The NOW Massage’s flagship location in West Hollywood, California.

As a longtime fan of The NOW Massage, I’m continually impressed by their ongoing innovation as a company and brand. Not only are they industry leaders when it comes to offering high-quality and affordable massages in beautifully designed spaces, but they are always going above and beyond to find new ways to enhance the wellness of their guests and members whether it’s through new partnerships, treatments and enhancements, product launches and more.

Spa Profile: The NOW Massage

Their latest offering is an exclusive Acupuncture + Cupping Residency, which is being offered for a limited time at their West Hollywood boutique—and starting on April 1, it will be offered on select days at their Santa Monica and Silver Lake locations as well. Acupuncture and cupping are both ancient and traditional modalities from Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) that offer a wide range of health and relaxation benefits. Over the years I’ve turned to acupuncture and cupping to help treat various issues including sciatica, tight muscles, hormonal and digestive issues, among others.

The NOW Shares 5 Tips for Creating Instant Calm

I’ve never experienced both services simultaneously, so I was especially excited to try them out during a recent visit to The NOW Massage in West Hollywood. From my personal experience, both are extremely effective healing modalities especially when done on a regular basis, so I figured that getting them together might yield even more powerful results.

The NOW Massage’s interior features beautiful nature-inspired decor and furnishings.

Here’s what you’ll love about The NOW Massage’s Acupuncture + Cupping Residency:

The Traditional Chinese Medicine healing modalities offer a wide range of benefits that include pain alleviation; reduced stress, inflammation and muscle tension; improved circulation, and faster athletic recovery.
The service also incorporates a crystal-infused far infrared heat Biomat for added healing and relaxation benefits.
The treatments are performed by highly-skilled, duly licensed acupuncture and cupping experts.
A massage can be booked before the treatment to help muscles relax and make them more receptive to the acupuncture needles or after the treatment to help support the body in releasing muscular holding patterns/soreness and retaining a calm, parasympathetic state.
The NOW Massage’s beautiful, nature-inspired interiors offer the perfect setting for relaxation and self-care with soothing decor and an ocean soundtrack.
With multiple locations across Los Angeles and the rest of the country, The NOW Massage is helping to make wellness a more affordable and accessible priority for everyone.
In addition to acupuncture and cupping, The NOW Massage offers three different types of table massages along with numerous enhancements ranging from a scalp treatment to a soothing eye mask.
Monthly memberships are available and include numerous perks such as savings on massages, massage credits that can be rolled over, product discounts and more.

Natural elements throughout The NOW help to create a soothing environment.

I made sure to arrive 15 minutes before my appointment in order to give myself ample time to find parking and fill out the routine forms upon check in. Since I was visiting on a Monday afternoon, I didn’t have any trouble getting a spot on Beverly Boulevard and walked right in. I was offered a cup of infused water to sip on while I filled out my pre-appointment forms and within a few minutes, George, the resident acupuncturist and cupping expert, came out to greet me.

The NOW also carries a wide selection of its signature self-care products.

Before we headed back to the treatment room he took a few minutes to discuss the benefits of acupuncture and cupping with me, as well as what to expect during and after the service. He asked if I had any specific areas that I wanted him to focus on and I pointed out that my shoulders and upper back tend to hold the most tension, so he said that he would target those parts of my body. He also made sure to answer any questions I had about potential side effects and post-treatment care, which was relatively simple.

Aside from encouraging me to drink more water for the rest of the day to help my lymphatic system remove toxins more effectively, he advised against consuming alcohol or caffeine after my treatment and to avoid showering or bathing for a few hours afterwards as well. He also mentioned that slight bruising, cupping marks and/or soreness are normal afterwards and would go away within a few days.

The NOW’s West Hollywood boutique (along with other select locations) is offering an exclusive acupuncture and cupping residence for a limited time.

The NOW Massage has also partnered with one of my favorite haircare brands, OUAI, to offer the OUAI Scalp Renewal Enhancement. Prior to my visit I had attended a media event at The NOW Massage in Silver Lake to celebrate the new partnership and to try out the new enhancement, which consists of a stimulating scalp massage featuring OUAI’s Scalp Serum. It felt wonderful and my scalp was so hydrated and relaxed afterwards!

The serum is formulated with ingredients like hyaluronic acid, adaptogens, Arctic root, Siberian ginseng and Chaga mushroom to promote hydration and a healthy barrier. Ideal for all hair types, it helps to balance and hydrate the scalp and can be added onto one of The NOW’s three signature massages (The NOW, Healer, or Stretch).

In addition to being free of parabens, phthalates and gluten, the formula is also cruelty-free (like all OUAI products) and features an incredible scent called Cape Town that has earthy notes including ginger, basil and spearmint. The OUAI Scalp Renewal Enhancement costs $15 and is available for a limited time exclusively in The NOW Massage’s Los Angeles boutiques (West Hollywood, Studio City, Silver Lake, Santa Monica). Guests can also receive $10 off when purchasing the Scalp Serum and more on OUAI’s website.

The OUAI Scalp Renewal ($15) is a new enhancement that guests can add onto their services at The NOW.

The NOW also has a custom crystal grid that can amplify, shift and direct energy.

Between the reception area and treatment rooms is a smaller relaxation space that includes seating, pillows and a beautiful crystal grid on the mirror. Every The NOW location has a custom crystal grid that can be used as an effective tool for different types of energy work, and The NOW’s team strategically places crystals in the foundation of each boutique to help set the tone and serve as a talisman for each new location.

