Short answer: Yes, please.
Long Answer: Yes, please.
Massage is great. You know this. But it’s not always a great idea. As cold and flu season approaches again, it’s important that you know when and why it may be necessary to cancel your appointment.
Why?
Rest, rest and more rest. 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 and gives your body added work to do. Not a great idea.
Stuffy heads. You’re probably 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 Manual Lymph Drainage session to drain your sinuses, you’ll likely feel worse when you get off the table. And let’s not even talk about the coughing fits that start when you are laying down!
The clients coming after you get sick. Since most of the common winter viruses are contagious even before symptoms show up (3 days before), the room or I could pass the germs along to more clients before I even know it’s happening. Even though I keep my office so so so clean.
Causing delay of lifesaving cancer treatment. As you know, many of my clients are going through cancer treatment. Coming sick means that you are putting all the appointments after yours that day, who are going through any kind of treatment for cancer, are at a huge risk of catching what you have. People’s immune systems (who are in treatment) are very diminished (for good reason- allows the killing of cancer cells) and you could easily be responsible for causing someone to delay their life saving treatment because they got sick. Don’t be that gal!
I could get sick. 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. So I’m gonna try to stay germ-free this winter. So it’s a deal. It’s a big 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 have 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 call 24 hours in advance and 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 24hours before your appointment and we can make decision together.
Yes, of course I have a 24 hour cancellation policy and it works both ways trust me, I am fair and besides everyone typically gets a free pass once a year.
P.S.- Join me in washing your hands a thousand times a day!