Is Massage Right for You? A Health Checklist to Run Before You Book

A pre-massage health check is a short review of your health, medication and current symptoms, done before you book, so you know what to raise with your doctor and what to tell your therapist. It does not diagnose anything and it does not replace medical advice. The checklist below is written for guests of Kimantra Spa in Dbayeh and Beirut Downtown.

Nothing here tells you that a massage is safe or unsafe for your body. That decision belongs to you and your doctor. What this page does is help you arrive with the right questions, so the conversation with your doctor and your therapist is quick and specific.

Updated for 2026.

Topics to raise with your doctor before you book

Some situations are worth a call to your doctor before any massage, however gentle. This is a list of topics to raise, not a list of rules, and it is not complete. If something about your health is on your mind, treat that as a reason to ask.

1. Recent surgery, injury or a fracture. Mention the date and the area involved.
2. Pregnancy. Ask your doctor or midwife before booking, whatever stage you are at.
3. Heart or blood-pressure conditions. Include any medication you take for them.
4. Blood-clotting conditions or blood-thinning medication.
5. Cancer, or current cancer treatment.
6. Diabetes.
7. Bone or joint conditions, including osteoporosis and arthritis.
8. Nerve or chronic pain conditions, such as sciatica or fibromyalgia.
9. Skin conditions, open wounds, rashes or recent sunburn in the area to be treated.
10. Any condition for which you have been told to avoid heat, pressure or oils.

Your doctor may say go ahead, go ahead with adjustments, or wait. Whichever it is, ask what you should pass on to the therapist, and write it down.

A useful habit is to take a few notes to the appointment: the condition, the date of any injury or surgery, and the exact wording your doctor used. Notes save you from trying to recall details while you are already lying down and trying to relax.

Schedule your treatment online or call 03-546654. Once you have your doctor’s view, choose a time on the online appointment page.

Things to tell the therapist, at booking and again in the room

Not everything needs a doctor. A great deal of a good massage comes from the therapist knowing a few simple facts about you. Say them when you book, then repeat the important ones at the start of the session, because the person on the table may not be the person who took the call.

• Pressure preference. Light, medium or firm, and whether you want it to change through the session.
• Areas to work on, and areas to avoid. A sore shoulder, a tender knee, a spot you simply do not like touched.
• Injuries, aches and stiffness, even ones that feel minor.
• Sensitivities. Fragrances, oils, nuts in carrier oils, latex, or heat on the skin.
• Medication and supplements, if your doctor suggested you mention them.
• Comfort points. If lying face down is hard for you, or you feel anxious in a closed room, say so.

A therapist can only adapt a session around what they have been told. Speaking up in the middle of a treatment is always fine, and most therapists would rather hear it than guess.

There is no such thing as an irrelevant detail here. If you wonder whether something is worth mentioning, it usually is, and saying it costs you ten seconds.

Days when it is better to reschedule

Some days are simply the wrong day, even for a healthy person. Many guests choose to move a booking when any of these apply.

• You feel unwell, feverish or run down.
• You have a fresh injury, or an old one has flared up.
• Your skin is sunburned, irritated or broken in the area to be treated.
• You have just finished a hard workout and feel very sore.
• Something new and unexplained is worrying you. That one is a doctor question first, not a spa question.

Kimantra Spa has a 24-hour cancellation policy. If you are unwell close to your appointment, call the spa as early as you can and ask how the policy applies to you. Calling early gives the team a chance to help.

It also spares you a session you would spend distracted by how you feel. A treatment is meant to be something you look forward to, and a rescheduled booking is better than one you sit through unwell.

If you are unsure whether a treatment suits your situation, ask the team which options to discuss with your doctor. Do not choose by guesswork.

What to say when you book: three examples

Nervous about the wording? Short and specific works best. Here are three examples you can adapt.

For a health condition. “I have [condition] and my doctor said [advice]. Can you note that for the therapist?”

For an injury. “I hurt my [area] on [date]. I would like the session to avoid it. What do you suggest?”

For sensitivities. “I react to strong fragrances. Can the therapist use an unscented oil?”

You can send any of these through WhatsApp at +961 3 546654, call 03-546654 (Dbayeh) or 71-999595 (Beirut Downtown), or use the contact page. For general questions about arriving, hours and the practicalities, the things to know page is the place to start.

Visit our Dbayeh or Beirut Downtown location. Both are open from 10:00 to 22:00, and Dbayeh is closed on Sundays. Walk-ins are welcome, but appointments are recommended.

Health Checklist FAQ

Can I get a massage if I am pregnant?

Ask your doctor or midwife first, whatever stage you are at. Kimantra Spa offers a dedicated pregnancy massage, described on its own page, but that does not replace medical advice. Once you have your doctor’s view, tell the team when you book so the session can be planned around it.

I have high blood pressure. Is massage safe for me?

This is a question for your doctor, not a spa, because the answer depends on your health, your readings and your medication. Ask your doctor whether a massage is suitable and whether any adjustments are advised. Then tell the therapist what the doctor said, so the session can follow that guidance.

Should I tell the therapist about my medication?

If your doctor advises it, yes, and when in doubt, ask your doctor what is worth mentioning. Your doctor is the right person to say whether any of your medicines are relevant to a massage. A short, honest note at booking is always better than saying nothing.

What if I do not know whether I have a condition?

Then speak to your doctor before booking, especially if you have unexplained pain, swelling or other symptoms that concern you. A spa therapist is not able to diagnose anything, and a massage is not a way to find out what is wrong. Book once you have medical advice.

What if I feel unwell on the day of my appointment?

Call the spa as early as you can rather than arriving unwell. Kimantra Spa has a 24-hour cancellation policy, so explain the situation and ask what your options are. If your symptoms are worrying, speak to your doctor first and rebook once you feel better.

Related Reading at Kimantra Spa

• Pregnancy massage and prenatal spa care covers the dedicated treatment, to read alongside your doctor’s advice.
• What to expect at a first luxury spa visit covers the practical side of arriving.
• Choosing the right massage by pressure and purpose helps once you know what suits you.
• Therapeutic massage and professional healing explains the more focused end of the menu.
• Deep tissue work for persistent tension is where pressure questions matter most.

Secure your preferred time slot. When you have what you need from your doctor, book your appointment at the location that suits you.