Now, I know and you know it’s been a long time since
I’ve posted a blog and I’m really sorry about that, it’s just we’ve had so much
going on that it’s been a real challenge just to sit at the computer, let alone
write and when I do, I want to make sure it’s because I have something to say.
A lot of people have come up to me in the last few weeks and told me how much they love and appreciate coming to That’s the Rub and that they refer their friends. Words cannot describe how wonderful that makes me feel! When I managed destination spas all over the country, I dreamed I would own my own spa one day and that it would have local art on the wall, it would be five-star quality services and hospitality with a comfortable atmosphere that could be enjoyed by everyone, clients and staff alike. I’m so over the moon to say that the feedback we receive says that Jim and I nailed it right on the head! Thank You so much for spending your time with us.
What have we been busy with you ask? Well, I’m so glad
you did, but don’t worry, there is NO way I will remember everything, so I’m
going to start and see how far I get.
In December (2019), just before the holiday, we graduated another cohort of students at Ivy Tech. Never a dull moment, we incorporate the students that would like to do so into The Rub to further their education in daily operations of the spa, expand on their massage techniques and to do more hands-on work with the general public who are unable to make it out to Ivy Tech for our clinics. Our student massages have been a smash hit with clients and students alike, and this semester promises even more with our new batch of senior massage students!
Over the summer (yeah, way back then) I learned how to teach and launched a class called Yomassage. Yomassage combines supported yoga postures with massage and breath and it’s amazing. It’s amazing because you don’t have to be flexible (thank goodness), you wear clothes, there is music, it’s done in a group format, AND it’s VERY relaxing. So it’s a great pick me up in the middle of the day when you need to hit the reset button or at the end of your workday to unwind and get a good night’s sleep. It’s amazing for people who’ve never had a massage (come on and get into some self-care already!), special occasions, or team building workshops. Please see our website for more details or feel free to write to me (lisa@thatstherub.com) if you want more information. This is starting to get a little too sales pitchy for my taste and that’s NOT what this post is about. I just get excited when I talk about it and I really enjoy teaching it.
Of course there were the holidays to prepare for,
which seemed to be a little crazier for me than usual; I hope all of you came
out unscathed.
That’s the Rub is proud to have donated more than
$2,000 in 2019 back to the community in goods and services this year to support
what we love and where we live.
We also want to say THANK YOU for a wonderful year! Your
patronage has sustained many therapists and their families this past year and
we couldn’t be more grateful.
Thank you for being part of The Rub family. Thank you
for your continued support. Thank you for valuing the skills that we bring to
the table. Thank you for choosing The Rub to be your partner in helping to
attain your personal healthcare goals. Thank you for referring your friends and
family. We love what we do and we’re so happy that you share that with us.
It’s Our 10th Anniversary! Join
us this year as we celebrate 10 years of That’s the Rub! In 2019 we rebranded
the business to That’s the Rub the Therapeutic Day Spa because we felt it
would say more of what we do now vs what we did when we first began. Ten years
ago, The Rub started with just me and Jim and we’ve continued to expand and
grow ever since, not just our square footage, but our service menu and our
staff as well.
So stay tuned and look for our save the date
notification (in March) for our anniversary celebration! We hope to see you
there! In the meantime, if you have questions about massage, benefits of
massage, classes we offer, etc please check out our website, www.thatstherub.com
OR you can write me directly at lisa@thatstherub.com
and I can include your question and answers in my blog. I want to ensure you
are getting the information you want about what we do here at That’s the Rub.
May your 2020 bring you light, love, and happiness.
That’s the Rub is thrilled to offer our clients, athletes and non-athletes alike, Massage Cupping as both a stand alone therapy and an add-on to our other services. When combined with therapeutic massage, deep tissue, or sports massage, massage cupping exponentially increases the efficacy of your therapist to get deeper into the muscle, faster, easier, and less invasively. Book online or ask our receptionist to add it to your service!
Massage cupping is essentially the inverse of the typical massage therapy. Instead of exerting pressure on the different points of the body for healing, massage cupping uses suction to tug the skin, tissues, and muscles upwards. Massage cupping has been known to be used over the centuries by all cultures and the oldest records of traditional Chinese medicine talk about using the therapy to cure a range of ailments. In contemporary times, massage cupping is seen as an effective, non-invasive, inexpensive, and safe form of treatment that can be used by itself or in combination with other forms of therapeutic approaches. Because of its versatility, it is being used in physical therapy, chiropractics, and in spa treatments.
How it Works
When the therapist exerts suction on the different points on the body by way of massage suction, certain changes are brought about up to four inches inside the body. These changes stimulate the body to heal itself. Massage cupping results in:
Promoting the flow of blood to the muscles and tissues, and removing stagnation
Supplying oxygen and nutrients to the cells
Softening the tightened muscles
Loosening of adhesions and knots
Lifting the connecting tissues
Opening the blockages of the lymphatic nodes and easing the flow of lymph
Releasing and draining of excess fluids and toxins like lactic acid from the tissues and cells
Drawing inflammation from the deeper tissues to the surface of the skin so they can heal
Stimulating and later, calming the peripheral nervous system
Eliminating chronic congestion
Massage cupping can be used to treat ailments like stiff muscles, stress, migraines, fatigue and exhaustion, and back and neck pain. It can also be used in rheumatism, weight loss and cellulite reduction treatments. Muscles that have been injured, undergone trauma or exertion, accumulate lactic acid and other toxins. Massage cupping can be used to drain these toxins so the muscles can heal.
How it is Done
This form of therapy must always be taken from a trained and certified therapist.
The first step is locating the points and sections of the body that need to be treated. Accordingly, the therapist uses the hands to palpate the muscles and joints, and thus, begins the relaxation process.
A light oil such as sunflower, safflower or any other herbal oil is applied on the area where suction is to be created.
The therapist uses medical grade silicone cups that are available in different sizes. The right-sized cup is selected depending on the area to be treated. Silicone cups are pliable so they are easy to move over the body and their transparency allows the therapist to monitor the condition of the skin. The skin color is a good indicator of the effectiveness of the treatment so the healer can make adjustments accordingly.
The therapist then creates suction in the cup. This can be done in many ways. A burning object such as a cotton ball soaked in alcohol or paper can be inserted into the cup to heat it. Then, the object is removed and the cup is immediately inserted on the skin. It must be remembered that the skin is never burnt and the burning object is never allowed to come in contact with the skin.
As the air inside the cup cools, a vacuum is created. Some therapists also choose to use cups on which a suction pump is attached. The pump creates the required vacuum in the cup and allows the therapist to create just the optimum amount of suction for the treatment to be effective.
The therapist allows the cup to stay in place for a few minutes so that the muscles are loosened and relaxed. Then, the cup is gently moved over the skin in smooth motions so that the vacuum raises the skin and tissues.
On certain sections where there is excessive stagnation or inflammation, the cups could drag a little or resist movement. This helps the therapist identify the areas that need special care.
Massage cupping can be used on upper arms and calves, thighs, abdomen, hips, sacral region, back, neck and shoulders. Areas such as the spine and scapula that are never treated in conventional massage therapy can be massaged using cupping, safely.
