Free Tool — Massage Service Chooser
Which Massage Do I Need?
Answer five questions to match your goal, time and pressure to one service on Maya's menu. Then compare all five services side by side, with times, prices and sources.
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Updated October 24, 2026 · Free to use · Bookmark it
Find Your Massage in Five Questions
Answer five short questions. The quiz points to one service on Maya's menu, shows its time and price, and links to the page for it. It takes about a minute.
Athletic Bodies Revamped · Maya Sharpe, LMT · (408) 561-8431 · athleticmassagetherapist.com
Compare the Five Services Side by Side
Five services appear on this chart: Deep Tissue Massage, Sports Massage, Cupping Therapy, the Scraping Session and the Full Recovery Deluxe Session. The first column uses the wording on Maya's site. The feel column draws on AMTA and Cleveland Clinic. Times and prices match the booking menu.
Maya Sharpe is a licensed massage therapist with four years of hands-on clinical experience and a Neuromuscular Therapy Certification.
| Service | What It Is | How It Feels | Time and Price | Who Chooses It |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deep Tissue Massage | Applies firm, focused pressure into deeper muscle layers and myofascial structures. It targets chronic tension, knots and restricted range of motion. | Deeper pressure goes into the muscles. Cleveland Clinic links deeper pressure to more soreness afterward, usually lasting a few hours to about a day and a half. Cleveland Clinic | 30 min, $70 for a single body part. 50+ min, Starting at $130 for two body parts. |
Cleveland Clinic names people with general muscle tightness and chronic muscle pain. Cleveland Clinic |
| Sports Massage | Focuses on athletic recovery. Cleveland Clinic describes it as similar to deep tissue massage, but centered on the muscles that take a beating. | AMTA says sports massage techniques and strategies vary with the athlete's sport. Pre-event work focuses on warm-up. AMTA | Call or text (408) 561-8431 to set it up. The booking page does not list it. | Cleveland Clinic names athletes and people who do repetitive physical activity. AMTA adds amateur athletes and weekend warriors. |
| Cupping Therapy | Places suction cups on the skin and lifts the tissue beneath them. | Cleveland Clinic describes some skin tightness during cupping, not pain. Some people feel bruised and slightly sore afterward. Cupping commonly leaves red, round marks that fade in a week or two. Cleveland Clinic | Included in the Deluxe session (90 min, $190). Cupping on its own: call or text (408) 561-8431. |
Cleveland Clinic says people mostly use cupping for conditions that cause pain, and calls the evidence mixed. |
| Scraping Session | A session that uses a scraping tool on the skin over a muscle. Cleveland Clinic describes the related practice of gua sha as a small, smooth-edged tool used to gently stroke or scrape the skin. | Cleveland Clinic describes a little redness afterward. Small reddish-purplish spots or bruising show up in some people, more so with hard scraping. Discomfort suggests the pressure is too strong, so say so right away. Cleveland Clinic | 30 min, $70 | People who want a short, focused 30-minute visit. |
| Full Recovery Deluxe Session | One session with deep tissue massage, scraping, cupping, stretching, taping and an essential oil treatment. | Combines the rows above. The notes on cupping and scraping marks apply. | 90 min, $190 | People who want one longer visit that covers several techniques. |
Cupping and Scraping: What the Marks Are
Both services work on the skin, so both leave marks you see. Knowing what they look like ahead of time keeps them from being a surprise.
Cupping Marks
Cleveland Clinic says cupping leaves red, round marks that fade in a week or two. It says they look like bruises but are not true bruises that injure muscle fibers.
NCCIH, part of the National Institutes of Health, says cupping leaves temporary marks on the skin. It advises telling health care providers where the marks came from.
Scraping Marks
Cleveland Clinic describes a little redness after gua sha, a scraping practice. It also says small reddish-purplish spots, called petechiae, form in some people. They are tiny spots of bleeding under the skin from broken capillaries. Aggressive scraping is linked to soreness, bruising or skin discoloration.
Cleveland Clinic advises against scraping over irritated or inflamed skin, such as rashes, wounds or sunburn.
