119: Dr Tom Ingegno, Author of The Cupping Book: Unlocking The Secrets of Ancient Healing

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One of the first things I ask everyone to do inside the Quietmind Yoga Teacher Training is to create a self-care plan. Because you can’t give from an empty cup. You need a team. You need support. You need energy practices that nourish you just as much as you guide others in their practices.

In this episode, I talk with Dr. Tom Ingegno, bestselling author of The Cupping Book: Unlocking the Secrets of Ancient Healing and founder of Charm City Integrative Health. We dive deep into the world of cupping—its surprising history, powerful benefits, and how it supports yoga teachers and practitioners in their own healing and transformation.

You’ll learn why cupping can be the missing link in your self-care, how it works (without the fluff), and how this ancient folk medicine became a modern healing staple used by Olympians and grandmas alike. We talk about safe use at home, what the “cupping marks” actually mean, and how cold plunges, red light therapy, and cupping are all part of the same conversation of getting back in sync with natural rhythms.

Whether you’re brand new to cupping or you’ve had it done but never really understood how it works—this episode will give you an insider’s understanding from someone who’s done it for 25+ years and taught at the university level. Plus, we get into meditation, Taoism, somatic healing, vagal tone, and what the future of medicine and self-care might look like.

Topics Covered

• Why yoga teachers need a self-care plan and a support team

• What cupping is and how it works (Eastern and Western perspectives)

• The surprising global history and origins of cupping therapy

• Fire cupping vs. silicone cupping: safety, tools, and use at home

• How cupping improves circulation, reduces inflammation, and relieves pain

• Understanding “Sha” and what cupping marks really mean

• When not to use cupping (contraindications like pregnancy and DVT)

• The connection between cupping, vagal tone, and nervous system health

• Why traditional healing is resurging and what science now confirms

• How to integrate cupping into your yoga practice and recovery routine

5 Key Quotes from this Episode:

• “If you’re giving to others, you better be receiving too. Otherwise, you burn out.”

• “Cupping is like a reverse massage—pulling instead of pushing—and it feels amazing.”

• “It’s not just about treating illness. It’s about building a life that supports vitality.”

• “You don’t need to be sick to benefit from cupping. This is for anyone moving their body, carrying stress, or needing better circulation.”

• “Traditional wisdom is finally getting its seat at the table again—not just as ‘woo,’ but as science.”

Mentioned in this episode:

• The Cupping Book: https://amzn.to/3EOib9g [Searchable on Amazon & digital formats]

• Charm City Integrative Health: https://charmcityintegrative.com

• Quietmind Yoga Teacher Training: http://www.quietmind.yoga/ytt

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Keywords: cupping therapy, self care for yoga teachers, ancient healing, Chinese medicine, fascia health, vagal tone, yoga teacher burnout, modern integrative health, fire cupping, restorative yoga, preventative medicine, inflammation relief, eastern medicine, energy healing, acupuncture, Dr. Tom Ingenio, Charm City Integrative, cupping at home, yoga + cupping, healing modalities, immune support