The ritual,
in eight gestures.
A session lasts fifteen minutes. Eight simple steps, learned once, repeated a thousand times. Here is the detailed how-to that comes with your Uplife kit.
Read it through first, then practise.
Know the body zones.
Before placing the first cup, you need to know the body zones and the right size. The wider and more muscular the zone, the larger the diameter should be.
- Ø 7.7 cmVery large zones
Broad back, powerful thighs, glutes.
- Ø 6.9 cmLarge zones
Trapezius, back, glutes, thighs.
- Ø 6.0 cmIntermediate zones
Lower back, stomach, wide calves.
- Ø 5.3 cmMedium zones
Shoulders, lumbar, biceps. Also available with curved rims for joint areas.
- Ø 4.2 cmLimbs and joints
Neck, biceps, calves. Also available with curved rims for knees, elbows and ankles.
- Ø 3.5 cmSmall muscles & specific points
Forearms, inner arms, thin calves, upper trapezius, precise tension points.
Prepare the space & yourself.
The session begins before the first gesture. Choose a calm moment, a warm spot (at least 21°C), and prepare your body: it is the antechamber of the treatment.
The environment — A room sheltered from draughts, soft light, music optional but welcome (favour low frequencies). Avoid television or notifications.
Your body — Ideally after a warm shower (the skin is clean, the pores open). Hydrate well before the session — a large glass of water ten minutes beforehand. Do not practise on an empty stomach or just after a heavy meal.
Position — Lying on a yoga mat, a thick towel, or a firm bed. The area to be treated must be easily accessible and completely relaxed.
Prepare the equipment.
Take out your kit. Check that the cups are clean and that the pump is fully dry. A damp seal loses its airtightness.
Choose the size — Select the cups suited to the zones you are going to treat (see step 01 — Know the body zones for the correspondences).
Lay them within reach — The cups you will need, the pump, your bottle of vegetable oil, a bath towel, and a watch or timer. Everything must be reachable without breaking your position.
The equipment ritual — In traditional TCM, the cups are laid out in the order they will be used, in a circle or a line. This gesture prepares the mind as much as the body.
Apply the oil.
Oil mainly concerns dynamic practice. For static practice, it remains optional.
Static vs dynamic — In static practice, the cup stays in place for 5 to 15 minutes on the same spot: the skin rises into the bell, the vacuum works on its own. In dynamic practice, you glide the cup along the muscle over oiled skin — a true deep massage.
Which oil — A neutral vegetable oil is ideal: sweet almond, jojoba, fractionated coconut, or our Workshop Oil (a jojoba + ginger essential oil blend, sold separately). Avoid mineral oils (petroleum jelly) and moisturising creams that dry too quickly.
How much — Pour a few drops (the size of a coin) into the palm of your hand. Rub palm against palm to warm it, then spread it over the area in slow circular motions for 1 to 2 minutes. This manual preparation warms the fascia before placing the cup.
The area must be oily — Not dripping, but well lubricated. An area that is too dry compromises the glide in dynamic practice.
Place the cup.
The precise gesture — Aim the pump nozzle at the valve on top of the cup. Place the cup flat on the skin, pressing lightly to ensure the seal is airtight.
Hold it with one hand — While you pump with the other. Without this light pressure, the cup may move during the first pull.
The placement — Follow the zones shown in the instruction manual supplied with your kit.
If you struggle to keep the cup in place while pumping, ask a loved one for help with the back areas. It is easier with two.
Set the suction.
This is the step that takes the most experience. Too little suction and the cup slips, too much and discomfort takes over. Here are our markers.
First pump — Pull the handle in one clear, full motion. The skin should already start to rise into the bell.
Second pump — Assess the sensation. For a first session or a sensitive area, stop here. For regular practice, continue.
Third pump — The maximum intensity recommended for home use. The skin rises about 1 to 2 cm into the bell, the cupping effect is marked but stays comfortable.
Beyond — Reserved for experienced practitioners and thick muscle areas (back only). Never go beyond 4 pumps on arms, calves, shoulders.
The resting time.
Once the cups are placed and the suction set, it is time to let go. Lie down, close your eyes, and let time do its work.
Duration — Allow 5 to 10 minutes for a beginner session, 10 to 15 minutes for an established practice. Beyond 15 minutes per area, the effect plateaus and the marks deepen needlessly.
Expected sensations — A gentle warmth rising, sometimes a tingling sensation (a sign that circulation is waking up), a gradual release of the fascia. The first few seconds may be surprising — the skin "pulls". This sensation fades within 30 to 60 seconds.
Sensations to watch — Sharp pain, an intense burning sensation or dizziness are abnormal. Remove the cup immediately (step 08) and shorten the next session.
What to do during this time — Breathe slowly (4 seconds in, 6 seconds out), listen to a guided meditation, read a soothing book. Avoid screens, the phone, stimulating conversations.
Remove the cup.
Removal is utterly simple: just gently pull the suction valve on top of the cup. Air enters, the vacuum breaks, the cup comes off on its own.
The gesture — Grip the valve between thumb and forefinger, pull upward without force. No strength is needed — the valve does all the work.
After removal — The skin is marked — this is normal. The darker the mark, the more "charged" the area was according to the TCM reading. The marks disappear within 3 to 7 days with no particular treatment.
Wipe off the excess oil with your towel. Drink a large glass of water. Stay lying down for another 5 minutes before getting up — circulation is engaged, rise slowly.
The gesture, and then the ritual.
Eight steps learned once — a ritual for life. To go further, discover the origin and benefits of cupping, or read the precautions to know.