STUDIO ES

Terms and conditions

Updated 1 December 2024

1. General provisions

In Brief:

• Studio ES offers holistic well-being and personal development services
• Studio ES is not a medical or psychiatric practice
• Results vary by individual, depend on the level of commitment of the customer

1.1 Scope of Services

Studio ES provides personal well-being and holistic development services. These services include, but are not limited to coaching, body work, massages, de-armouring, and rope aided body work, as well as private workshops, public workshops and activities, and photography services. The services provided by Studio ES aim at improving the personal well-being of the customer and aid them in personal development around various themes in life.

1.2 Disclaimer

The terminology used throughout our services, including terms such as “healing” and “therapy,” refers exclusively to non-medical personal development processes and makes no reference to licensed medical or psychiatric practices. None of the services provided constitute or substitute any form of medical treatment or licensed psychotherapy. The Phoenix Journey and coaching constitute transformative personal development processes where experienced results vary by individual and depend largely on personal engagement and commitment with the process.

1.3 Service Provider

All services are provided by Studio ES, Flemish KBO registration number 1008.559.775, with the registered address Frederik de Merodestraat 3, 2800 Mechelen, operating under Belgian law. Any reference to “I” or “we” in marketing materials or service documentation refers to Studio ES as a professional entity.

2. Safety and health

In Brief:

• You must be healthy to participate to any services
• No alcohol or drugs allowed
• Follow all safety instructions
• Tell us about health changes

2.1 Health Requirements

The customer declares and warrants that they are in full physical and psychological health when participating in any service provided by Studio ES. Customers utilizing services on a regular basis are obligated to inform Studio ES about any change to their physical or psychological health. The minimum age requirement for all services is 18 years. Any participation with reduced health conditions is entirely at the customer’s own risk.

2.2 Safety Policy

Studio ES maintains a strict no alcohol and no drugs policy during all services, including all public and private workshops. Any customer in a visible state of intoxication shall be denied access to the services they booked for safety reasons, without relieving said customer of their obligation to pay the full price of their booking or ticket. Customers must strictly adhere to all provided safety instructions at all times.

2.3 Personal Boundaries

All services are provided with utmost respect for personal boundaries. Customers maintain the right to pause or stop any service if they experience discomfort. Clear communication regarding personal boundaries is both encouraged and required throughout all services.

3. Liability and Responsibilities

In Brief:

• Deep emotional or physical reactions may happen during or after services
• We’re not liable for personal reactions or any damage
• You must follow all safety rules
• Report any concerns immediately

3.1 Liability Limitations

The customer acknowledges that many services involve deeply personal topics and that a variety of emotional and physical reactions to addressing these topics may occur during or after receiving the services. While Studio ES may be contacted for receiving support after services within reason, Studio ES shall not be held liable for any:

• Damage to the customer’s property
• Physical injuries
• Changes to health or mental state
• Emotional reactions during or after services

3.2 Customer responsibilities

The customer assumes responsibility for their active participation in all services provided by Studio ES. This responsibility encompasses following all safety instructions provided before and during the services. The customer acknowledges their obligation to provide complete and accurate information about their health status and to promptly inform Studio ES of any changes that might affect the safe delivery of services.

During the provision of services, the customer agrees to communicate openly with Studio ES about any discomfort, concerns, or questions that may arise. This communication is essential for ensuring both the safety and effectiveness of the services provided. The customer further agrees to treat the facilities and equipment of Studio ES with appropriate care and respect.

4. Booking and Cancellation Policy

In Brief:

• 48 hours notice needed for changes in bookings
• Emergency situations evaluated case-by-case
• Public workshop tickets non-refundable
• Bundle services have special terms
• Advance payments to individual services refundable with proper notice
• Cancellation fees may apply

4.1 Individual Services and Private Workshops

Studio ES values the time and commitment of both our customers and service providers. For individual services and private workshops, cancellation policies reflect this mutual respect. When a customer cancels a booking less than 48 hours before the scheduled time, this constitutes a “no-show,” and the full price of the booking becomes due.

For services paid in advance, Studio ES offers a possibility to receive a refund for cancellations made with proper notice (more than 48 hours before the scheduled service). The refund may be agreed in form of a voucher with the value of the made payment, valid for 12 months from the date of issue, or in form of returning the payment. While vouchers cannot be converted back to cash or refunded any more on a later date, they may be transferred to another person. The refund will be processed through the original payment method when possible.

In cases of medical urgency or other private emergencies, Studio ES may, at its discretion, offer to reschedule the booking to a later date without additional cost. Such situations are evaluated individually, and customers are required to contact Studio ES by phone or WhatsApp without delay to inform of any emergency.

Cancellations made with notice of less than 7 calendar days but more than 48 hours before the scheduled time may be rescheduled to a later date without additional cost, without requiring the customer to state a reason. However, in the event of a complete cancellation within this period, the full price of the booking remains due to Studio ES as contractual indemnity.

For services sold as bundles with advance payment, early termination is considered a breach of contract, requiring indemnity payment to Studio ES. Any discounts or benefits included in bundle offers become void if the customer terminates the contract prematurely.

In situations where Studio ES must cancel due to force majeure, the booking will be rescheduled to the earliest time suitable for the customer without additional charge.

