Studies of the benefits of massage demonstrate that it is an effective treatment for reducing stress, pain and muscle tension.  Massage can help with Anxiety, Digestive Orders, Fibromyalgia, Headaches, Insomnia related to stress, myofascial pain syndrome, soft tissue strains or injuries, sports injuries, TMJ (temporomandibular joint pain).

Risks of Massage

Most people benefit from massage.  However, massage may not be appropriate if you have:

  • Bleeding disorders or take blood-thinning medication.
  • Burns or healing wounds
  • Deep vein thrombosis
  • Fractures
  • Sever osteoporosis
  • Severe thrombocytopenia

Discuss the pros & cons of massage with your doctor.


Reasons Why NOT to Massage/Spa when You’re Sick:

1. Massages can make you sicker, faster. Since massage gets your blood circulating better, it can make whatever sickness is happening spread more efficiently, too. It can turn a minor head cold into full-on illness.

2. Getting sick is your body telling you to slow down and rest. A massage is relaxing, yes, but it’s actually work for your body to respond to the stimulating touch techniques, such as shiatsu and reflexology. Bodies can’t heal when they’re working.

3. During a facial, hot steam is most often used to open up your pores. When it’s cold out, going back and forth between hot and cold temperatures will shock your system… another way to make you even sicker. It’s normally a revitalizing therapy to switch between hot and cold, but your body just can’t handle it the same way when you’re under the weather.

4. Same goes for steam rooms and saunas. You may feel good inside them, but it’s not good to play with temperature shifts like that when you’re sick. Bodies don’t “sweat out” germs, so it’s not actually healing you. Also, you might faint.

5. When you’re not feeling up to speed, you won’t enjoy your spa treatment as much as you should. A therapist always wants you to be relaxed and feel wonderful, which you can’t do if you’re coughing up phlegm and you need another tissue.

6. Being sick means your immune system is weakened, which makes you more susceptible to any germs that may be lurking in a jacuzzi or changing room. Being in a public space in general is a bad idea.

7. Probably the most obvious reason: germs spread. When you’re inside a steam room, sauna, or even a treatment room with your therapist, your nasty little germs are creeping everywhere. That’s inconsiderate to everyone else!