Cupping therapy uses gentle suction to lift the skin and the tissue beneath it, the opposite of the pressing most massage relies on. It may reach tight areas that pressure alone does not, and it can leave round marks that fade over a few days. At Serenity Zen, cupping is an enhancement you can add to any service, and you choose where the cups go.
The short answer
How it works: suction lifts the tissue instead of pressing it down.
How it feels: a firm, steady pull, never sharp.
The marks: round, pink to deep purple, and they fade over a few days.
Where: you choose. The upper back and shoulders are an easy first choice.
How to add it: choose Cupping after you pick your service online.
How cupping works
A cup is placed on the skin, and suction draws the tissue up into it. Instead of pushing muscle down toward the bone, the cup lifts it, which gives the area a different kind of stretch than pressure can.
Cupping has a long history in Chinese medicine and in other traditional systems of care. Like tui na, the hand technique beneath Zen Flow® massage, it comes out of that tradition.
What it feels like
A firm, steady pull. Over a tight spot the pull can feel strong at first, then easier as the area settles, but it should never feel sharp. Say so if a cup feels too strong, and it can be released or reset with lighter suction. Afterward, the area often feels warm and loose.
What it may help
Cupping may help broad, dense areas that hold tightness, such as the upper back, the shoulders and the muscles along the spine. Because it lifts rather than presses, it can reach tight areas that pressure alone does not seem to change. It is also worth trying if you like the feeling of deep work but tend to tense up under heavy pressure.
What the marks mean
The round marks come from blood drawn toward the surface by the suction. Some of the smallest vessels just under the skin leak a little, and that shows as a circle, from pale pink to deep purple. The color depends on how strong the suction was, how long the cups stayed on, and your own skin.
They usually fade over a few days, and darker marks lighten gradually, much as a bruise does.
They are not toxins leaving the body.
A darker mark does not mean the session worked better, and a pale one does not mean it failed.
They do not mean the work was too rough.
In Chinese medicine, darker marks have traditionally been read as a sign that qi and blood are not moving freely. It is a long-standing reading, and research on what the color means is still limited.
Plan around them. If you have a wedding, a pool day or a sleeveless outfit coming up, keep the cups where clothing will cover, or wait until after.
When to skip it, or ask first
Skip it over broken skin, a sunburn, a rash or a fresh bruise.
If you take a blood thinner, bruise easily or have a bleeding disorder, check with your doctor first, since marks can be larger and slower to fade.
If you are pregnant, or have a skin condition or an ongoing medical condition, check with your doctor first.
From our therapists
Pressure pushes a tight spot down; a cup lifts the tissue around it. When a spot has not changed after a few sessions of firm work, that change of direction is worth trying.
Common questions
How do I add cupping?
Cupping can be added to any service. When you book online, enhancements are offered after you choose your service. You can also ask at the front desk.
Do cupping marks hurt?
Usually not. Some people feel mild tenderness for a day, and it tends to fade well before the color does.
How soon can I have cupping again?
Wait until the marks from last time have faded before cupping the same area again.
Is cupping better than deep tissue?
Not better, just different. Deep tissue presses into the muscle and cupping lifts it, so some people like both in one visit: firm pressure on most of the back, and cups where it stays tight. For a warmer option, see hot stone massage.
Book your massage
Serenity Zen has studios in West Covina and Diamond Bar. Open daily, 10 AM to 9 PM.