Should I Reschedule My Massage If I’m Sick?

Yes, please. Reschedule if you are sick. Great! We’re done here.

Nah, we’ve got a bunch more to cover. There are lots of variables to being sick. What does that even mean and why does it matter? Let’s dig in.

What is “sick”?

For determining your ability to receive massage, “sick” means one or any combination of the following:

• Fever and related symptoms
  • Chills
  • Aches
  • Unusual fatigue
• Respiratory issues
  • Coughing
  • Sneezing
  • Very runny and/or stuffy sinuses
  • Sore throat
• GI issues
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Diarrhea

If you have any of the above happening, it’s best for you to rest and reschedule for the following week.

Massage isn’t going to help you get better

A sick body needs rest. Receiving massage is an active task. Massage causes changes in the body, and your body has to work to maintain stability. Getting a massage when you are sick takes attention away from rest and recovery. That’s not helpful.

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 you get a great face massage to drain your sinuses, you’ll likely feel worse when you get off the table.

If you’re feeling at all dizzy or loopy, being face down can make that sensation even worse. Remember getting “the spins” when you drank a little too much? That. Only worse because you’ll be worried about puking on the massage table and not just your terrible dorm comforter.

There is often some gray area, especially if you are in the recovery phase of a virus or bacterial infection. You may have that lingering dry cough well past the stage of contagion or actual illness.  Or you could have seasonal allergies that make you a runny mess. If you’re unsure about your situation, please call me before your appointment and we can make a decision together.  Cancellation fees will be waived due to rescheduling for sickness. Please do not abuse this; the earlier notice you can give, the better 🙂

It’s really, really easy to spread those germs

If you come in sick, you may get me (and my other clients) sick. Even with the best handwashing, coughing into your elbow, and Michael Jordan-esque basketball skills depositing your dirty tissue into the trash bin, you’re likely to leave a few germs hanging in the air and I’m likely to breathe them in.

There’s a lot we just can’t control with germs and sickness. We may have been exposed without knowing and be contagious for a few days before symptoms show up. That’s just part of living in a world with other people.  But we can control where we go and who we see while we are symptomatic. I know it’s a bummer to delay your massage, but it’s also the right thing to do when you are contagious. For you, your massage therapist, and others.

Stay healthy

Wash your hands, get enough sleep, get into the fresh air and sunshine (hello Vitamin D) when possible, drink more water, eat less sugar and more real food like vegetables, and roll on your essential oils.

If you feel something coming on, do your best to cancel whatever you can, keep your activities to the bare minimum, and just rest. Stay hydrated. Ask for help. That’s hard to do, but worth the effort.

Here’s to staying healthy through this season and the whole year!