Medical Massage

The suction will feel tight at first (not painful) while it draws your skin up into the cup. That sensation passes quickly as your therapist moves on to place the next cup. After placing each cup on your back, shoulder, abdomen, etc, your therapist will repeat the suction process. They’ll always check to make sure you’re still comfortable. It may cause temporary bruising (known as ecchymosis), swelling, or soreness, depending on the person or the amount of treatment done. The spots left behind typically fade after several days or a week.

Often mistaken for bruises, these marks are actually caused by the blood being drawn specifically into that area via the cup's pressure. The depth of color in the marks is believed to be an indicator of the levels of stagnant blood, toxins and lymph present in the body.

Cupping is a type of deep-tissue massage; it uses small cups to create counter-pressure that works deep muscles and fascia. By lifting rather than compressing, cupping is able to facilitate the movement of muscles, fascia, and fluid in different (and very therapeutic) ways. Cupping can affect tissues up to 4 inches deep within the body much further than using deep tissue massage. This can allow comprehensive detoxification of the skin, muscular tissue, fascia, lymphatic system, and circulatory system combined.

Cupping is an effective technique to get rid of muscle tension-related aches and pains such as lower back pain; neck and shoulder aches; tension headaches and loosening of tight 'knots'

Often times we see athletes with visible circles on their bodies from a cupping therapy session! So, what are the benefits of cupping? Cupping helps the body and muscles recover by reducing pain and muscle tenderness. The benefits center around something called the fascia. Fascia is connective tissue woven throughout your body. It is also between, around, and on the surface of muscles. If there are problems with the fascia — if it is too tense, pulled, or not properly lubricated — it can cause pain and hinder athletic performance. Cupping helps lubricate the fascia, resulting in smoother, more efficient muscle movement.

Cupping therapy offers several benefits. It can:

+Help lower blood pressure
+Eliminate chronic back pain
+Ease stiffness caused by diseases such as osteoarthritis and neuralgia
+Improve digestion
+Help you relax — cupping can have a massage-like effect
+Increase energy due to improved blood flow
+Improve your skin, reducing acne and eczema
+Promote faster healing by targeting specific areas for blood flow stimulation

Dry brushing benefits may include stimulating the lymphatic system, exfoliating the skin, removing toxins, increasing circulation and energy, and reducing cellulite. The course fibers will help to remove dead skin and improve the skin's ability to eliminate toxins through the pores. Also, by unclogging pores, it's easier for the body to sweat and eliminate toxins in your system.

During a reflexology session, pressure and stimulation using the reflexology technique are applied to key points to improve blood and energy circulation, give a sense of relaxation, and maintain homeostasis. Benefits include pain reduction, relaxation, mood elevation, stress relief, and improvement in feelings of anxiety. As stress and pain are linked to health problems, it's possible that by alleviating these, reflexology could indirectly lead to other health benefits.

This is NOT your typical massage. Using light rhythmic movements your therapist will stimulate the lymphatic system without pressing hard on the vessel. They make the lymph fluid move easily through the nodes and tissues, making sure the fluid doesn't get trapped anywhere.

Lymphatic drainage massages are often used to relieve lymphedema following breast cancer surgery. Other conditions that benefit from lymphatic drainage massages are:

+ Rheumatoid arthritis: This is ongoing arthritis in your joints causing joint pain, swelling and stiffness.
+ Fibromyalgia: This condition causes chronic muscle and joint pain.
+ Chronic venous insufficiency: This happens when your leg veins aren't working effectively, making it hard for your blood to return to your heart from your legs.
+ Lipedema: This happens when excess fat accumulates in your lower body, blocking your lymphatic pathway and causing lymphedema.

A lymphatic drainage massage is a two-step process:

1. Clearing: This step releases lymphatic fluid in your tissues.
2. Reabsorption: This step moves your lymphatic fluid to your lymph nodes.

Lymphatic drainage massage, also known as manual lymphatic drainage, is a gentle form of massage used to relieve painful swelling in your arms and legs caused by lymphedema.

Lymphedema happens when your tissues retain fluid left behind after your cardiovascular system sends blood to your tissues and organs.

The remaining fluid is called lymph. Normally, your lymphatic system collects your lymph and returns it to your heart via a network of lymph vessels and lymph nodes. When something disrupts your lymphatic system's process, lymph collects in your arms and legs, making them swell.

A massage therapist uses lymphatic drainage massage techniques to move lymph from your tissues to your lymph nodes, which eases the swelling in your tissues.