08/06/2026
You may have seen athletes, gym members, or other people with distinctive circular marks on their shoulders or back. These temporary marks are often left by cupping therapy.
Cupping is a traditional practice in which a therapist places rigid or soft cups on the body and creates suction that lifts the skin and superficial underlying tissue. Unlike massage techniques that primarily apply downward pressure, cupping produces a lifting sensation and provides a different type of mechanical input.
At Healthy Body Massage, dry cupping may be incorporated into selected massage sessions.
Learn how dry cupping works, what it feels like, why it can leave temporary marks, and when it may be included with a massage.
