They're expected
Circular marks where the cups sat, anywhere from light pink to deep purple. They come from blood drawn toward the surface, not from impact.
Massage in Chico
Cupping therapy
Cupping therapy
in Chico
Suction cups that lift and decompress the tissue instead of pressing into it, worked into a massage when an area calls for it.
How it works
Lift, rather
Lift, rather
than press.
Most massage pushes into the tissue. Cupping does the opposite: a cup creates suction on the skin and draws the tissue up into it, making space between the layers rather than compressing them.
Cups can be left in place for a few minutes, as in the photograph here, or moved over oiled skin so the suction travels along a muscle. At Kinetic Freedom, cupping is part of a massage session rather than a separate treatment: the cups do some of the work, and the hands do the rest.
It tends to suit broad, dense areas: the back and shoulders, the hips, and the backs of the legs.
Good to know
The marks, explained
The round marks cupping leaves are the part people ask about most.
They fade in days
Most are gone within a few days to about a week. They rarely hurt, though the area can feel tender, like after a deep massage.
Plan around them
Wedding, swim meet or photos coming up? Mention it at the intake and cupping can stay off visible areas, or wait until afterwards.
Who it suits
When it earns its place.
Cupping is not added to every session. It goes where it does something the hands cannot do as well.
- Tight backs and shoulders. Large, dense areas where lifting the tissue can do more than pressing on it.
- Active bodies. The big muscle groups that training loads week after week. See sports massage.
- People who find heavy pressure too much. Because it lifts rather than presses, cupping can work dense areas without deep pressure.
- Stubborn spots. Combined with myofascial release on areas that have stopped responding to stretching.
Pricing
Booked as part of a massage.
Cupping happens inside a massage, so you book the length you want and ask for it at the start. Forty-five minutes or longer leaves room for the cups and the hands-on work around them.
7.25% sales tax is added at checkout. No deposit, and no membership.
Reviews
Booked, and booked again
5.0 stars across 91 Google reviews.
“Thank you Isaac for being such a wonderful human being and healer. He is a master at his craft and seems to truly love what he does and loves sharing the plentiful benefits of massage. He has a special kind of touch that carries that perfect weight and pressure without sending you off the table. He's great at listening to my needs and tailoring each session accordingly.”
“Have been going to Isaac for over 3 yrs. He is fabulous. I feel has found his calling/profession. He truly cares about his clients. I recommend him highly”
“Isaac with Kinetic Freedom is an excellent massage therapist. He takes his time and is very attuned to his clients' needs. The environment is calm and relaxing, and his work is effective without being too rough. Highly recommend.”
Been in already? Leave a review
Questions
Cupping, answered
Most people describe a tight, pulling sensation rather than pain. The strength of the suction can be turned down, so say if it is too much.
Usually a few days to about a week. Darker marks tend to take longer to fade. They rarely hurt, though the area can feel tender, much like after a deep massage.
No. Book any massage length and ask for cupping at the start of the session. It is worked in where it is useful, alongside hands-on work.
Cupping has a long history in traditional medicine in China and elsewhere. Here it is used as a massage technique: a tool for the soft tissue, used alongside hands-on work, rather than as a traditional medicine treatment.
Tell Isaac before the session if you take blood thinners, bruise very easily, are pregnant, or have a skin condition, sunburn, a rash or broken skin in the area. Cupping can be skipped or kept well away from those areas.
Related
Often combined in the same session
Every massage is tailored, so these are tools rather than separate bookings. Most sessions use more than one.
Deep Tissue Massage
Slow, specific pressure into the deeper layers that hold chronic tension, warmed up to rather than forced.
Sports Massage
For training blocks, race build-ups and the weeks after: the legs, hips and shoulders that do the work.
Myofascial Release
Sustained work on the connective tissue that wraps every muscle, for areas that feel stuck rather than sore.
Book
Book a session
Book a session
with cupping.
Choose a length and ask for cupping at the intake. Monday – Friday, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM.
or call (530) 715-1180