Cupping at Saffron & Sage

I recently decided to give cupping a try. For those of you who don't know what cupping is, it's a an ancient form of alternative medicine in which a therapist puts cups on your skin. The suction from the cups alleviates stress, stimulates flow of blood, and in my case, helped remove tension in my upper back and shoulders. After doing some online research, I booked a session at Saffron & Sage.

As soon as I walked into Saffron & Sage, I immediately felt calm. My practitioner, Vanessa, greeted me with a warm smile and led me to the private treatment room. Before the session began, we had a quick chat about my needs and what I wanted to get out of the service. The session started with a light massage, so Vanessa could get an idea of where I was feeling tension. She practices fire cupping which entails lighting an alcohol soaked cotton ball and heating the air within the cup to create a vacuum effect. One by one, the cups were placed down my back. Initially, I didn't know what to expect... was it going to hurt? or burn? I didn't find it painful, however, I felt a concentration of intense pressure when each cup was placed. Similar to a deep tissue massage, there were moments of simultaneous pleasure+discomfort. I was surprisingly relaxed during the 60 minute session. Vanessa would leave the cups on for 2-3 minutes before removing them and placing them on different areas. She then used a different set of cups that help alleviate the markings. At this time, Vanessa informed me that the marks around my lower back were very dark which was an indication of digestive issues. She was spot on. Vanessa then performed a heat therapy called moxibustion which uses a dried and compacted form of a Chinese herb (Mugwort). She lit a cigar-looking object and waved it over my skin without touching it. The treatment concluded with her rubbing essential oils on my back.

I was encouraged to drink lots of water, not consume any alcohol, and eat clean for the next 24 hours. Vanessa let me know I may feel sluggish after my detox and the markings on my back might itch. She recommended a cream if it became a nuisance. When I got home that evening and got into bed, I felt so relaxed and had a great night of sleep. Over the next several days, my back slightly itched, but overall there was no discomfort. I could also feel some tension was relieved in my shoulders and upper back. The marks on my back were pretty dark, but I was surprised they didn't hurt, not even when I touched them. It took about a week for the marks to completely disappear.

I truly enjoyed my experience at Saffron & Sage, and Vanessa was extremely friendly, gentle, and knowledgable. If you're up for a new wellness experience, I highly recommend it.

If you're interested in trying cupping or any other wellness treatment that Saffron & Sage offers, use code "CELESTE10" for $10 off a service.

Seldomly Still