It’s time to reclaim your self-care and put the tools in your own hands.

Like a lot of us, you probably could use a little support right now.  

Maybe the weight of the world (and Zoom life) is giving you concrete shoulders, backaches, jaw tension, headaches, or all of the above. Or the stress of juggling changes in work and school schedules on top of pandemic fatigue is wearing you down. Add to that calls for justice and caring about the health and safety of your community and it's just A LOT.

You’re doing your stretches (kinda) or getting a massage when you can, but the pain and tension is constantly there in the background. You’re stressed. It’s eating away at you and affecting your life. Something has to change. 

You’re not alone, friend. So many of us are there as well. The good news is that it doesn’t have to be this way.

What if you could get a massage SENT TO YOUR DOOR?

Enter: Massage in a Box

The box provides everything you need to get immediate and long-term relief from pain and tension using the traditional technique of cupping. With a step-by-step guide to teach you how to do cupping safely and effectively, you’ll have the ability to give yourself professional-level massage relief whenever you need it. 

Too busy to get treatment as much as you’d like? No problem. Not wanting to venture out into the world? We’ve got you. Travel a lot and have a hard time finding practitioners you like wherever you are? Cupping gives you access to relief anywhere and anytime. 

Massage in a Box puts the tools in your hands to get relief when you need it most, regardless of your practitioner’s schedule or whether or not you can find a free hour in your busy life. In as little as a few minutes cupping helps you ease tight muscles and relieve pain, helping relieve stress by breaking the vicious cycle of mental strain and body tension. With the box in your self-care kit you’ll be visiting your favorite practitioner because it’s a treat, not a necessity. 

Imagine... 

… melting the tension off your shoulders in less than five minutes after a long day of computer work or a daily workout. 

“I sit at a computer all day. And for my workouts, I lift pretty heavy. My body is generally extremely tight. And it's been such a wonderful experience to be able to just throw the cups on either first thing in the morning or right before bed, and experience the relaxation that comes with that. Especially in my neck and my shoulders. It really loosens everything up, and gives me a lot more mobility.” Natasha

“Cupping has been so effective in releasing my shoulder tension caused from working at a computer all day. Cupping is a part of my regular self care that I depend on.” Malaina

“...My shoulders tense up and my posture needs work now that I'm at home all day and adjusting to this new lifestyle...It's such a stress reliever and super great that I can do this at home whenever I need to...” Jassy

 

… easing chronic pain with a simple tool you can use anytime.

Multiple research studies out of Brazil, China, Taiwan, Iran and Germany have shown cupping to be effective in relieving chronic pain in the back, neck, and shoulder, as well as pain from osteoarthritis in the knee and carpal tunnel syndrome. 

“...In the middle of a pandemic, I was able to fix my issues and get back to my business. This was incredibly empowering...” Lori

 

...having tools you can use as often as you need to get the relief you want.

Research also shows that receiving cupping and massage multiple times per week shows the most benefit in pain relief. Visiting a practitioner can be a key part of self-care, but who can go weekly or even monthly to see a favorite therapist? Life happens, and having the tools in your hands empowers you to get treatment as often as you need to be truly effective. 

For the price of a couple of appointments you can have the power to give YOURSELF a massage every single day. Priceless.

“I think initially I was a little intimidated. But once I realized how easy it is to pop them on there, I probably started using them five times a week. It is definitely something that I take the time to do because it's so easy. I can do it while I'm showering, or brushing my teeth, or taking a little spa day in the bath. But because it doesn't take extra time out of my day and it's so beneficial for me, I use them all the time.” Natasha

 

When you move through your life without the distraction of nagging pain or stiffness in your body everything changes. You’re not just going through the motions, dragged down by the world, you start to have the capacity to actually enjoy your life. 

You show up in your work with more confidence; have more patience with the kids (furry or otherwise); and enjoy rest and play more because your nervous system isn’t overloaded by pain. You feel empowered in your life and your ability to take care of you. That leaves a lot more room for everything else. 

