Master Class in Traditional East-West Cupping
In the 3 day Master Class you will discover a whole world of traditional cupping. After completion you will confidently take a huge amount of cupping know-how and practices directly to your clinic.
In the three days you will learn:
- The most refined ways of applying cups and the 5 vacuum levels
- Diagnosis of cupping marks
- Cupping Deficiency - to restore chronic soft tissue imbalances
- Russian cupping massage
- Treatments for sports injuries
- Chinese and Vietnamese cupping to alleviate many forms of pain and discomfort
- Alleviate the effects of respiratory symptoms
- Cupping combined with hands-on treatments and much more
An emphasis in class will be on learning simple and effective ways to apply the correct method and vacuum level to restore balance.
Two essays vital to this workshop are Cupping Deficiency and A Cupping Mark is not a Bruise. Both characterize the quality of what to expect from this essential 3 days exploring the roots and the best of thousands of years of cross-cultural practice.
Price: AUD $800
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Cupping can be taken into any healing setting. Having been practiced for so long by every culture should go a long way to highlight its adaptability and success as a treatment. The aim of this workshop is to equip the practitioner to be informed, creative and versatile while saving your hands and getting great results - even when treating stubborn and otherwise difficult chronic cases.
Course structure
A very hands-on learning 3 days
Day 19 - 10am
Introduction to traditional cupping, including an historical overview.
10 - 10.30am
Introduction to the necessary equipment required for cupping. Discussion on contraindications and cleaning requirements.
10.30 - 10.45am
Break
10.45 - 11.45am
Demonstration on how to apply cupping vessels and the 5 levels of suction. The interscapular margin will be the practice region.
11.45 - 12.45pm
Student practice
12.45 - 1.45pm
Lunch
1.45 - 2.45pm
Demonstration of cups applied throughout the upper back to rectify various pain syndromes. A massage sequence throughout the hips and legs will also be demonstrated
2.45 - 3.00pm
Break
3.00 - 4.00pm
Student practice
4.00 - 5.00pm
Student practice
9 - 9.30am
Open forum on the diagnosis of different cupping marks and what they diagnostically indicate
9.30 - 10.30am
1. Discussion and demonstration on warming the cups and tonifying deficiency to restore strength to weakness areas of the body. Attention will focus on the lower back.
2. Demonstration of applying external liniments to the skin surface before, during and after cupping.
10.30 - 10.45am
Break
10.45 - 11.45
Student practice
11.45 - 12.45
Student practice
12.45 - 1.45pm
Lunch
1.45 - 2.45pm
Discussion and demonstration concerning treatments for common cold
2.45 - 3.00pm
Break
3.00 - 4.00pm
Student practice
4.00 - 5.00 Demonstration of Russian cupping massage
9.00 - 10.00am
Student practice of Russian cupping massage
10.00 - 10.30am
Student practice of Russian cupping massage
10.30 - 10.45am
Break
10.45 - 11.45am
Demonstration of the preparation for making a flour and water foundation to enable cupping to the knees and other joints.
11.45 - 12.45pm
Discussion and demonstration of cupping combined with stretching to treat hip pain and immobility, including illiotibial band release techniques.
12.45 - 1.45pm
Lunch
1.45 - 2.45pm
Student practice
2.45 - 3.00pm
Break
3.00 - 4.00pm
Student practice
4.00 - 5.00pm
Q&A forum
Two of the many Facebook Health Traditions Cupping Posts
Diagnostic analysis of cupping marks
From top left going clockwise:
- Mottled: blood stasis associated with Qi deficiency (paleness)
- Conical elevation with white peak: cold damp/phlegm (depending if soft or hard)
- Blood stagnation with elevated black clots and swelling (indicating severe pain)
- Swollen with mild stagnation (blockage of fluids and heat accumulation)
- Small red dotting indicates the release of sha (heat toxins)
- Coldness with an epicentre of strong deficiency
- Dark blockage of painful blood stagnation (possibly caused by wind blockage) with accompanying sha
- Long term trauma throughout the shoulder (with long term immobility and pain)
(All photos taken by Bruce Bentley) 1 Jan 2017
Stationary cups to the upper back while massage is applied to the legs
While stationary cups are left throughout the upper back for between 15 - 20 minutes to draw and release tightness focused on either acu-points, tigger points or other any other site of pain, these two practitioners (on day one of the Master Class in Traditional East-West Cupping) perform a hands-on sequence from the hips down the posterior and middle lateral aspects of the legs legs. This earths and grounds the Qi, opens the bladder channel to relay upstairs and releases blockages throughout the shoulders and upper back by linking with and enhancing the drawing effect of the cups.
