Cupping for Manual Therapists

Cupping therapy is a very safe and effective treatment modality that helps to improve blood circulation and lymphatic flow in the body. It has also been known as negative pressure massage.

I've heard the words "myofascial decompression" as well as a number of other terms that have been used to describe the same modality. I like the description "negative pressure massage," as we can see when the cup is applied to the skin it lifts the tissue into the cup. In doing so, it is creating space within the tissues underneath thereby enabling more movement of blood and lymph in the local area. This act of negative pressure or decompression also helps to free up any restrictions that may be in the fascia or the muscle and tender areas that are over top of the cup this is part of the reason why cupping is a great tool to help with pain relief. 

When we free up an area of congestion or restriction, usually there is an improvement in blood and lymph flow as well as mobility in that area, which helps to immediately relieve the pain. The other effect that you will see from applying cupping therapy is that the clients will actually report, after cupping treatment, not only that they feel less pain, but also that they have a sense of lightness.

Cupping has no demonstrable negative effects on the body when practiced by a properly-trained and informed practitioner. It is safe to use alongside other therapeutic treatments, and safe to receive while taking most medications. Having said that, it is important to be familiar with the contraindications for cupping There are cases where cupping therapy is not beneficial and in fact could create harm, and its important to have a list of updated medications and vaccinations that your client has received.

As a practitioner, we need to ensure that our clients are appropriate for the treatment and that our treatment is of an appropriate length and depth as well as that we are using the proper cupping therapy techniques.

Cupping is a manual technique that has been used since the beginning of human existence to help release obstructions inside the body, increase blood flow, and remove inorganic substances.

The treatment can be very stimulating for the receiver and yet simultaneously very relaxing, so it is also an excellent treatment for stress relief. We don't go into the effects of stress relief extensively in this course, but what I can share is that cupping therapy really helps the body go into the parasympathetic response which is the response of recovery and repair that our body is meant to be spending most of our time in. Unfortunately in this day and age most people are spending entirely too much time in the sympathetic response or the fight-or-flight reaction so cupping really helps deeply relax the body.

Once you have completed the training, you can print the certificate provided in the lesson and add your name in the blank space.  This is your certificate of completion. You have two options 1) Print and fill your name in by hand 2) Use an adobe or other docusign (Doc Hub works well) and you can type in your name so that your name is in a typeset font.

NEW YORK PRACTITIONERS - This course is approved by New York State Licensing

NY Sponsorship Letter 852226-1498.pdf

See in the lessons below, a powerpoint presentation of the course notes, and a recorded version of the Masterclass.  Everything you need to support you in your cupping journey.