Questions we get
If yours is not here, email hello@rekova.ca and we will answer it - and probably add it to this page.
Using them
How often should I use them?
The massage ball suits three or four sessions a week, around ten minutes each - start at 30 to 60 seconds per muscle and build toward 90. Gua sha can go three to five times a week, or daily if you keep the pressure light. Consistency does more than intensity.
Should it hurt?
No. Aim for a comfortable ache, roughly five to seven out of ten. Firm should feel like a deep stretch. Sharp, shooting or radiating pain is a signal to stop, and to get it looked at if it persists.
Why is my skin red after using the gua sha?
Light redness is normal and usually settles within 20 to 30 minutes. If it lasts longer than that, you pressed harder than you needed to. On the body, firmer work can raise small red dots called petechiae, or sha - traditionally seen as part of the practice, and they fade over a few days. On the face you should not be bruising at all; if you are, ease off considerably.
Do I need oil?
For the gua sha, yes - always. The tool needs to glide, and dragging it across dry skin is uncomfortable and can irritate. Any facial or body oil works. The massage ball needs nothing.
How do I clean the gua sha?
Soap and warm water after each use, then dry it before storing. Stainless steel is non-porous, which is part of why it stays more hygienic than stone - nothing soaks in.
How is the ball different from a foam roller?
A roller spreads pressure across a broad area; the ball concentrates it into a single point. That makes it more intense, and it reaches places a roller cannot - under the arch of the foot, into the glutes, around the shoulder blade. The two are complementary rather than interchangeable.
Choosing
Which one should I start with?
Start with whichever matches what is bothering you. The ball is better on broad, dense muscle - back, glutes, calves, feet. The gua sha suits the neck, jaw and face, though traditionally it is a full-body tool and works well along the legs and back too.
Do I need both?
No. Plenty of people only ever use one. They overlap more than you might expect - the difference is mostly how much pressure goes into how small an area.
Safety
Is there anyone who should not use these?
Avoid working over injuries, swelling, bruising, broken skin, varicose veins, or anywhere numb. Keep off bone and joints, the spine itself, the front of the neck and the abdomen. If you have a clotting disorder or take blood thinners, are pregnant, or are unwell with a fever, speak to a healthcare professional first. These are everyday wellness tools, not medical devices - they do not diagnose or treat anything.
Orders
What currency are prices in?
Canadian dollars.
How do payments work?
Checkout happens on Stripe's own pages. Your card details never pass through our site and we never see them.
Where do you ship?
Across Canada. Any shipping cost is shown at checkout before you pay, so there is nothing added afterwards.
How long will my order take?
We are a small team and send orders out as quickly as we can. You will get an email as soon as yours is on its way. If you need something by a particular date, email hello@rekova.ca before ordering and we will tell you honestly whether it is doable.
Still stuck?
Ask us directly, or read the routines if you want a plan rather than an answer.