Should I cancel my massage if I’m sick?

Short answer: Yes, please.

Long Answer: Yes, please!

Massage is great. You know this. But it’s not always a great idea.

Whether we are in the midst of cold and flu season or not, it’s important that you know when it may be necessary to cancel your appointment.

Why?

When you are sick, your body needs rest. It’s strange to think about it this way, but receiving massage is an active task, it is not entirely rest. Massage causes change in the body, and your body has to work to maintain stability. Getting a massage when you are sick takes attention away from infection-fighting. That’s no good.

You’re not going to be cozy on the massage table.  Sure, it sounds like a warm, squishy massage table would be great. But the moment you put your already-stuffy head into that face cradle, you’ll realize the error of your ways. Gravity and pressure are not your friend here. Even if I do a great face massage to drain your sinuses, you’ll likely feel worse when you get off the table.

You could get me sick. Since most of the common plagues viruses are contagious even before symptoms show up, I could pass the cooties along to more clients before I even know it’s happening.

Further, when I get sick, I have to cancel clients and take a few days off work. I work for myself, with no paid sick days to compensate for lost wages. Sure, as a responsible business owner I have a fund for these situations. But I would rather use that fund for a vacation to the Outer Banks, NC, or a fancy new oil holster. So I’m gonna aim to stay germ-free.

So it’s a deal. You’ll cancel so as not to infect me and my massage room, and I’ll do the same for you. We’ll keep each other safe.

When to cancel

• If you’ve had nausea, vomiting, or diarrhea in the past 24 hours, or are still feeling punky from a recent bout of such things.
• If you’ve had a fever in the past 24 hours, or fever-related symptoms. This includes chills, aches, and fatigue. Even if you’re keeping the fever down with medicine, you’re still sick. The fever counts.
• If you are itchy, runny, and/or sneezy, and you’re not 100% certain it’s seasonal allergies. (And even then, allergies may leave you so miserable that the hour on my table would be wasted time and money for you.)
• If you are coughing constantly, or just a lot.
• If someone in your household is ill and you are feeling at all funky, please cancel.

There is often some gray area here, especially if you are in the recovery phase of a virus or bacterial infection. If you’re unsure about your situation, please call me before your appointment and we can make a decision together. My cancellation policy requires 24 hours notice, but I can and will be reasonable and make exceptions in cases like this.

Do you have another question about massage? Send me a message to let me know, or leave a comment below.