You’ve probably seen pictures of people’s backs as they proudly display their cupping bruises. Cupping is a traditional Chinese practice (but seriously, it’s ancient).
Cupping therapy has been around since Ancient Egypt and is used to improve the flow of energy in the body by using glass cups on the skin and with heat, creating a vacuum effect. As a result, blood is closer to the skin’s surface, improving circulation and promoting healing.
And while cupping is a traditional Chinese practice, there’s been a modern twist on it. Yes, say hello to erotic cupping. But what is erotic cupping and how is it different from traditional cupping? Well, you’re about to find that out right now.
What is Erotic Cupping?
First of all, I have to say; I love how creative we’re getting with sex. Sex seems to be the one thing that keeps our minds fresh with new ideas. Erotic cupping is the same as traditional cupping therapy because glass cups are placed on the skin, creating a vacuum.
The only difference is with erotic cupping, the cupping cups are placed in erogenous zones, bringing blood to the area and increasing sexual stimulation. The erogenous zones the cupping cups are placed on can include the nipples, buttocks, clitoris, inner thighs, and breasts (depending on the size of the cupping cups). The larger the cupping cups, the more intense the sensation is.
But there’s more to erotic cupping than just this. In fact, there are three different types of cupping if you’re interested in experimenting with sensation play. Please note that erogenous zones are extremely sensitive areas, and we recommend avoiding the penis, testicles, and vagina unless practicing with someone experienced and knowledgeable in erotic cupping.
The 3 different types of cupping
Like I said before, there are 3 different types of cupping, and while they all revolve around using cups, they’re not all created equal.
Dry cupping
If you’re new to the world of cupping, then you’ll want to start with dry cupping. It’s the easiest and safest cupping method, so I give it a thumbs up for beginners. Dry cupping is where a vacuum is created in the cup manually.
In other words, you can buy a dry cupping kit online which comes with a pump. While the pump does limit the intensity of the cupping experience, if you’re a beginner, you want to start light.
Fire cupping
Fire cupping is not for beginners. Fire cupping uses glass cups and a source of heat, such as a flame. The air inside the cup is heated, and the temperature difference creates a vacuum.
With fire cupping, you want to do it with someone who has experience. If not, the glass cup itself can be heated, which can cause burns - and that's not what you want to happen.
Wet cupping
Wet cupping deals with blood, so it’s very important you are doing it with someone who follows proper hygiene practices and understands the wet cupping experience well. Wet cupping is when minor cuts to the skin are made, pulling small amounts of blood onto the skin's surface.
Erotic cupping tips for beginners
If you’re new to the cupping world, there are a couple of things you need to know.
Regardless if you’re doing it with someone who’s experienced, you should always take the time to research and better understand what cupping is before trying it yourself. Watch YouTube videos or even take a class on it. And, when choosing a partner, make sure they are experienced and have a positive reputation within the BDSM community.
If you're completely new to cupping, then you should start off with dry cupping. This is always recommended when trying anything in the BDSM realm. It's important not to jump into things too quickly. Start off lightly and work your way up.
Areas such as the back, thighs, and buttocks have fewer nerve endings, so you can have cups on them for a longer period of time (but please start off with no more than 5 minutes). However, areas like the breasts, penis, clitoris, and labia are extremely sensitive areas. These sensitive areas need no more than two minutes of cupping.
I know, it’s tempting to use mason jars or glass cups from your kitchen, but they are not the same. Do not use them as a replacement for cupping cups. If you’re going to do erotic cupping, use the proper cups. If not, the suction could pop the jars off and cause them to shatter.
It's important for you to understand the sensation and learn about how your body reacts. For the first couple of times, you should only stick to cupping. However, as you become more knowledgeable about your body, you can incorporate using sex toys (depending, of course, on where the cups are placed).
Conclusion
Erotic cupping can be a great way to experiment with sensation play and learn more about your body. Just remember to try cupping with someone who has the experience and practices it safely.
WRITTEN BY
Natasha Ivanovic
Natasha Ivanovic is an intimacy, dating, and relationship writer best known for her writings on Kiiroo, LovePanky, Post Pravda, and more. She's the creator and author of her short stories on TheLonelySerb. She completed her first degree in Criminology and continued and finished her Masters in Investigative Psychology, but then decided to follow her true passion of writing.
Discover more of Natasha's Work
See how Kiiroo products measure against other companies. View our comparison table.