In the right pic, the distal point combo of kunlun (Bl60) and taixi (kid3) are simultaneously pressed and held for 60 seconds. 2 applications are shown: on the left the fingers interlock with the shoulders dropped to penetrate and hold the 2 points without effort. Alternatively, these 2 points are penetrated with a different hand positioning on the right.
Cupping Deficiency
This treatment can be duplicated and applies for all weakness conditions and chronic soft tissue pain and immobility
• The mind is coaxed to accept the offering at the points, the breath follows and the qi is beckoned: note how the cup lifts on the third application. Cupping deficiency, to tonify the yang, is performed by pre-heating a glass cup and placing it very softly on the skin surface. The more 'feather touch' the vacuum, the deeper and more powerful the effect. In this short video, the manner of application to tonify the kidney yang, by repeated applications to Shenshu (Bl 23) is demonstrated. Each time the cup is alighted on the body, preferably in sequences of 9 applications - being the numerically maximal primary yang number - the practitioner is required to wait until the patient's breath reaches the cup, and then softly remove it at that moment when the breath lifts the cup to its point of highest elevation. This is another consideration for achieving maximal yang, and adds to the greatest therapeutic benefit possible. For a far more detailed explanation and further recommendations, read my essay 'Cupping Deficiency' reposted today on FB Health Traditions, and translated into Italian and posted on 26 February 2017. Btw: if the elevation of the cup is missed or difficult to determine, wait for the next opportunity to arrive.
Posted by Health Traditions on Tuesday, November 7, 2017
The mind is coaxed to accept the offering at the points, the breath follows and the qi is beckoned: note how the cup lifts on the third application. Cupping deficiency, to tonify the yang, is performed by pre-heating a glass cup and placing it very softly on the skin surface. The more 'feather touch' the vacuum, the deeper and more powerful the effect.
In this short video, the manner of application to tonify the kidney yang, by repeated applications to Shenshu (Bl 23) is demonstrated.
Each time the cup is alighted on the body, preferably in sequences of 9 applications - being the numerically maximal primary yang number - the practitioner is required to wait until the patient's breath reaches the cup, and then softly remove it at that moment when the breath lifts the cup to its point of highest elevation. This is another consideration for achieving maximal yang, and adds to the greatest therapeutic benefit possible.
For a far more detailed explanation and further recommendations, read my essay 'Cupping Deficiency'.
Btw: if the elevation of the cup is missed or difficult to determine, wait for the next opportunity to arrive.
Have you considered?
Advanced Certificate in Integrated Cupping Therapy
An additional Advanced Certificate In Integrated Cupping Therapy will be awarded upon satisfactory completion of both the Master Class in Traditional East-West Cupping and the Modern Cupping Workshop
All Cupping Instruments are available for purchase at the Workshop or our online shop
Bruce's cupping essays
"A cupping mark is not a Bruise"
"Mending the Fascia with Modern Cupping"
"Modern cupping and fascia release throughout the hips"
"The Subtle Cup - an interview"
"Cupping Deficiency"
"A brief history of cupping"
"Explorations of Cupping in Greece"
"Encounters with cupping and shamanism in Tanzania"
"The Naked Flame and other hot topics"
Student Testimonials
"I don't think I've ever spent 5 days learning so much in my life and I'm sure this will take my massage practice to the next level at the same time as saving my body from the stresses of extra work. It was amazing. Many Thanks Bruce... I'll be back for more."Joanne Terrans
Sports Massage Therapist
"I'd been waiting for this weekend to come, and I got so much more out of it than I even expected."Scott Lamb
Shiatsu Therapist
Course workbook
Sample pages from the 59 page Master Class in Traditional East-West Cupping workbook
Certificate of Attendance
Upon satisfactory completion of either Cupping Workshop, an attractive certificate of attendance is given. In addition, upon satisfactory completion of our two cupping workshops, being the Master Class in Traditional East-West Cupping and the Modern Cupping Therapy workshop - an Advanced Certificate in Integrated Cupping Therapy will be awarded.
Note: Women who are pregnant should contact Bruce.
What I loved most about this workshop was Bruce's ability to bridge Eastern & Western cupping perspectives seamlessly in his explanations & practices... wonderful class!!Dr Kim U Lic Ac (USA)
This was the best course I've taken in my 14 years of practice.Deborah Pacik Lic Ac (USA)
This was an incredible experience. I highly recommend Bruce's class to anyone wanting to gain enormous knowledge and skill in a short time. Bruce's methods and knowledge are extraordinary. Loved every minute of it!Suzn Martinez LMT (USA)
Our courses are taught with over 40 years of knowledge from hands on experience locally and abroad, with depth and spirit.
Bruce Bentley is the key facilitator of all courses at Health Traditions and is a leader in the industry. You are sure to come away from your session with passion, knowledge, experience and the confidence to bring your learned skills into your practise.
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