Fire cupping in Calgary
Fire cupping in Calgary with Dr. Will Tanner, one of the few RMTs offering it: booking it with massage or acupuncture, what to tell him, and marks.
By The Renu lymphatic and massage team · 5 min read
At Renu, fire cupping is offered by Dr. Will Tanner, a Registered Massage Therapist trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine and one of the few RMTs in Calgary who does it. A flame briefly heats the air inside a glass cup, and as the air cools on your skin it creates suction. Will usually works it into a massage or an acupuncture visit rather than as a separate appointment, so you book time with him and ask for fire cupping.
Fire cupping is the traditional way of creating suction in a cup: heat the air inside a glass cup with a brief flame, place the cup on the skin, and let the cooling air draw the tissue up. In Calgary it is uncommon to find it from a Registered Massage Therapist. At Renu it is offered by Dr. Will Tanner, who trained in Traditional Chinese Medicine at CITCM, and he usually combines it with massage or acupuncture. This page is about booking it: who does it, how to ask for it, what to tell him first, and what the evidence honestly supports.
Who offers fire cupping at Renu
Fire cupping at Renu is Will’s. His listed credentials are RMT, acupuncture, fire cupping and prenatal massage, and he is one of the few RMTs in Calgary offering the technique.
Other therapists here use cupping too, but a different kind. Meeghan Mackenzie, Sasha Bernard and Monica Von Gaza are trained in myofascial cupping, which creates suction without a flame and often glides the cups across the skin. If you are choosing between the two, our comparison of myofascial cupping vs fire cupping sets out the differences. If you specifically want glass cups and the traditional method, ask for Will.
How to book it
There is no separate “fire cupping” button. Fire cupping is worked into Will’s appointments, so you choose the appointment that fits what else you want:
| If you want | Book with Will | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Cupping with massage | Massage, 60 or 90 min | $120 / $157 |
| Cupping with acupuncture, first time | Initial consultation and treatment, 90 min | $150 |
| Cupping with acupuncture and massage | Acupuncture and massage combination, 90 min (returning acupuncture clients) | $167 |
Book online through Jane under Will’s name and mention that you would like fire cupping, or call the clinic and we will set it up. Wear clothes you can easily take off your back and shoulders, where most cups go. If this is your first time and you are wondering about the heat or the pull, read what fire cupping feels like before you come.
How the session runs depends on the appointment and on what Will finds. In an acupuncture visit, cupping is a natural partner because both come from the same tradition; StatPearls notes that in traditional Eastern medicine cupping was closely associated with acupuncture. Our answer on why fire cupping is often done with acupuncture goes further.
What to tell Will before he starts
A short conversation before the first cup avoids most problems. Mention:
- Blood thinners or a bleeding disorder. These affect how much marking and bruising you get; see massage, cupping or acupuncture on blood thinners.
- Skin conditions. NCCIH notes cupping may worsen eczema or psoriasis. Cups are not placed on broken, burned or inflamed skin.
- Pregnancy. Will also offers prenatal massage; tell him so he can plan accordingly.
- Upcoming events. Weddings, photo shoots, swim meets or a beach holiday. Marks are visible.
- How the suction feels. It should feel like a strong pull, not pain. Say so if it is too much and he will adjust.
Marks, aftercare and side effects
Round marks are the most common after-effect. NCCIH describes them as temporary, and at Renu we tell clients they usually fade within a few days to a week. They are not bruises in the usual sense: they come from blood drawn toward the surface under suction.
Because fire cupping involves a flame, the specific risk is a burn. NCCIH lists burns, scars, infections and worsening of eczema or psoriasis among the possible side effects of cupping, and a 2023 review of cupping in musculoskeletal and sports rehabilitation found the overall rate of adverse events very low. A trained practitioner keeps the flame inside the cup and away from your skin; our page on whether fire cupping is safe explains how.
For the hours afterwards, our answer on showering, swimming or using a sauna after cupping covers the practical questions. Let us know if a mark blisters or looks infected.
What the evidence supports
Cupping has a long history and modest evidence. NCCIH says cupping may help reduce pain, but the evidence is not very strong and most studies are of poor quality.
The most useful single summary is a 2020 meta-analysis of 18 randomized trials with 1,172 people with chronic pain. Compared with no treatment, cupping produced large short-term reductions in pain intensity. Compared with sham cupping or other active treatments, the difference was not significant. In plain terms, people tend to feel better after cupping, but trials have not shown that the suction itself is the active ingredient. The 2023 rehabilitation review rated the evidence as moderate for improving soft-tissue flexibility and low to moderate for low back and neck pain.
We think that is a fair way to approach fire cupping: a traditional technique that many people find relieving as part of a massage or acupuncture session, not a treatment that should replace care from your doctor.
When to see a doctor instead
Skip cupping and see a doctor if you have a fever, a new rash, an area of skin that is hot, red and spreading, or pain after a fall or injury that might be a fracture. After a session, a blister, oozing or a mark that becomes more painful over the following days needs to be looked at. These are uncommon, but they are the signs that matter.
Questions people ask
Can I book fire cupping as its own appointment?
Fire cupping is something Will weaves into a massage or acupuncture visit. If you want the session to be mostly cupping, book a massage with Will and mention it when you book or call, so he can plan the time.
Do the other therapists at Renu do fire cupping?
No. Fire cupping at Renu is Will's. Meeghan, Sasha and Monica use myofascial cupping, which creates suction without a flame.
Will fire cupping marks show at the gym or pool?
They often will for several days. If you have a wedding, photos or a competition coming up, tell Will so he can use lighter suction or place cups where clothing covers them, or book after the event.
Can I have fire cupping if I am on blood thinners?
Tell Will before you start. Medications that affect clotting change how much marking and bruising you can expect, and he may lighten the suction or suggest a different approach. Our page on massage, cupping and acupuncture on blood thinners has more detail.
Sources
Page reviewed October 5, 2026. This page is education, not a diagnosis. For your own situation, talk to your doctor, surgeon or care team, or ask us.
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