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As a regular spa and massage goer, I have come to realise that there are times when one should not visit a spa or have a massage. As much as we enjoy going to a spa or massage, doing so at the wrong time will certainly make your spa/massage session less comfortable and may sometimes even lead to discomfort or even fatality. Be warned!

After a full meal
You should never go for a spa or massage on a full stomach after a heavy meal. You will feel extreme discomfort especially if lying on your stomach or if the masseur is pressing on your stomach or abdomen area. In addition, some people are known to feel nauseous on a full stomach if using the sauna or steam room.

It is generally advised that you should only go for a spa or have a massage about 2 hours after a meal. If you are hungry, then you should only have water or light finger food an hour before. However, you should drink water generously before and after a steam/sauna session and after a massage but never food.

Sick or unwell
Never ever go for a spa or massage if you are unwell with illnesses such as a fever, cold or cough. You are only exposing other people to your germs in a tight spa or massage space and a massage or spa is unlikely to make you feel any better. The hot and stuffy air in a sauna or steam room will cause you to feel even worse. Instead, adequate rest at home, plenty of liquid and medication will make you better.

After intensive exercises
Some people like to visit a spa or have a massage session immediately after intensive exercises such as tennis, squash, gym or kick-boxing. I certainly do not encourage having a massage session immediately after intensive exercises as your muscles tend to have tightened up and will not respond well to massage strokes.

Your muscles will be tight and relaxing massage strokes such as aromatherapy will not be effective on overly tight muscles. Hard massage such as Chinese Tui Na or Thai massage may even add pain to tight muscles and cause your muscles to become even tighter.

It is advised that you rest for at least half a day or soak yourself in a hot tub for a couple of hours after intensive exercises before going for a massage.

Menstrual period
This is quiet obvious for the ladies. It is not only uncomfortable but extremely unhygienic for yourself and others. A definite no-no.

New Spas/Under repair/Old spas
Try not to visit a brand new spa or if you know that a spa is undergoing or had just undergone repair or renovation work. There had been occasions in the past when a spa goer had died when the steam room he was in had the wrong gas pumped in just after repair works and another occasion when another man had drowned when the large but old jacuzzi pool he was in malfunctioned and he was sucked and stuck onto the suction hole at the bottom of the jacuzzi.

You can’t imagine there can be fatalities in a spa but it has actually happen before! Do resist the temptation and be sure to let new or recently repaired spas run a few days before visiting one.