(Please note: even though we refer to ourselves as “we” and “us” throughout this information, you’ll only be meeting with one of us at a time.)

General Information to know before your session…

If this is your first visit with us, please visit our New Clients page first!

Please don’t stress yourself out trying to rush to get here! It’s good to schedule your appointment so that you’re covered in case you get caught in traffic or construction. If you’re going to be late, please call us as soon as you can. We’ll make every effort to give you all the time we can.  If you’re really late, we can use the time we have to address the most pressing issues.

Please take a moment to become familiar with our policies, as you’ll also be asked to sign a paper copy of these along with the initial paperwork. Other helpful information can be found in our FAQ, Hot Stone, and Integrated Massage sections.

Please make sure to drink PLENTY of (pure) water before all sessions, especially Lymphatic Detox/Drainage, especially if you haven’t had a massage in a while or if it’s your first time.

Some general information to know about your session…

You can expect, in a nutshell...

• A professional massage or treatment
• Your therapist’s undivided attention and focus during the session
• A genuine attempt to connect with you as a person.
• Attentiveness to how you are responding to the massage or treatment.
• A respect for boundaries--personal, ethical, and professional.

After we have discussed your main goals for therapy and we have addressed any questions or concerns you have, we’ll head back to our comfortable treatment room, which was created specifically to be a healing space.  You’ll be able to relax on a comfortable table designed specifically for massage, and bask in an environment of soft dimmed lighting, ambient music, and optional scented oils.

We’ll step out into the hall while you undress to your level of comfort. You don’t have to get completely undressed.  Some particular techniques require us to use oil, and for those we need easy access to the skin. Other techniques don’t.  The techniques feel different from one another, but the benefits are pretty similar. Should you prefer not to be covered at all, please wear just enough clothing to sufficiently cover your private areas.

Our style of massage is Integrated, which means we developed it ourselves over time. We also include complimentary Hot Stones.  If you would like your face or scalp massaged, we are more than happy to do that as well. Our oil does not clog pores, leave greasy residue, or irritate your skin.  Feel free to chat, sleep, or give feedback during a massage or treatment.  We typically don’t initiate conversation, but will respond to it. Above all, just relax and let go.

It’s all about YOU!  Your comfort is our biggest priority; if you’re unable to relax, you may not enjoy all of the benefits massage has to offer.  If this is your first massage and you aren’t sure if you’re comfortable with being unclothed, this is NOT a problem. If you like, we can spend the whole time on your back and neck.  It’s a good way to get a taste of massage without undressing fully.  We can spend the remaining time using other techniques, like body stretching or hand and/or foot reflexology.

Another option is to wear shorts to your first massage, that way you can experience massage on your legs without undressing from the waist down.  We also have massage chairs, and chair massage doesn’t call for undressing at all. With some modification, a regular table massage can be given to a completely clothed client.  It’s easier for us to give a traditional massage completely unclothed, but we are happy to accommodate your preferences!

Please remove ALL jewelry. If you wear contacts, please consider removing them, too.  You’ll be able to relax that much more.

We highly encourage feedback, whether positive or negative.  We encourage suggestions; if you can describe a certain technique you’ve experienced before and loved, please explain it to us!  We’ve learned a few favorite techniques from clients. Please feel free to speak up at any time during the session. If you especially like a certain technique, tell us and we’ll do it again! If there’s something we need to fix, please let us know; you will NOT hurt our feelings. This is YOUR session, and we’d like you to enjoy it.

Special Note: The kind of massage and/or bodywork that is performed by 4th Consciousness is ONLY therapeutic in nature, and is NEVER sexual in any way.  Adherence to this statement, and the entire covering of private areas, are completely non-negotiable. Sexual comments, suggestions, innuendoes, actions or conversation will NOT be tolerated and are grounds for termination of the session which will remain paid in full. If we sense that a client is headed in that direction, one warning will be issued, anything after that will result in the immediate termination of the session per our policies and Texas State Law.