When I was sitting in the waiting area earlier, I also noticed a smaller grid of crystals that were laid out on one of the tables in alignment. Keep your eyes out next time you visit one of The NOW’s locations—it’s kind of like a spiritual Easter egg hunt!

A dimly-lit hallway leads to the individual treatment rooms accompanied by an ocean soundtrack.

As soon as I followed George into the airy hallway that led to the treatment rooms, which are each separated by their own set of thick canopy curtains, a sense of relaxation instantly washed over me. The sound of waves crashing was playing in the background, which instantly transports you to a tropical beach somewhere far away and makes you feel like you’re on vacation.

George stepped out of the room so that I could get undressed before slipping under the covers of the warm treatment bed, which felt cozy and relaxing thanks to the crystal-infused far infrared heat Biomat. I was lying face down when he returned to start the acupuncture portion of the treatment. He used mini disinfecting wipes to swipe the surface areas of my skin where he was going to apply the needles, which were all brand-new and came individually wrapped.

He carefully placed around 12 to 14 needles in various points on my upper and lower back, legs and neck area, and I noticed that he put a few extra needles around my shoulders and scapula to give extra attention to the areas I had told him about earlier. He inserted the needles so skillfully that I didn’t even feel them going in. After placing the last needle, he put a small call button under one of my hands that I could press if I needed him at any time during the treatment, then he left the room so that I could relax while the needles worked their magic for the next 30 minutes.

For the next half hour I was lying there with my eyes closed, drifting off somewhere halfway between sleep and being awake. At various points during the treatment I noticed that various needles on my body would occasionally tingle and feel warm when the acupuncture points were being activated, then the sensation would go away and move to another needle, but it was never painful or uncomfortable.

For those that aren’t familiar with how acupuncture works, the needles create an energetic shift in our body’s fascia (thin connective tissue that surrounds our organs, muscles, nerve fibers, bones and blood vessels). For areas of the body where one is experiencing pain or tension, the nervous system will create a chemical response to upregulate or downregulate whatever the body needs in order to create balance.

My 45-minute service consisted of 30 minutes of acupuncture followed by 10 minutes of cupping while lying on a crystal-infused far infrared heat Biomat.

30 minutes flew by quickly and George returned to perform the cupping portion of the service. He placed a series of small plastic cups across my upper and lower back, and the manner in which he did so was very gentle and relaxing (which are two words I would not normally use to describe cupping!)

The cups felt firm on my skin but not tight, and he left the room for the remaining 15 minutes of the treatment so that my body had time to enjoy the benefits of the increase in blood flow due to the suction that was decompressing my muscles and connective tissue. It’s also a great way to move stagnant blood and toxins that are sitting in our body so that the lymphatic system can move them out more efficiently.

After George came back in one last time to remove the cups from my back, I instantly felt looser and less tight, especially in my upper back. I asked him how the circles looked (typically darker cupping marks mean more stagnation) and he said that my marks were on the lighter side, which I was happy to hear. When I finished changing he was waiting for me outside the treatment room with a cup of water, and when he asked how I was feeling, I said that it felt as if I was floating on a cloud. I felt relaxed and slightly sleepy—I knew that I was going to sleep extra well that night and maybe even have a nap after getting home.

As I was passing the reception desk on my way out, one of the attendants shared another tip with me. She said that during a future visit I might want to try booking a massage either before or after an acupuncture and cupping session. She explained that having a massage before will help muscles relax and make them more receptive to acupuncture needles, while having a massage after will help to support the body in releasing muscular holding patterns/soreness and maintain a calm, parasympathetic state. I absolutely plan to do that next time!

For the rest of the day I felt relaxed and calm. My back and shoulder muscles were slightly sore and warm due to the increased circulation, but nothing overly uncomfortable that I couldn’t handle. I also found myself peeing more as a result of my lymphatic system being stimulated after my treatment, and I slept really well that night and woke up feeling extremely refreshed the next day. It took about five or six days for the cupping marks to completely fade, but they were fairly light and easy to cover. Fortunately I didn’t have any plans to wear a back-baring outfit over the next few days, but if I was going to then I would avoid scheduling a cupping session in the same week.

For optimum results, acupuncture and cupping are recommended in weekly visits for at least one month before switching to monthly treatments, but everyone is different and some will notice an immediate difference after even one visit. Whether you’re a fan of acupuncture and cupping or curious about trying it out for the first time, I highly recommend giving it a try at The NOW Massage. It’s definitely a relaxing and enjoyable experience that will make a nice addition to your self-care routine with extra health benefits!

After my treatment I felt like I was floating on a cloud—relaxed and ready for a nap.

Cost: Acupuncture + Cupping ($110/45 min)

Insider Tips:

Wear loose and comfortable clothing to your appointment.
Eat at least 2 to 3 hours prior to your service and avoid consuming alcohol or caffeine right after.
Drink a lot of water afterwards to help your body remove toxins more effectively.
If you have extra time, add on a massage before or after your treatment for additional relaxation benefits.
Avoid showering or bathing for a few hours after your treatment.
Common after effects may include soreness and light bruising, which will subside within a few days. Slight tingling, electrical sensations, warmth and/or muscle relaxation may be present for up to 2 hours after treatment.
Cupping marks are common and may last up to 8 days. If you have an event coming up or are planning to wear an outfit that exposes your back, hold off on scheduling a cupping session until after.

Hours: 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. (Daily)

Address: 7611 Beverly Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90036

Phone: 323-250-5060

For more information and to book a service at The NOW Massage, visit their website. Follow on Instagram: @thenowmassage

[Photos by Kamala Kirk]

Spa Review: We Tried Acupuncture and Cupping at The NOW Massage in West Hollywood