Curious About Cupping?

What is Cupping?

Cupping brings the ancient art of cupping to the modern-day massage therapy practice. This modality allows a unique approach to the fascia layer and body fluids. Cupping has an ability to affect deeper tissue, remove facial restrictions and increase range of motion. At The Coach House Therapeutic Centre, our therapists use *Silicone Cups.    


*Silicone Cupping- This uses flexible silicone cups. The cup is popped inside out, placed on the client and released on the skin to create a suction effect. This type of cupping often the most gentle and causes the least amount of cupping marks.

History
Cupping is very old medicine, said to have been around for thousands of years. Though it has been more common in Chinese Medicine, Cupping has become more popular in other modalities. This is due to the new kinds of cups and research dedicated to the effectiveness of cupping with massage.  








What are cupping marks?
When the cup is first applied, there is an original redness that comes to the surface, on some people more than others. It has a lot to do with skin type, and the amount of heat in the local area. The redness is created when the blood vessels expand, and a histamine-like substance is released. This is a sign that the immune response has just been stimulated. Often, if gliding cupping is preformed to even out the tissue and recirculate the stale blood vessels, marks can be dispersed and avoided. 


Other Side Effects

• Bruising
• Feeling Light-headed 
• Extreme Thirst 
• Tenderness Where Cup Was Applied  

Cupping Techniques 

Stationary cupping- The cup can be placed in one area for 5-20min. Great for chronic pain and hypertonic muscles

Fast Cupping- Also known as cup and release, the cups are placed along the spine and are quickly released. Great for tension and lung health.

Gliding Cupping- the cups move freely over assessed area. Great for circulation, fascial release, scar tissue and moving fluids. 

Does it hurt?

The silicone cups are very gentle. Once the cup is placed on, you may or may not feel it. Gliding cupping can feel just like a massage or someone lightly stroking your back. In some areas you may feel a pulling sensation. Cupping does not have to be painful or uncomfortable. But just like any massage, make sure to let your therapist know if it is causing any discomfort.   








Benefits of Cupping/ Who can have cupping?

Cupping is very safe and can be used on everyone. Depending on your treatment plan and current health, we can assess the tissue and decide if cupping is right for you. . 

• Benefits for Receiving Cupping  
• Pain relief 
• Relaxation 
• Increased supplements to stiff muscles and tendons
• Movement of lymph
• Increased synovial fluid to joints 
• Increased circulation and detoxification to area   
• Contraindications for Cupping
• Fever
• Cramping or Spasm 
• Some Skin Conditions 
• Deep Vein Thrombosis 

Areas and Impairments Cupping Can Improve

Cupping can bring relief and improve quality of life to the following; 

• Scar Tissue 
• Fascial Restrictions
• IT Band Contracture  
• Lymph Movement  
• Muscle Soreness/ Tightness
• Digestion 
• Clearing Lungs and Sinuses 
• Plantar Fasciitis
• Trigger Points
• Rib Muscle Restrictions- COPD
• Carpal Tunnel
• Tennis Elbow
• Headaches
• Chronic Pain  

Therapists that are trained in Cupping and their hours;

• Azita Asadian 
• Mon/Tues/Thurs/Fri       2pm-Close  
• Wed                               8am-1pm  
• Saturday                        10am-4pm 
• Christina Mosey 
• Mon/Wed/Fri                  2pm-Close  
• Tues/Thur                      8am-1:30pm
• Dr Jessica (with trigger cups)
• Mon/Fri                         1:30pm- 5:30pm
• Wed                              9:15am- 11:30am
• Thurs                            2:30pm- 7pm

If you have questions about anything mentioned in this blog or for booking contact Azita or Christina directly by e-mail: info@thecoachhousetc.ca or azita@thecoachhousetc.ca


Photos by robyn louise photography (http://robynlouisephotography.com/)


Disclaimer: The information contained in these topics is not intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice, it is provided for general educational purposes only. This information shouldn’t take the place of seeing your primary care provider for individualized health recommendations.

Being pregnant and getting massage treatments with Laura & Elsie

Being pregnant and getting a massage treatment should go without saying. At the Coach House we have registered massage therapists that have Pregnancy as one of their specialties. 

Meet Laura and Elsie. These two ladies are moms and can identify with the aches and pains that women experience through the exciting yet nerve wracking ride of pregnancy. 

Many women may be unsure about getting treatments, but it is a safe form of therapy which will help you and your baby. Certain conditions may need to be modified, such as high blood pressure, but as long as your medical practitioner - family doctor, OB-GYN, and midwife allow it, then go ahead and book yourself some massage appointments. 

Laura's Story:

I have been interested In pregnancy massage since I graduated college in 2009. Unfortunately during my first pregnancy, in 2006/2007, massage therapy was not yet a part of my life. I thought you needed to be injured or in chronic pain to get a massage, boy was I mistaken! I learned that not only does massage therapy treat a number of symptoms and conditions, it’s a huge piece in preventative healthcare! I remember thinking “if I knew then what I know now… I would’ve been way less uncomfortable during my first pregnancy!” Thankfully, many years later, I had another chance and this time I made certain massage therapy was a regular scheduled event throughout those 9 months!

    I think it is incredible how the woman’s body knows exactly what to do, from day 1 to the long awaited end. But with those changes, the body needs some TLC. Not just to relieve the aches and pains from carrying around a human, but also for the relaxation. A new baby is a life changer and there’s lots of adjusting before baby even arrives. I was out of the baby game for many years before welcoming my youngest onto the scene and I had a whole slew of emotions! That massage therapy session with an RMT who could read my body and let me relax was truly a blessing.

