If the therapist is ill or tired, taking a break from the practice is needed. Because most massage and bodywork is physical labor, pushing oneself to go on may only result in worse health and burnout. Additionally, the client might catch the therapist's illness. One does not have to guess who the client will be thinking of when they have a temperature of 104 degrees and are coughing their brains out!

The therapist should not over-exert. Doing so can hurt joints and hands. Whatever profit is missed by keeping within limitations can be made up another day.

Sometimes an employer wants a therapist to work even though the therapist has serious things to tend to at home. Employers see potential income and no one available to provide services. If the therapist, to appease an employer, puts the job before personal responsibilities, the employer may abuse the therapist, expecting them to meet all crises while other employees are sleeping in or sunning in Acapulco. The therapist should let the employer know the order of their priorities upon being hired. The therapist cannot function well if a child is at home running a fever and getting insufficient care or a pet is suffering for its routine walk. Massage is a flexible, compassionate industry. The author, having been an employer in massage industry for over twenty years, can report the vast majority of employers have no conflict with therapists who need to take time off for family's sake. The therapist free of worry and guilt is an excellent worker. Any time missed with family cannot be retrieved--ever.

Massage requires exerting a great deal of physical and psychic energy. The therapist needs to take care and stay in shape. Giving so much requires putting something back. The therapist needs to replenish. Massage is a giving profession where the goal is to serve others and make other people feel well but the therapist cannot give what the therapist does not have. It is unethical to be mercenary with oneself or family by sacrificing to a job or unreasonable employer.

There are so many styles of bodywork these days. While many are fascinating, it has been the author's experience, having worked with crews of therapists each with no less than 25 years of experience under their belts, that the chances are the therapist will fall into their own style; one that fits their body mechanics and temperament. They adopt dabs of techniques only occasionally. Though they are always eager to learn something new, it had better be really good because they have their technique and it works for them.