Neighborhood Guide
One tradition reads the surface; the other reaches underneath. Put a Japanese thumb and a Chinese cup in the same hour, and the stubborn knot you've carried for months finally has nowhere to hide.
Integrated, Not an Add-On
Most massage places treat cupping as an add-on — something they tack onto the end of a Swedish massage. We do it differently. Our therapists are trained in both Shiatsu and cupping as integrated disciplines, so they read your body and decide where each technique will be most effective.
A typical combo session might start with 10–15 minutes of cupping on your upper back and shoulders — the area where most people hold the deepest tension. Once those cups come off and fresh blood is flowing, the Shiatsu work that follows hits differently. The tissue is more responsive, the meridians are more open, and the pressure can reach places that were locked up before.
The cupping creates space and increases blood flow at a deep tissue level, while the Shiatsu brings the nervous system down from alert mode.
Focused Bodywork, Not a Spa Day
This isn't a spa experience with dim lights and whale sounds. It's focused bodywork for people who actually want to feel better when they walk out. If you've been dealing with the same tight spot for months, the Shiatsu-cupping combination is worth trying.
For the People Who've Tried Everything
San Francisco has a particular population of people who have tried everything for a stubborn problem area: foam rolling, stretching apps, physical therapy, various massage modalities. The combo session tends to resonate with this group because it approaches the body from two different angles simultaneously. The cupping creates space and increases blood flow at a deep tissue level, while the Shiatsu brings the nervous system down from alert mode. Together, they address both the physical and the systemic side of tension.
Which Should You Try First?
If you're newer to bodywork and wondering which to try first — Shiatsu alone or the combo — here's an honest take: start with a 60-minute Shiatsu session to get a feel for meridian pressure work. If you feel like there's something deeper that isn't releasing, book the combo next time. Most clients who try the combination once make it their regular format.