What are the benefits of cupping?

You probably remember those dark circle marks that Michael Phelps was sporting during the 2016 Olympics. Actually cupping therapy has been around for thousands of years, however it was not well known until recently as more and more professional athletes have spoken publicly about the benefits of cupping therapy.

Cupping has been known to help athletes heal and recover from injuries faster and decrease recovery time after undergoing strenuous training. Cupping helps to stimulate the chemical breakdown of toxins that delay muscles and tissue from healing. As the cup is applied, the suction it creates pulls the muscle and tissue beneath it away from the bone. This allows fresh blood and lymphatic fluids to circulate into the gap and removes the inflammation trigger. There are actually two main types of cupping therapy: Traditional Method and Myofascial Decompression. Traditional cupping is a targeted treatment that can help address specific aches and pains. The cups are placed on the skin to create a suction-effect around major muscle groups to increase blood flow to the area. The cups are left on the skin for about 10-or-so minutes. Myofascial Decompression uses the same technique as the traditional method, but the cups are continuously moved or dragged to rid the body of waste/toxins.

Nope, not painful. However, some areas that may hold more tension can be slightly uncomfortable at times and you might experience more soreness. Think of it as a deep-tissue massage, but in reverse. The good news: most clients will experience the benefits of cupping immediately, within their first session.

Generally, cupping marks can last anywhere from three days to a couple weeks. All skin types are different and there’s no real way to know how your body will respond until you try.

If you’re making this part of a training regimen, you definitely want your treatment within 24 hours of a really hard workout. You will also want to give yourself 24 hours recovery before hitting those muscle groups again. On average, clients typically come monthly for cupping, but if this is someone who’s actively training – sessions will be more frequent.