Massage by Erika

When used as part of myofascial work, cups create gentle negative pressure that lifts and glides the superficial tissues rather than only pressing downward into them. This can help reduce feelings of restriction, improve tissue mobility, and make it easier to work through areas that feel chronically tight or “stuck.”

It can be especially useful when discomfort involves more than one muscle or area of the body.

Common areas I may incorporate vacuum cupping for include:

• Chronic muscular pain and recurring tension
• Knee discomfort, especially when the thighs, hips, or surrounding tissues feel restricted
• Plantar fasciitis and tightness through the feet and calves
• TMJ-related tension through the jaw, neck, and upper shoulders
• Headache and migraine-related muscular tension
• Neck stiffness and limited mobility
• Tight upper traps, shoulders, and back
• Restricted or overworked muscles from repetitive jobs, exercise, or daily movement

One of the biggest benefits of cupping is that it allows me to work with the tissue differently. Instead of continuously compressing an already sensitive area, the cup can gently lift the tissue while I move it across the skin or combine it with movement, stretching, and hands-on massage.

Cupping is not a cure for conditions such as migraines, TMJ disorders, plantar fasciitis, or chronic pain, but it can be a useful tool for addressing the muscular and fascial tension that may accompany them.

Your session is always customized. Cupping may be used by itself in a specific area or incorporated into your massage when it makes sense for what your body needs that day.

Massage by Erika
WAXED Williamsport | 3rd Floor

Stress doesn’t always stay in your mind.

Sometimes it shows up as a clenched jaw.
Shoulders that are constantly pulled toward your ears.
Headaches.
A tight chest.
Shallow breathing.
Low back or hip tension that seems to keep coming back.
A body that feels exhausted even when you’ve technically rested.

Our nervous system responds to stress by preparing us to protect ourselves. Muscles tighten, breathing changes, sleep can suffer, and over time the body can begin holding patterns of tension without us even realizing it.

For example:

Someone who spends months under constant stress may unconsciously brace their shoulders and jaw throughout the day. Eventually, they may notice chronic upper-trap tension, neck pain, tension headaches or TMJ discomfort.

Massage can’t erase trauma or remove the stressors in your life, but it can give your body an opportunity to soften, slow down and reconnect with a sense of safety and relaxation.

Sometimes the question isn’t just:

“Where does it hurt?”

It’s also:

“What has your body been carrying?”

📚 Recommended reading

• The Midnight Library — Matt Haig
A fictional story about regret, possibility, depression and finding meaning in the life you already have.

• The Great Alone — Kristin Hannah
A powerful novel about survival, family trauma, isolation and resilience.

• No Bad Parts — Richard Schwartz
An introduction to Internal Family Systems and understanding the protective parts we all carry.

• What My Bones Know — Stephanie Foo
A memoir about complex trauma, the nervous system and learning what healing can actually look like.

• Atlas of the Heart — Brené Brown
A guide to understanding and naming emotions, experiences and the ways they shape us.

• Burnout — Emily Nagoski & Amelia Nagoski
Explores the stress cycle, emotional exhaustion and why our bodies need more than just “rest” to recover.

Your body tells a story too.

Sometimes healing starts by learning how to listen. 🤍

The head spa you’ve been looking for ✨

A slow, restorative experience combining hydrotherapy with scalp massage, facial massage, neck + shoulder work, and soothing tools like jade masks, combs + rollers.

Designed to help you unwind, release tension, and leave feeling completely reset.

Now booking with Massage by Erika 🤍
Booking link in bio.

A blended 1 to 6 month old class where we do tummy time, sensory play, baby massage, learn self massage and finish with skin to skin. During this class it's okay for babies to fuss, diapers to be changed, and feeding. This is a time to connect wih your littles and reconnect with yourself in a judgement free space.

If interested please let myself or Roya from
Earth Silk + Spice know you'd like to attend.

Comment below SIGN ME UP for full details

Low back pain is rarely just one tight spot.

Depending on the person, the muscles around the hips, glutes, hamstrings, and core can all influence how the pelvis and low back move. Common areas that may be involved include the quadratus lumborum, erector spinae, gluteals, piriformis, hip flexors, hamstrings, and adductors.

That is why I do not treat low back pain by only working directly where it hurts.

A session may include focused massage, myofascial work, stretching, cupping, and mobility work based on what feels restricted and how your body responds.

Stretching can be helpful when certain areas are shortened or stiff, especially the hip flexors, hamstrings, glutes, and hips. But stretching is only one part of the picture.

For many people, improving core and hip strength can also be important for long-term support. Exercises like bird dogs, dead bugs, bridges, side planks, and controlled pelvic movements are commonly used to build stability around the spine and pelvis.

Massage can help reduce tension, ease stiffness, and make movement feel more comfortable, but lasting improvement often comes from a combination of:

Massage + mobility + strength + recovery

The goal is not just to make your back feel better for an hour.

It is to help you move better, understand what may be contributing to the tension, and give your body better support between sessions.

Persistent, worsening, or unexplained low back pain should always be evaluated by an appropriate healthcare provider.

Massage by Erika
Therapeutic massage for pain, tension, recovery, and everyday stress.

Book your treatment WAXED Williamsport