Wellness and Safety Disclaimer

Wellness education for personal use

SerenesBloom courses are general wellness education for adults who want to practise relaxing massage, skin care and spa rituals at home, on themselves and on the people close to them. They are written for a general audience and cannot take into account your health, or the health of the person you practise on.

Not a professional qualification

The courses are not an accredited qualification, a certificate of competence or a license to practise. In most US states and in many other countries, giving massage, facials or other body treatments for payment is a licensed profession. Buying or completing a course does not authorise you to treat paying clients. If you want to work in this field, look for an accredited school and the licensing rules where you live.

Not medical advice

Nothing in the courses is medical advice, physical therapy, a diagnosis or a treatment, and nothing replaces a doctor, a physical therapist, a dermatologist or a licensed massage therapist. SerenesBloom is not run by a health professional. We do not examine anyone, look at photos or give individual advice, and we do not promise relief from pain, better sleep, changes in your skin or any other result.

Before any massage: when not to

Do not give a massage, and ask a doctor first, when the person:

• has a fever, feels unwell, or has an infection, a contagious skin problem, a rash, broken skin, burns or sunburn;
• has a recent injury, fracture or surgery;
• has a swollen, warm, red or painful calf or leg (this can be a blood clot: they need a doctor urgently, and the leg must never be massaged), a known blood clot or a clotting disorder;
• takes blood thinners, has osteoporosis, cancer or is having cancer treatment, a heart condition, uncontrolled blood pressure, or diabetes with reduced feeling;
• is pregnant, unless their doctor or midwife has agreed, and then only gently, lying on their side.

Never press directly on the spine, the front or sides of the neck, the back of the knee, varicose veins or bruises. Stop at once if there is sharp pain, numbness, tingling or dizziness, or if the person asks you to stop.

Skin, products and essential oils

• Patch test. Before any new oil, scrub, mask or blend, put a small amount on the inner forearm and wait 48 hours. Do not use it if the skin reacts.
• Allergies. Nut oils, coconut, honey, fragrance and some plants can cause allergic reactions. Check with the person first.
• Essential oils are concentrated substances. Always dilute them as the course explains, never swallow them, keep them out of the eyes and away from children and pets, and ask a doctor or midwife before using them in pregnancy or while breastfeeding. Some citrus oils make skin react to sunlight.
• Homemade products contain no preservative. Make small batches, keep them clean and dry, and throw them away if they change.
• Labels first. The manufacturer's instructions for any product or device take priority over any general guidance in a course.

Heat, water and slippery floors

Hot baths, hot compresses and heating pads can burn or make you dizzy. Keep water warm, not hot, and avoid hot baths after alcohol, in pregnancy or with heart problems, blood pressure problems or diabetes unless a doctor has said it is fine. Oils and scrubs make tubs and floors slippery. Never leave a candle burning unattended, and keep electrical devices away from water.

When to see a doctor

See a doctor about pain after a fall or accident, numbness, tingling or weakness in the arms or legs, pain with a fever or unexplained weight loss, pain that wakes you at night or keeps getting worse, a skin reaction that does not settle, or a mole or spot that changes. Call your emergency number at once (911 in the United States, 192 in Brazil, 112 in the European Union) for chest pain or pain spreading to the arm or jaw, a sudden severe headache, back pain with loss of bladder or bowel control, swelling of the lips, tongue or throat, or difficulty breathing. If you swallow an essential oil or one gets into an eye, contact a poison control center (1-800-222-1222 in the United States) or your emergency number.

Relaxation is not therapy

The breathing and relaxation practices in the courses are simple relaxation techniques. If low mood, anxiety or poor sleep last, please talk to a doctor. In a crisis, call or text 988 in the United States, or contact your local emergency number.

Your responsibility

You decide how to use what you learn, and you are responsible for the comfort and safety of the people you practise on. To the extent permitted by law, we are not liable for loss or damage resulting from a treatment given against the safety rules in the courses. Nothing in this notice limits liability that cannot be limited by law, including for death or personal injury caused by our negligence, or the rights consumers have under articles 12 to 27 of the Brazilian Consumer Protection Code.

Questions

Write to support@serenesbloom.com if you want to know exactly what a course covers before you buy. We cannot answer questions about your own health or anyone else's.