    Each trimester brings on its own unique set of symptoms and challenges (and blessings… the first kick is unforgettable!) As RMT’s we are trained to accommodate with positioning and pillowing so you can have treatment at any point throughout your pregnancy. I prefer using the pregnancy body cushions so you can lay face down for as far along as you like (there aren’t too many opportunities for this position anywhere else once your bump pops!)

    I have heard on occasion some clients are nervous or hesitant to receive massage therapy during pregnancy, but as long as you are healthy, with no high risk issues and are cleared from your doctor or midwife, you should seek treatment and I’m happy to help!

Elsie’s Story:

I have two kids. My daughter was born in May of 2012 and my son was just born last September of 2017. My pregnancies were both similar in the fact that I had all day sickness, where even drinking water made me sick – the second one was way worse and seemed like it started sooner and lasted longer. I experienced the same aches and pains as the baby grew, but the second one just happened sooner and once again over all just felt way more tense and sore (Is it a boy thing? More active, bigger, plus he was 10 days late...or am I just getting older haha)

With all this happening, trying to work and running around a then 5 year old, massage definitely saved me! Massage helped with all the muscle tension I was feeling EVERYWHERE - at one point my hair was even hurting!  That one hour of getting treated was much needed.  It was a short but great time for me to just relax and enjoy this experience. 

As a practitioner I started treating pregnancy pretty much right after I graduated school. I loved seeing these ladies coming in and telling me they were expecting. At that point I always knew I wanted kids but just wasn't ready at the time. So for me treating these ladies was a learning experience. I loved hearing their stories about their adventure to MOM-HOOD. Once I entered this journey I knew exactly what these ladies were talking about. It's amazing how your body knows what to do and how it does this. After having my dau

A massage could have really helped at this point! (Labour pains)

ghter,  I knew I wanted to expand my practice to include a specialty in pre/post natal massage. I always treated pregnancy patients here and there, but it wasn't until 2016 that I really dove into it and got my certification in Perinatal Massage therapy. 

Massage is a great form of treatment for all stages of pregnancy. Especially when you have started labour! Once the baby is born, I recommend moms to continue getting treated. I know it will seem like there's no time, but self care is important to help you feel better. Babies are always welcomed at the clinic!  Plus babies can get treated as well and I love babies!!

If you have any further questions about massage therapy for pregnancy please feel free to contact:  

 Laura Robinson, RMT
laura@thecoachhousetc.ca

Laura works Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday mornings at The Coach House. BOOK NOW 

Elsie Kelly
elsie@thecoachhousetc.ca

Elsie works Monday and Tuesday evenings at The Coach House. BOOK NOW

Additional information about how the Coach House team can help with your pregnancy needs, visit our past Pregnancy Blog

TAPING - what is it and how do we do it?

Taping

What is it and how does it work?

Have you been at a sporting event or sitting at your desk and catch a glimpse of someone's bight coloured tape on their bodies and wonder 'what the heck is that for?' Well, we have the answer for you and now can tape you up at The Coach House! 

There are many different brands of kinesiology tape on the market with varying engineered makeup and purposes, yet our blog is about Kinesio Tex Tape. 

Megan and Krista went to the Kinesio Taping course in May to find out how it could benefit an array of clientele and how they could implement it into their Massage Therapy practices. 

"We wanted to understand the mechanism behind the taping technique and try it, first hand, on clients to see how they could benefit from the lasting effects of the tape following their massage." 

What is Kinesio Tape? 

The tape comes in a variety of colours, yet the colours are for esthetic preference not differing strengths.  The different effects come from the amount of tension your therapist applies to the tape and the direction the tape is applied in. 

All the tape is 100% latex free, hypoallergenic, water-resistant and made of 100% cotton fiber strips. The tape is heat activated and made of acrylic adhesive. The fiber pattern is what gives the tape its unique ability along with being breathable and nonmotion restrictive.

 What can Taping can help with:

            Lymphatic Drainage/Edema
            Muscle Tension
            Muscle Imbalances    
            Stimulating weaker muscles to contract                        
            Post-surgical conditions 
            Rehabilitation
            Pain Management - Nerve and Muscle
            Injury Prevention

How does it work?

The tape is a great treatment addition which helps the effects of massage set and the tape can last another 3-5 days after application. The gentle simulation will likely go unnoticed but has lasting benefits. 

The tape assists with this by microscopically lifting the skin and fascia and therefore increasing the lymphatic and blood flow and stimulating the nervous system to the desired effect. The more tension the therapist applies to the tape the more simulation the muscles receive from the nervous system.

If the goal is to contract or stimulate the muscle the tape is applied from the origin of the muscle and with an increase of tension, applied to the tape, pulled to the insertion of the muscle. This creates a 'recoil' effect of the problematic muscle to help increase stimuli to contract the muscle.


On the contrary, if the goal is to relax the muscle we place the tight muscle into a lengthened position and with no tape tension, apply the tape from insertion toward the origin of the muscle. The tape will wrinkle which slightly lifts up the skin and creates a gentle stimuli telling the muscle to relax.

Our approach

We like individualizing the need and type of application for tape and if called for, adding it onto the end of a massage session. This way the muscles have been assessed and treated and the tape is an added take-home benefit when applied to overly tight muscles, weak muscles, acute injury, rehabilitation, and swelling. After an initial assessment taping can also be done in a 15-minute appointment.  

We have successfully been using Kinesio Tex Tape in treatments for

• Muscle Tension
• Postural Pain
• Injury Prevention
• Athletic Support

Depending on your individual needs and treatment goals we can customize the tape job that is right for you. For more information or to find out of taping is right for you, ask Megan or Krista at your next appointment! We are happy to find a method that works best for you. 

BOOK NOW