FAQ's

Q - What are the prerequisites for the MC Workshops?

A - Depending on the State you work in, licensures and certification can vary. At a minimum, you must have completed training in Massage Therapy, including Anatomy and Physiology. You must hold a current, valid license or certification (again depending on where you work) the field of bodywork - LMP, LMT, LMBT, CMT, etc., or be in your final term of school at a recognized bodywork school.

Q - What do I need to bring to the workshop with me?

A - What you will need to bring will differ depending on the location - see below...

• For workshops at EarthSpa in Kent -

Notepad & pen	2 large bath sheets/beach towels
3 table sheets and face cradle cover

• For workshops elsewhere - you will also need to bring a

Massage table with face cradle and a bolster (we only need 1 table for 2 students so we will help coordinate that)
A large (queen/king) blanket	6 hand towels - 2 for each day

Q - What will be provided for me?

A - Printed handouts, topicals, and cupping equipment (to be used in lab) - will all be supplied.

Q - What about the equipment demonstrated and used in the Lab?

A - Upon completion, you will have the option of purchasing the equipment needed to perform the Baguanfa protocols within the scope of your certification. Additional equipment can be ordered at that time as well.

The cost of equipment starts at $26.00 for the 4 Cup Glass Set with hemostats and goes up from there. Purchase of the basic 6 sets used in class is about $210.00. Other equipment and products will be discussed and can be ordered.

Q - What can I expect as far as physical effects from the suction cup therapy that I will give and receive in Lab?

A - We have witnessed a myriad of results and various reports by the student bodies post lab.

Different experiences include:
• the need for sleep
• extreme hunger
• nausea
• euphoria
• feelings of being "hung over"
• increased bowel elimination
• no appetite
• "best nights' sleep in a long time"
• inability to sleep
• etc.

The 3 days you will be in the workshop are very full – mentally and physically, and there are some preparatory guidelines we have noticed make a big difference for people.

• For several days before the workshop – minimize your consumption of red and processed meats, dairy, caffeine, sugar, alcohol and white foods (bread, flour, pasta).
• Drink a lot of natural juices and water.
• Go easy on strenuous exercise and stress – try to get plenty of sleep.
• Do some stretching in the mornings and evenings to prepare 3 days of treatment.

The potential in class is, for each practitioner to personally experience the subtle yet powerful effects of Baguanfa - even to a reasonable amount of overtreatment, firsthand. We will discuss in class how best to address and avoid the potentials deriving from cupping, and how to educate our clients at the same time.

Q - What must be demonstrated to achieve the Massage Cupping Certification?

A -The most important demonstrations of competency will be the hands-on exchanges between student practitioners during labs. The other gauge in place is an open book / group involved self assessment - it will allow you to discuss and demonstrate your understanding of the basics, applications & benefits, safety & contraindications, marketing & integration for suction cup therapies.

We cover these topics during lecture and you will be supplied with reading material to futher seat the information.

Q - What's the explanation of the marks or discolorations that sometimes occur as a result from suction cup therapy?

A - One of the common and unfortunate misconceptions concerning cupping is the misinterpretation of the discoloration. “Bruising” is caused by impact trauma with breakage of capillaries and reactionary rush of fluids to the damaged area from the tissue compression/injury. There is no compression in properly employed suction cup therapy. Although it is quite common during Stationary Cupping (left static for 5 - 20 minutes) to achieve dramatic 'marks' or 'discolourations', the less aggressive action of moving the cups, minimizes the intensity and duration of the discolorations.

Wet Cupping involves the scarification (puncturing) or scoring of the tissue surface, for the purpose of draining out dredged up stagnation acheived during cupping treatments. Since we do not break the skin in Negative Pressure Massage, the dissipation of these fluid deposits must be dispelled and flushed out via the body's own circulatory systems.

Often, when a condition exists within deeper structures where sufficient pathologic factors and stagnant fluids (toxins, blood and lymph) are dredged up during treatment, discoloration will appear on the skin. This is the therapeutically desired effect – the more this is visible, the greater the level of stagnation and toxicity. The discoloration will fade over a few days. As treatments cummulate and the release of stagnation and buildup has been thixolated, dispursed and drained – (usually by the 3rd or 4th treatment) no discoloration is likely to occur at all. Even though each time the cupping may have been focused on the same area for the same duration and with the same amount of negative pressure. This is clearly the result of having internal unwanted toxins systematically purged.

But, regardless of the therapeutic value in drawing these agents out of the body, it is vitally important to educate your clients to the nature of the discoloration and self care. Provide them the understanding of the marks to assist them in relaying accurate information to others who might see it. If there is concern about leaving discolorations on clients, and/or the process of educating these clients is unwanted (including a release form) – then suction cup therapy is not for you.

There are simply people who will not want such marks - no matter how potent the health benefits. And, being uneducated about the marks (like the "significant other" upon seeing it on their back) will perceive this as bruising and can become very concerned. It is the responsibility of the Practitioner to carefully screen, educate and support their clients in this matter.

(Please click on this link for more info)

Q - Are you available to come and provide the workshops to my location?

A - If your location is farther than 60 miles outside of Seattle, then a minimum of 10 students are required to cover the costs of bringing the Massage Cupping Certification Workshop to you. Please contact us at 425-221-8084 so we can discuss your needs and make the neccessary arrangements.