How I got into Myofascial Cupping

Jan 12

Ashley Burr teaching at the Introduction to Myofascial Cupping course in Winnipeg, Manitoba on December 3rd, 2023.

Treatment: cupping the trapezius for tension, headaches, or chronic neck pain.

The first time I saw cupping used on a client

I was in a placement, and one of the therapists did cupping massage on a runner’s ITB. She cried. I remember nothing else about that client except that she cried. At that moment I decided I would NEVER try cupping. Until I did.

My first personal experience with cupping…

My buy-in for Myofascial cupping was a few months after my cesarean birth. I had this weird tension in my lower back where I had my spinal injection. Every time I bent forward, I felt restricted and it felt like something was going to rip if I pushed it too far.

I went to see my friend and colleague Nikki Smith CAT(C) to have some help with post-cesarean recovery. I mentioned this “weird tension” in my back and we decided we would try cupping. Nikki put one cup over the spot I felt the tension, she had me do a couple of cat/cows and it was like magic! The restriction was 90% gone after my first session! After a second session, it was completely gone. I was amazed.

Becoming Certified in Cupping…

I spent the next little while harassing the company in Winnipeg that ran cupping courses locally. They finally ran another course (yay!). After that, I used cupping all the time. Weekly sessions on myself, regularly with clients who I thought it could help or who asked for it. Some clients didn’t like it. Others didn’t really have an opinion, but most thought it was magical! (The company no longer offers a cupping course).

Course Creation

Since beginning cupping in 2017, I have always had clients asking if I could teach them how to cup. In 2022, I finally decided I would take the plunge and create a course for clients! … I had registrants for it, the problem, was that a good chunk of those registrants were Athletic Therapists and Massage Therapists wanting to use cupping on their clients! When I informed them that it wasn’t meant for professionals and they would not be able to use it to work with clients, they asked if I could PLEASE create one for practitioners????

So. I did. I spent the next month reading as much current and relevant research as I could find. It was a deep dive. I wanted a course from the Athletic Therapy perspective. One that could be used with our clients the same way that we work with our clients. One that could easily be integrated into our practices. AND I succeded.

I created a course with 50% lecture (with a heavy research focus) and 50% lab with lots of room for modification to add your own spin on the modality. It is truly a course where art meets science.

Course Modifications

After every course, I send out a feedback form. I spend a good amount of time reading each form and considering the feedback. Should I make changes/adjustments? Will this better the course or the registrant experience? And then I make the necessary changes AND review any new research to see if any of it can be added to the course.