I Am NOT a Germaphobe…

I’ve recently taken a second look at some of my sanitation procedures at the office.

It’s a serious concern, and it has always been, because I spend my days in a small room very close and touching other people.  This isn’t something that bothers me, and it still doesn’t, because I have always had good sanitation and cleanliness procedures.  But now I’ve decided to take some of what I’ve always done and move it into the open instead of something I take care of out of sight after you’ve left your appointment.

This is what you’ll see next to the massage table now:

cleaning supplies

I’ve chosen to go a step or two beyond the usual cleaning procedures for the cups and added hospital grade detergent and disinfectant, as well as a high level sanitizer.  I heat up your hot stones in a hot towel cabinet under a UV sterilizer light, and after each client I clean them and run them through the sanitizer.

My laundry is done on site and in the hottest settings with water and dryer.   I have the office professionally cleaned on a regular basis and am hitting it regularly with clorox wipes and such.  But the best thing we can do is to do our best to keep illness out of the office.

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.

As we are in the midst of cold and flu season, AND the news is abuzz with tales of a worldwide COVID-19 / Coronavirus pandemic… 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 winter 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 hot tub or a fancy new oil holster. So I’m gonna try to stay germ-free, if that’s okay with you.

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. If I’ve got bad allergies hitting me or a lingering cough, I wear a mask just so you know I’ve got your best interest in mind, but if I’m not well, I will cancel clients.

If you’re not well, you need to do the same – because it’s not cool to be sent back home if you show up sick.  My normal cancellation policy is to reschedule or cancel online the day before.  Just use the button at the bottom of your reminder or confirmation email.  If that doesn’t work or you’re not sure how to do it, you can call or text me at the office.  813-501-7568

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 often 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.

If you know you’ve been exposed to COVID-19 or are undergoing a self-quarantine.  If you have traveled on a cruise ship in the last two weeks, or flown internationally – just out of an excess of caution, I’d rather you put off the session until after 14 days.

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.