After your session, we’ll step out of the room, and you’ll be given a few moments to relax and come back to earth. Take a few deep breaths, come back into regular consciousness at your own pace, and get up slowly (if you are disabled or simply need assistance, we’ll be glad to help). When you’re dressed, you’ll meet us in the front office. We will talk about the session, review your goals, and arrange a program tailored to your individual needs and wishes.  We’ll discuss your next appointment, how frequent the sessions should be, which techniques you like best, and which areas of the body need more attention than others.

Payment is normally due at the time of each session. Please bring cash. Please bring your calendar; about 95% of all clients schedule their next session before leaving, and we offer a credit toward your next session for this, in the form of our Maintenance Plan.

A Word about Gratuities…Monetary tipping is completely optional, and never expected. We would much rather receive the repeat business of happy clients and referrals of their friends, co-workers, neighbors, and family members!

Helpful Self-Care information for the hours and few days afterward...

The next few to 24 hours...

You may experience profound changes in your body and mind. You may notice that you feel tired or heavy, or perhaps energized and refreshed. You may feel sore or blah, or completely relaxed.  You may feel sad or content, or even elated.  If a headache comes on later in the day, simply drink extra water. It’s good to keep in mind that during any effective healing process, it sometimes gets worse before it gets better.  This is normal. Please remember to call us with any physical or emotional changes, whether pleasant or not, so that we can make recommendations for aiding the healing process and take it into consideration for your next session.

You’ll be given a fresh chilled bottle of water to take with you immediately after your session, but it’s good to drink at least half of your daily water recommendation before you retire for the evening. (The amount of water recommended daily is a simple formula: take your body weight in pounds, and divide in half. The resulting number is the number of ounces of water you should drink daily. And only water counts toward this number.) Massage increases circulation, which helps flush irritating waste products and other toxins from tight muscles and other tissues. Drinking water will help this process and will also minimize soreness and fatigue.

You will definitely want to schedule some downtime and take it easy after your massage.  This is a good ritual to develop, but it’s particularly important if you haven’t had massage before, or if this is your first one in a while.  You may want to relax in a hot bath with Epsom salts and lavender, drink some chamomile tea, read a good book, or maybe just retire early for the evening and catch up on some deep, much deserved restful sleep.

Self-care on a regular basis…

Remember to stretch, slowly and regularly. If you’re getting massage for pain management, stretching is even more essential for you. How often you stretch is more important than how long you spend stretching.  One of us may make self-care recommendations for you to do certain stretches. These are important, as they lengthen certain specific muscles.  Stretching these muscles will help correct any biomechanical imbalance that is contributing to your pain, stiffness, or soreness.  Also remember to apply heat or ice, whichever we’ve advised.  To further speed your healing, you may want to walk or do some other gentle movement.

Exercise regularly.  This doesn’t mean you have to join a gym or pound the pavement in the hot summer. It also doesn’t mean you have to invest extra time you don’t have. Simple light walking on a treadmill while engrossed in your favorite book or watching C.S.I. will work just fine. Park a little further away from the grocery store entrance.  Cleaning the house on the weekend works beautifully.  These little things add up nicely, without being difficult or inconvenient.

Take time for quiet time for you, when you can relax by yourself.  Even if it consists of weeding your garden, an easy walk after dinner, or some deep calm breathing just before you fall asleep. Simply relax and just be.  Schedule this time for you on your calendar, if need be. You deserve it!

4th Consciousness
Integrative Massage & Bodywork
Frisco, TX.  75034 / 75035

Serving: Frisco, Plano, Allen, Far North Dallas, McKinney, The Colony, Prosper, Celina, Addison, and Little Elm; and parts of: Carrollton, Richardson, North Dallas, Lewisville, Farmers Branch, Parker, and some surrounding outlying areas.

© Copyright 2004-2008, 4th Consciousness Integrative Massage & Bodywork, All Rights Reserved                      Revised 21 Jun 2008