M e m b e r Pe r s p e c t i v e
Acupuncture and Cupping
The Gym Just Upped Its Spa Game
By Christine Jelley
place . At the end of the session , Maria moved the still attached cups around my upper back , creating an intense massage from the inside out . It was very comparable to a deep-tissue massage but achieved via suction .
Cupping is something every Fitness Incentive athlete should experience for muscle pain , stiffness , or deep relaxation .
ou may have noticed the new sign
Yfor acupuncture and cupping Home Stretch ... displayed at the gym . I did and thought , “ Wow , cupping . Cool . Trendy . A little scary .” I had seen the round marks on the backs of Olympic swimmer Michael Phelps , and Hollywood best friend , Jennifer Aniston , both public examples of people who need to stay on top of their game . Not one to shy away from temporary circles and with no world championship or movie premiere on the schedule , I gave it a try . Incentives Spa put me in touch with Maria Hogan , licensed Acupuncturist / Massage Therapist / Cupping Practitioner .
14 original art by Christine
Maria is super-nice and put me on the calendar for a Friday at 11:00 AM . She met me at the Incentives front desk and led me to one of the spotless and relaxing treatment rooms . No matter what you have done , the treatment rooms are low-key and impeccably clean . ( It matters ). There is a form to fill out asking about your problem areas and general health . Maria uses acupuncture in conjunction with cupping , although you can easily request either treatment exclusive of the other . I was having specific neck / shoulder pain and generalized anxiety so Maria decided on a “ Wellness ” acupuncture treatment to start . I removed my tee shirt and laid face down on the massage table . Twentyeight one-time use needles were placed along the meridians on my back that carry “ Qi ,” pronounced “ chee .” The careful placement of the needles permits Qi , meaning energy , to flow where it is blocked , bringing wellness to the body . Once all the needles are in place , I relaxed for 15 minutes , allowing the acupuncture to do its job . The needles did not hurt me at all , although some people may experience a small amount of discomfort . If you experience any pain , say something . A quick tweak resolves it . I was able to shift around a bit during the rest period and even scratch my cheek , so the time passed quickly . The needles were removed , and Maria gave me a quick backrub with a nicely scented balm . Not just a feel-good touch , but prep for the cupping .
Cupping has been used in Chinese medicine for over 3,000 years , so although it ' s experiencing a spike in popularity , it ' s not new . Acupuncture clocks in at 7,000 + years of use . I find this reassuring . Anyway , onto cupping . Maria practices what is
Cupping is something every Fitness Incentive athlete should experience for muscle pain , stiffness , or deep relaxation .
called , “ Fire Cupping .” Small , rounded glass cups that fit in the palm of your hand are quickly heated on the inside with a cotton ball or a piece of gauze soaked in alcohol and set on fire . Sounds very out there ; stay with me . The flaming bud is dropped into the cup , then quickly removed , and the cup is applied to the target area , in my case , the back . It ' s not hot , and I did not feel warmth . The rapidly cooling air inside the cup creates a vacuum , drawing the skin up , causing the distinctive red circles to appear , which can vary in color between very light pink and deep red . Five more cups were applied to my back , and I rested for about ten minutes , cups in
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The cupping itself increases circulation to the area , and the suction brings toxins to the surface of the skin . The sizable red circles that result look intimidating , but they don ' t hurt , and you don ' t have to look at them . They do not affect any after-cupping activity . Keep them covered and toasty for the rest of the day and make sure to drink a lot of water to help flush out the toxins .
Following the treatment with old pals and Happy Hour may not be the best plan . Good news – you don ' t have to do it on a Friday like I did .
Like most modalities , acupuncture and cupping are not “ One and done ” solutions . Although some benefits are immediately felt , like relaxation and a deeper than usual sleep the night of treatment , most are accrued over time , between 2-4 sessions for an acute issue , like a sore throat , earache headache , etc . to as many as twelve or more treatments for chronic issues like depression , smoking cessation , arthritis , bursitis , back pain , etc .
Acupuncture and cupping are treatments , not services , hence the $ 65 initial charge and $ 50 thereafter are it – no tipping allowed . It would be like trying to tip your gastroenterologist ; don ' t even try it . You ' ll be in and out of the door in 45 minutes or less . This includes winter coat and a quick check in the mirror to make sure your hair doesn ' t look crazy .
Verdict : Highly recommended .
Christine Jelley , a longtime FI member , is now cool with Chinese medicine .