What the Evidence Says
The scientific evidence on cupping is limited. NCCIH reports that most cupping research is "of low quality" and that the evidence for pain relief is not very strong. It also says there is not enough high-quality research to reach conclusions. Cleveland Clinic calls the evidence mixed, and says the same about gua sha: not enough high-quality research exists to declare its benefits.
Who Avoids Cupping or Scraping
Cleveland Clinic names several situations where cupping is a poor fit, including pregnancy, anemia, a pacemaker, bleeding or clotting problems, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, and eczema or psoriasis. For gua sha it names circulation problems, diabetes, blood thinners, chemotherapy and pregnancy. NCCIH lists persistent skin discoloration, scars, burns and infections among cupping side effects. Tell your therapist about health conditions and medications before either service, and ask your doctor if you are unsure.
How to Read Your Match
The quiz adds up points from your five answers and shows the service with the highest total. A match is a starting point, not a prescription. A different answer on one question often changes the result, so retake the quiz with another choice to compare.
- Goal carries the most weight. "Recover after hard training" points to Sports Massage, and "Get the full works" points to the Deluxe session.
- Time narrows the field. Ninety minutes points to the Deluxe session. Thirty minutes points to single body part deep tissue or scraping.
- Pressure is a conversation, not a lock-in. Light pressure points to Massage Therapy in general, where you set the pace with your therapist.
- Pain that is sudden or severe skips the match. The result says to see a doctor first.
What a First Visit Looks Like
- Arrive a few minutes early. Wear clothing you move easily in.
- Talk through your goals. AMTA says a therapist asks preliminary questions about your health and goals. Mention injuries, health conditions and medications.
- Lie under a sheet or towel. AMTA describes draping with only the area being massaged exposed.
- Speak up about pressure. AMTA says to tell your therapist if you are uncomfortable at any time.
Table massage usually lasts between 30 and 90 minutes, according to AMTA. Before You Book, run the free pre-massage checklist.
Athletic Bodies Revamped · 220 Thunderbird Dr, Richmond Hill, GA 31324 · (408) 561-8431 · athleticmassagetherapist.com
Sources and Methodology
- American Massage Therapy Association: What to Expect at Your Massage Session — Intake questions about health and goals, draping with a sheet or towel, the right to ask for pressure changes at any point, and table sessions lasting 30 to 90 minutes.
- American Massage Therapy Association, Massage Therapy Journal: Go for the Gold — Sports massage techniques vary with the athlete's sport; pre-event work focuses on warm-up; amateur athletes and weekend warriors use it.
- Cleveland Clinic: Types of Massage Therapy to Try — Deep tissue and sports massage described; who they suit.
- Cleveland Clinic: How To Relieve Muscle Soreness After a Massage — Soreness usually lasts a few hours to about a day and a half; deeper pressure leads to more soreness.
- Cleveland Clinic: Cupping Therapy — Red, round marks that fade in a week or two; some skin tightness during cupping; mixed evidence; who avoids cupping.
- Cleveland Clinic: Gua Sha, What It Is and How To Do It — Scraping with a smooth-edged tool; redness, petechiae and bruising; limited research; cautions.
- NCCIH (National Institutes of Health): Cupping — Temporary marks on the skin; most research is of low quality; evidence for pain relief is not very strong; side effects.
Questions About This Tool
Does This Quiz Replace Advice From a Doctor?
No. The quiz picks a service from Maya's menu. It does not diagnose anything. Sudden or severe pain needs a medical check before any massage.
Is Cupping Proven?
NCCIH says most cupping research is of low quality and the evidence for pain relief is not very strong. Cleveland Clinic calls the evidence mixed.
How Long Do Cupping Marks Last?
Cleveland Clinic says cupping leaves red, round marks that fade in a week or two. It describes some skin tightness during cupping, not pain.
Who Sets the Pressure?
You do, together with your therapist. AMTA says clients ask for changes to pressure at any point in a session.
Why Does Sports Massage Show No Price?
The online booking page does not list it. Call or text (408) 561-8431 to set it up.
Want Hands-On Help With Massage Therapy?
Maya Sharpe, LMT, 220 Thunderbird Dr, Richmond Hill, GA. Monday to Friday 9 AM to 8 PM, Saturday 9 AM to 1 PM, Eastern Time.