There’s a lot of chaos in the world, a lot we can’t control and feel powerless about. Feeling at ease in your body shouldn’t be one of those things. You can have what you need to feel good whenever and wherever. 

It’s all about empowering YOU with the ability to get relief no matter what’s going on in the world. 

So, what IS cupping?

You may have noticed odd circular marks on celebrities, professional athletes, or your best friend who is suddenly all about this thing called “cupping.” But what is it, exactly?

Cupping is a traditional technique that has been used by people all over the world for thousands of years. A device called a “cup” is used to create negative pressure, AKA suction, over a part of the body the cup covers. This suction draws up the skin, muscles and other soft tissue into the cup. Cups are usually made of glass, plastic or silicone, but bamboo and other materials are also traditionally used. Heat as well as manual or mechanical pumps create the suction. 

The cup might stay in one place, or be moved around, depending on what kind of therapy is needed. Cupping has been used to treat all kinds of problems but is commonly utilized to treat pain. Acupuncturists, massage therapists, physical therapists and chiropractors all use cupping in their practices. But cupping is traditionally used by all kinds of people just like you.

What makes cupping different?

I know from years of clinical experience that cupping is different from everything else out there. Other home tools like electric or manual massagers, tools with nubs and knobs that work trigger points, foam rollers, and balls all work by pushing into the muscles and soft tissue. They may give relief, but are often painful as they grind into those tender points. Percussive devices like massage “guns” are geared to athletes and people with a lot of muscle mass, but aren’t necessarily a great option for everyone else. They also miss a key component: they aren’t ideal at addressing the global tension that can build up day-to-day.

Cupping works very differently. It is the simplest tool I’ve found for how consistently well it works at eliminating pain in a wide variety of people. The cups release tension by creating space in the soft tissue by drawing up the skin and muscles so that even the deep tension in the tissue can unwind. Not only do the cups release the muscles, but the fascia as well, opening up circulation and stimulating the body’s healing response while giving tight areas a deep stretch. The result is opening parts of your body, like neck and shoulders, that have been tight with constriction and relieving pain and tension immediately. This means a different kind of relief, one that goes deeper while also being gentle. 

Gentle is key because often pain and tension are directly related to stress, which simply means our nervous system is overwhelmed. With the “no pain no gain” approach of conventional massage gadgets we might feel good after using them, but we’re not honoring our nervous system if we’re using a technique that requires us to “grin and bear it” to get relief. I've found that cupping brings just the right balance of a strong but gentle therapy, and that most bodies respond really well to it. 

What are those marks?

You may have seen the marks or "kisses" on people who have experienced cupping or gotten them yourself. 

Cupping marks are neither good nor bad and they don’t appear on everyone. When they do, how dark they appear is often related to both the intensity of the cupping and the severity of the problem. If they do show up, they generally disappear within a week. And as the pain and tension gets less and less with each cupping session, the marks tend to get lighter and lighter. The marks fade as the body heals. 

The beautiful thing about doing cupping on yourself is that YOU get to decide how it goes, including how strong of a treatment you give yourself and whether or not you get marks. You know your body best and what feels good. 

But Massage in a Box is much more than cupping. It’s a carefully crafted self-care box that is as luxurious as it is practical. It’s a spa day and a hug all wrapped up in one.

 

Massage in a Box includes:

• A wide variety of high-quality silicone cups to give you that professional-level relief while being easy to use.

There are lots of different cups out there and many of them are not worth your time and money. From cheap plastic cups that require a pump to create suction (and often don’t work consistently) to many retailers of poor-quality silicone cups made with fillers that both reduce the life of the cups and expose you to harmful chemicals. I’ve made sure to source cups made of high-quality material of the same grade used in baby bottle nipples and cooking utensils. It is 100% pure silicone that is safe to use on your body, soft enough to avoid bruising and be easy to use, but strong enough to go as deep as you need. 

I include a set of 10 cups of all different sizes and shapes, the ones I know from clinical experience are the most useful for you at home. This means being able to cup almost anywhere on your body, from small areas like your forearm (to relieve carpal tunnel syndrome) to large areas like the back and thighs. The different shapes give you flexibility to try different cupping techniques to get just the right fit for what you need. 

