If you are planning to give a massage to a friend or loved one, keep these precautions in mind:
- Pain is NOT gain. If someone says you are using too much pressure or kneading too hard, ease off. Give your partner the opportunity to give you feedback during the massage. Ask them: “Is this okay? Too hard? Too light?” Trust them to be honest.
- Keep the massage location at a comfortably warm temperature. Be sure to keep your partner covered by a sheet or towel — except for the body part you are currently working on. If your partner is too busy shivering or feeling self-conscious, they won’t enjoy the massage.
- Make sure your partner doesn’t have any allergies to the things you’ll be using — the lotion or massage oil, the essential oils, even the detergent you used on your towels.
- Don’t give a massage if you are sick. You’re going to be breathing all over your partner; do you want to risk passing on your illness?
- Don’t get a massage if you are sick, either! The manipulation may exacerbate your symptoms. You may also pass your illness on to the person doing the massaging.
- Don’t directly massage any skin rashes, ulcers, burns, or boils. It won’t feel good.
- Don’t directly massage any injured areas, like sprains, strains, tears, and broken bones. It definitely won’t feel good!
- Take care when massaging people with arthritis or other inflammation issues. Massaging a joint during an arthritis flare-up will definitely be painful for your partner. However, massage between episodes (when pain and inflammation have subsided) can be useful.
- Don’t give a massage to a person who suffers from thrombosis or phlebitis; blood clots may become dislodged and cause serious health problems.
- While massage can be a great way to help someone relax, consult a doctor before giving a massage to someone with a serious health condition like heart disease or cancer. Same goes for a pregnant woman.