The Cupping Bar is Open so Quench your Tension

ViVi Therapy is sooooo excited to announce the opening of "The Worlds First Cupping Bar"  Come to ViVi Therapy in Victoria and Experience Cupping at reasonable prices, with amazing Therapists.  We prefer to call them "BodyTenders"so stay tuned for more on them.

Introduction to cupping

Cupping is the ancient Chinese practice in which a glass cupping jar is applied to the skin to create a vacuum which stimulates blood flow to help relieve stress, aches and pains. While the treatment does leave noticeable marks or bruises, cupping is not a painful therapy either before of after the treatment. The marks will disappear within a 2-3 days.  Just like Jennifer Aniston here.

What is cupping?

Cupping is the ancient Chinese form of acupuncture, which is concerned with the movement of blood, body energy (Qi), and body fluids. Oriental medicine considers pain to be a result of the stagnation of these systems due to injury, stress or illness. The treatment of cupping is believed to stimulate blood flow and help ease stress, aches and pains.

Cupping received lots of attention and came to public prominence when film star Gwyneth Paltrow turned out at a major film premiere in a dress that revealed her back, which was covered in large circular marks caused by cupping.

What is the purpose of cupping?
Cupping therapy aims to open the 'meridians' of the body. Meridians are seen as the means by which energy flows to every part of the body and through every organ and tissue. The back is where cupping treatment is most commonly applied, and there are considered to be five meridians on the back which, when ‘opened’, allow invigorating energy to travel all over the body.

To carry out the treatment, a therapist takes a number of glass cups and heats them with a flame. The cup is then quickly applied to the skin, creating a vacuum which draws up the underlying tissues. The suction acts like a reverse massage pulling the myofascial tissue away from the underlying bone rather than compressing or gliding against it like other massage and rolfing techniques.  At the same time the tissue is engorged with blood which feeds the area vital oxygen and nutrients to the muscles, tendons, ligaments, nerves and skin. Sliding cupping can release myofascial tension in a short treatment by sliding the cups over the tight muscles and leaving them to rest on key meridian points. Leaving the cups on the body for a few minutes will promote blood flow and healing to underlying structures and related organs. Cupping can be used as a treatment on its own or it can be combined with other therapies such as Acupuncture and Asian Massage techniques...check out our Cupping Bar Menu for all of these treatments.

What are the benefits of cupping?

Cupping is frequently used as an alternative to acupuncture or massage, and can help the tissues to release toxins, stimulate the lymphatic system, activate and clear the veins, arteries and capillaries and rejuvenate the skin (particularly flash cupping which is great for regenerating facial muscle tone and colour)
The treatment is particularly useful for relieving pain in the muscles, especially back & shoulder pain from stiffness or injury and clearing congestion in the chest, which can occur during colds and flu. It has also been used to treat a number of other conditions, including bowel problems, headaches, arthritis, period pain, asthma, cellulite, anemia, depression, sciatica, skin problems, blood pressure and in Jennifer's case fertility.  Some suggest that another benefit of cupping is for the therapists themselves, since just a few minutes of cupping is considered to be worth around 30 minutes of general massage – thus saving wear and tear on the masseur’s joints! It also means that cupping is a good option to take if you don’t have time for a long massage session.

Come down to ViVi Therapy Head Quarters in Fernwood starting the week of Dec 9, 2013 and experience cupping at "The Cupping Bar"  our menu and pricing will be posted very soon.Meanwhile enjoy this video from ViVi Therapy and subscribe to our Channel for more to come!

 
Thanks for reading this and if you have a Company or Business and you would like to take a trip to "The Cupping Bar" for some stress relief for you and your employees or colleagues call us on 250 298 4484.

TMJ Alignment & Self Help

In Need of some post dental work TMJ Relief?

Ever felt like screaming while you were at the dentist?  Something like "Get your hands out of my  mouth AHHHHHH!" Does this photo bring up memories of painful or long hours in the dental chair with your mouth pried open?  Well, even if you aren't dressing up as a werewolf this Halloween you need always to be prepared to sink your teeth into something.  Limited or painful opening of the jaw can be corrected by a skilled Registered Massage Therapist.

Massage Therapy for the chewing muscles (mastication) is a therapeutic modality that has been perfected by therapists over the last couple decades.  As a Registered Massage Therapist I trained in intra-oral work years ago while I was in massage college.  "Working in the Mouth" using a combination of myofascial release techniques, stretching and movement education for realignment of the jaw is a unique manual therapy. This modality can reduce muscle spasm that inhibits the opening of the jaw post oral surgery, extensive dental work or injury.  Bruxism or teeth clenching and grinding can create unnecessary wear on the teeth and the vulnerable Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ).  Asymmetries in jaw movement caused by painful or sensitive teeth and habitual poor jaw mechanics can leave a person using their jaw with less than optimal efficiency.  This can lead to a need for more expensive dental work and decreased enjoyment of eating chewy or large foods.

The TMJ is directly related to the neck and shoulder girdle so poor posture will involve the TMJ and how it opens and closes.

Habitual finger nail biting and mouth breathing can also have an effect on the TMJ mechanics.  Craniosacral Therapy can assist in balancing the function of the cranial vault in conjunction with the TMJ in particular with the mastoid process of the temporal bones, vomer, palatines and maxillary bones symmetry and motion.  This type of balancing and myofascial release can also have an effect on the sinus congestion and headache pain that can accompany TMJ problems.

I have produced a couple YouTube videos for your viewing.  These will help you to understand the mechanics of your jaw, its anatomical relevance to your neck, posture, movement and breathing habits.You will also learn more about what working in your mouth can do for your current TMJ condition. 

Watch the self help video here for some tips and movement sequences to help your TMJ.

Consult the writer if you would like to experience this work or would like more information.  Book Here NOW.

Posted by Roxanne Derkson  Registered Massage Therapist, Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Craniosacral Therapist