamic techniques, avoid visible areas, or leave cupping out of your massage entirely.
After Your Massage
Following cupping, the treated areas may feel warm, tender, or similar to how your muscles feel after exercise. Most clients can return to their normal activities after the appointment.
For the remainder of the day:
Avoid aggressively rubbing or scrubbing cupping marks.
Avoid excessive heat or friction if the skin feels sensitive.
Keep the treated areas clean.
Stay normally hydrated.
Contact us if you develop blistering, significant swelling, severe pain, or a skin reaction.
Cupping is a complementary bodywork technique and is not a substitute for medical evaluation or treatment.
Experience Cupping During Your Massage
Cupping may be incorporated into any Therapeutic or Relaxation Massage when appropriate. All of our therapists are trained in this modality and can determine whether it would complement your massage.
If you are interested in cupping, include a note with your appointment or discuss it with your therapist during your consultation.