Abdominal Cupping…Seriously?

Abdominal Cupping.  Seriously?

Most of the general public probably has not had their abdomen worked on through any kind of massage.  It is often the last area that you would think to massage.  Let’s face it, we are all more concerned with our neck and shoulder tension.

A lot of people hold their anxiety in their core.  It is often a very guarded area for people.  We are all so self-conscious about our bellies and we want those rock hard, six-pack abs.

So why would you want to loosen any of that up?

I do not want to loosen up the tight belly.  I want to make those muscles work more effectively.  I want to help them to perform their full function.  I want to tone them even more.  But, there is a lot more to it than that.

The tension in your abdomen can directly affect your digestive system.  To get even more personal, this can affect your bowel movements.  Any irregularity in that department can be partially because of too much tension in your abdomen.  Have you ever gotten so nervous that it affected your bowel?  That’s your anxiety pushing the wrong buttons.

Throughout my practice, I have quickly concluded that low back pain can also have a direct effect on your digestive system.  It never ceases to amaze me how everything is so connected.  That is why I love what I do, because I can have such a positive effect on pain and even specific problems like digestive problems.

At Structure Therapy, I always want to approach pain or a specific problem area 3-dimentionally.  That being said, if you have low back pain, not only should you have that area worked on, but you should also have your abdomen worked on.  It is not just the tension above and below.  It is also the tension all the way around.

Abdominal Cupping is excellent because it allows me to further address restriction in the abdomen in other ways than simply just massage.

What to expect with Abdominal Cupping:

First off, you are not going to get the bright red circle marks on your abdomen.  You could get a little bit of irritation or slight bruising on the skin, but nothing that will last.

I apply lotion or oil to the area to be treated.  I apply suction to 1 or 2 cups and move them around over the abdomen.  I do this in such a way to stimulate digestion and strategically loosen problem areas.  The reverse vacuum pressure creates a deep myofascial release, effectively loosening restriction and unsticking muscles from each other.

A typical Abdominal Cupping treatment lasts 30 minutes and is a combination of massage and cupping.  I will warm up the area with massage and go deeper with the cups.  I may also address hip, glut, and low back tension depending on what is going on with your body.

This treatment can also be done during the first portion of a 60, 90, or 120 minute Structure Therapy appointment.

Benefits of Abdominal Cupping include:

Improved digestion

Tightening and toning of the abdomen

Relief from anxiety

Relief from depression

Relief from stress

Less stomach pain because you literally loosen the knots in your stomach

Low back, hip, glut, and leg pain relief

Relief from bowel irregularity

This could actually help with the symptoms of acid reflux and irritable bowel syndrome.

This can also help minimize the intensity of the cramps women experience while on their period.

If you would like to experience any of the above listed benefits, I would highly recommend an Abdominal Cupping treatment.