Most cupping sets only give you up to four cups. Ours includes a set of eight cups with two each of four sizes so you can work bilaterally. I also include two cups of a different shape that increase the versatility of the set so you can cup even more areas with ease. 

• Locally-made herbal massage oil for cupping ease.

I source everything in the box with as much care for you and the Earth as possible, because self-care should feel good all around. I also value supporting local crafters and makers. “Overworked” oil is made right here in Portland from a local shop that supports community wellness and makes its products with simple and high-quality ingredients. Essential oils of lavender, cedarwood, grapefruit and rosemary promote circulation, ease muscle pain, and heal inflammation, while smelling refreshing and uplifting. Oil is key to effective cupping that feels good and I've got you covered.

• Luxurious handmade rose soaking salts with yarrow flower essence that leave you feeling truly cared-for.

Like our massage oil these salts are made locally and by hand. Scented with rose to delight your senses they also contain a special flower essence blend. Flower essences are ancient medicine used traditionally around the world. Often referred to as energy medicine because of their subtle and homeopathic-type nature, they are commonly used to treat the mental, emotional and spiritual roots of ailments. 

The salts incorporate rose and yarrow flower essences. Rose supports your ability to savor life’s beauty even among the thorns, and yarrow flower essence heals gaps in the aura created by everything from everyday stress to shock and trauma. This combination relieves the subtle tension that builds up from daily living that often flies below the radar. In combination with cupping this creates a holistic remedy for even entrenched pain and tension. Not only are these salts a true sensory pleasure (you’ll delight at the whole rose petals floating in the water with you) but also deeply healing to mind, body and spirit. They are an invitation to take time and truly unwind. 

• Beautiful original art

Art is healing in and of itself, which is why I include it in Massage in a Box. Research shows that we heal faster when in a beautiful environment. These original-art postcards were designed locally and with loving care for just such a purpose. Post one in a prominent place to remind you to take a moment each day to pause and unwind. Send the other to someone dear, old-school snail-mail style!

• Lots of support for you to learn how to use the cups on yourself.

The box includes a simple, step-by-step, 30 minute video guide that you can watch any time in a members-only online forum, as well as email support as-needed.

The box includes a simple, step-by-step, 30 minute video guide that you can watch any time in a members-only online forum, as well as email support as-needed. The videos give easy-to-follow instructions on how to cup safely and effectively. Like your own private YouTube channel, these videos cover cupping for:

• Neck and shoulder pain⁠
• Back pain⁠
• Tension headaches⁠
• Jaw tension and pain
• Wrist and forearm tension and pain
• Leg pain
• Foot pain
• Anxiety⁠
• Simple cough⁠
• And menstrual cramps

You’ll have lifetime access to these resources and FAQ videos that we are continually updating.

After watching the videos you’ll be ready to get cupping and feel relief immediately. Once you’re familiar with the simple technique you’ll be able to cup yourself in just a few minutes. You can cup as often as you need from daily to monthly.

Cupping is so easy and effective that you don’t have to be a professional to do it. In the time it takes to make an appointment you can already be feeling relief with a few minutes of cupping. You don’t need to find a big chunk of time in your day to feel so much better. 

Let’s be real, living with pain and tension is expensive. You pay the cost in sleep lost, in missing out on fun and joy with family and friends, or in not being able to pursue your goals like you want. 

It takes a lot of energy, time and money to live with pain and tension. 

Let’s reclaim those resources right now and invest instead in your self-care.  

It can be intimidating to take the tools into your own hands. We’re taught to let others be the experts of our bodies. But nobody knows your body like you. Massage in a Box gives you the tools and support you need to feel your best, but the power has always and will always be yours. 

With less tension and pain you’ll be showing up to work Zoom meetings feeling calm and clear, have more patience for the family, and be able to focus on what you love instead of the gnawing feeling you’ve gotten so used to in your body. And having the tools to give yourself relief whenever you need it will give you a whole new level of confidence. Nothing can stop empowered you from living your life fully.