Bob Tricomi
Ever feel like your body is holding tension you just can’t shake? You stretch. You foam roll. You might even book the occasional massage. But those same sore spots keep coming back—like your muscles are fighting a battle they can’t win.
That’s where Gua Sha comes in.
At Bodywork Masters, it’s one of our go-to tools for helping clients finally feel like themselves again. We use it to treat chronic pain, scar tissue, mobility issues, and deep fascial tension—the kind of problems that often resist everything else.
It’s not just scraping. And it’s definitely not a facial.
What Is Gua Sha—and Why Do We Use It in Bodywork?
A Modern Take on an Ancient Technique
Gua Sha comes from traditional Chinese medicine, where smooth tools are used to glide across the skin and stimulate healing. In our practice, we combine those traditional roots with modern fascia science and heat-assisted tools to make it more precise, effective, and comfortable.
We use Gua Sha to:
- Break up scar tissue and fascial adhesions
- Improve circulation to oxygen-starved tissue
- Loosen stuck or overused muscle groups
- Help your body reset pain signals and start to heal
This isn’t about forcing your muscles to relax. It’s about giving your body the space to move and function the way it’s supposed to.
How We Use Gua Sha Massage in a Session
First, We Heat the Tissue
Before any tool touches your skin, we apply heat. Why? Because fascia responds best when it’s warm and pliable—just like a rubber band stretches more easily after you warm it up.
Depending on the area and your needs, we might use:
- A standing dryer to preheat your back or hips
- A handheld dryer for focused work along the legs or arms
- An infrared lamp for deep tissue warming and circulation
- Or heated stainless steel tools themselves (shown below)
This helps us go deeper with less discomfort, and it softens the tissue so the effects last longer.
Tools That Let Us Work Smarter, Not Harder
We use a few different tools depending on your body and the area being treated:
- Mini Scraper – for smaller zones like your neck, forearms, or calves
- Triangle Scraper – a larger stainless steel tool that’s great for glutes, quads, and spine work
- Full IASTM Tool Set – a variety of medical-grade instruments with different shapes to match your body’s curves and contours
We’ve tested traditional tools like jade and dull stone, but over time we’ve found that heated stainless steel gives us the best results. These tools allow us to:
- Glide more smoothly over the skin
- Feel exactly where tissue is stuck or dense
- Apply pressure precisely—without having to push harder
It’s not about digging in. It’s about working smarter—with tools that match your body’s needs.
What Gua Sha Massage Therapy Feels Like (It’s Not As Scary As It Sounds)
“Scraping” might sound a little scary—but in reality, most clients say it feels more like a deep, targeted glide across areas that need attention.
Here’s what you might notice:
- A warming sensation as we begin
- Pressure that feels intense in tight areas, but not painful
- A sense of release or even lightness as tissue lets go
Some people experience a little redness or light markings afterward (this is normal and temporary), but the most common feedback we hear is:
“I didn’t realize how stuck that area was until you started working it—now it feels like I can move again.”
What Pain and Mobility Issues Gua Sha Massage Therapy Can Help With
We reach for Gua Sha often—because it works on so many conditions. It’s especially helpful for:
Chronic Pain
Repetitive Motion Strain
- Tennis elbow
- Carpal tunnel–type symptoms
- IT band tightness
Post-Surgery Recovery
- C-section scars
- Knee or shoulder surgery adhesions
- Scar tissue from old injuries
Headaches and Jaw Tension
We use Gua Sha around the traps, neck, and jaw to release the tension patterns that contribute to chronic headaches or clenching.
Brain Fog, Dizziness, or Fatigue
When fascia is restricted around the chest, neck, or diaphragm, it can compress vessels and nerves—affecting circulation, energy, and even breathing. Gua Sha helps open up those lines so your whole system works better.
Real Results: Julie’s Story
“Let me begin with I first started going to Bob with the worst sciatica. I was limping and leaning to one side when someone said to me, Julie you have a problem… you need to go see Bob.”
— Julie Tsakirgis, Google Review
Julie came in barely able to move comfortably. Sciatica had thrown her whole body out of balance, and even consistent yoga and stretching weren’t helping. But after one focused session, everything began to shift.
“He worked the neck, which cured the back, which cured the shoulder and to be blunt all the way into my buttocks. This is how a neck can take effect on the body.”
The results were so clear, she began coming in regularly. And as she put it:
“I told Bob that he’s a magician. I cannot tell you enough. You need to go.”
When We Reach for Gua Sha in a Session
At Bodywork Masters, your only job is to show up and tell us what’s going on. We’ll take it from there.
Gua Sha is one of the tools we often use when:
- Pain keeps cycling through the same spots, no matter what else you’ve tried
- Tissue feels dense, ropy, or locked down—like it’s resisting movement
- There’s scarring or restriction after surgery, injury, or repetitive motion
- You’re moving fine, but something underneath just doesn’t feel right
In cases like these, Gua Sha helps us get deeper, faster, and with less discomfort. You may not even notice when we bring the tool in—it’s just part of the flow of a session that’s entirely focused on helping you move and feel better.
Is Gua Sha the Same as Graston?
If you’ve heard of Graston Technique, you’re not far off. It’s a branded version of tool-assisted bodywork, often used in sports rehab or PT settings.
We use similar tools—but here’s how our approach is different:
- We use heat first, so the work feels smoother and more effective
- We blend in other techniques like cupping, fascia release, and stretching
- We tailor everything to your body—there’s no one-size-fits-all routine
At the end of the day, it’s not about the brand of the tool—it’s about how it’s used. And our goal is always to give you the right treatment for your body, not just follow a protocol.
Want to Learn More About How Heat Helps?
Gua Sha works best when paired with heat—and we rarely do a session without it. If you’re curious why heat matters, read our guide on how we use heat therapy in massage to melt away pain.
Feel What Gua Sha Can Do For You
Gua Sha is more than a trend—it’s one of our most effective tools for releasing stuck tissue, reducing pain, and getting your body moving again.
Ready to feel the difference for yourself? Book your session today!