4.2 Bundled services

For services sold as bundles with an advance payment, such as the Phoenix Journey, early termination is considered a breach of contract, but a partial refunds may be available. In case of cancellation of bundle services, the refund amount will be calculated as follows:

• The full amount paid for the bundle
• Minus an indemnity fee of 200 euros for premature contract termination
• Minus the standard list price of any services already received (without applying any bundle discounts)
• Any promotional discounts or benefits included in the bundle offer become void

In case the calculation returns a negative value, the contract will terminate with no payment due to either direction.

4.3 Public Workshops and Activities

Studio ES organises public workshops and activities under the legal framework of event organisation. Participation in these activities requires advance purchase of a ticket. The nature of these events means that no refunds can be issued for no-shows, regardless of whether Studio ES has been informed in advance.

In cases of medical emergency or other personal emergencies, Studio ES at its discretion may agree to convert the ticket into a service voucher, following individual case evaluation. Such vouchers carry a value equivalent to the ticket price and remain valid for 12 months from the date of issue. While vouchers cannot be converted back to cash or refunded, they may be transferred to another person.

5. Payment Terms

In Brief:

• Multiple payment options available
• On-site payments in cash or via Payconiq by Bancontact only
• 7 days advance notice needed for bank payment via invoice
• Payment in 1 or 2 installments for longer programs (e.g. Phoenix Journey) possible
• Sales of public activity tickets handled by external ticket vendors

5.1 Payment Methods and Processing

Studio ES offers several payment methods to accommodate customer preferences. Standard payment options include cash payment and the Payconiq by Bancontact payment system, both available at the time of service delivery. For customers preferring bank transfers, this option is available with advance arrangement. To facilitate bank transfers, customers should request an invoice at least 7 days before their scheduled service date.

5.2 Special Payment Arrangements

For more extensive programs such as the Phoenix Journey, Studio ES offers flexible payment arrangements. Customers may choose to pay in either one or two installments, subject to prior agreement. Upon booking the Phoenix Journey, customers receive an invoice that must be settled in full before the commencement of their first session.

For public workshops and activities, ticket sales typically operate through specialized ticket vendor services rather than direct sales through Studio ES. In these cases, payment processing follows the specific policies and procedures of the designated ticket vendor.

6. Privacy and Data Protection

In Brief:

• Your data is protected by GDPR
• We keep your information confidential
• Your consent needed for any sharing
• You control your data
• Full privacy declaration available

6.1 Personal Data Protection

Studio ES processes all personal data in strict accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) and Belgian privacy laws. The collection and processing of personal information serve exclusively the purposes of service provision and essential communication. Studio ES maintains a strict policy against sharing personal data with third parties, except where required by law or with the explicit consent of the customer. The full Studio ES privacy declaration may be read here.

6.2 Confidentiality and Professional Secrecy

All information shared during sessions, workshops, or other interactions with Studio ES remains strictly confidential. This confidentiality extends to all personal, emotional, and circumstantial information disclosed during service provision. Any documentation of sessions or workshops requires explicit customer consent. Studio ES maintains professional secrecy regarding all personal information and circumstances learned during service provision.

7. Workshop-Specific Terms

In Brief:

• Adults only (18+)
• Following the safety briefing mandatory
• Content of tantra and tantric BDSI workshops may be of sexual nature
• Participation in exercises is always optional
• Explicit consent required

7.1 Workshop Participation and Safety

Studio ES designs all workshops to provide safe, educational experiences for adult participants. Each participant must be at least 18 years of age at the time of participation, and we do not accept minor participants or participants under custody. Participation in workshops while experiencing reduced health conditions occurs at the participant’s own risk and responsibility.

All workshops introduce tools and techniques that are safe for adult use following proper instruction. Each workshop begins with a comprehensive safety briefing, and Studio ES provides ongoing guidance throughout the session. While Studio ES maintains the highest safety standards, we cannot accept responsibility for personal injury or property damage resulting from disregard of the provided safety instructions.

For Tantric BDSI workshops specifically, participants acknowledge that active participation in practical exercises may result in non-permanent skin markings or bruising, depending on individual skin sensitivity. This may occur even when following all safety instructions correctly.

7.2 Content Advisory and Consent

Studio ES maintains transparency regarding workshop content, particularly for tantra and tantric BDSI workshops. By participating in these workshops, participants acknowledge and accept the sexual nature of the subjects discussed. Participation indicates agreement that discussing sexual topics, witnessing acts that may be interpreted as sexual, or witnessing nudity does not violate personal sensitivities or boundaries.

It is explicitly understood and agreed that sexual penetration in any form is strictly prohibited during all workshops. Participation in demonstrations or interactive exercises remains entirely optional and requires explicit, ongoing consent from all participants. Workshop facilitators actively check for and respect personal boundaries throughout the session.

8. Website Terms

In Brief:

• Content protected by copyright
• Use information at own risk
• No liability for linked sites
• No professional advice implied

8.1 Intellectual Property Rights

All materials presented on the Studio ES website fall under copyright and intellectual property law protection. Studio ES maintains full ownership rights while respecting third-party copyrights through appropriate referencing. We reserve all rights to website materials, and any reproduction requires explicit permission from Studio ES.

8.2 Website Usage and Liability

The Studio ES website serves primarily informational purposes and does not constitute professional advice. Visitors who utilize website information do so at their own risk. Studio ES expressly declines liability for any consequences, direct or indirect, resulting from actions taken based on website information, services, or materials.

Studio ES bears no responsibility for the content, functionality, or reliability of external websites accessed through our links. While we may provide these links for convenience, we do not endorse the views expressed within linked sites and cannot monitor their content changes.

This limitation of liability encompasses all damage types, including but not limited to compensatory, direct, indirect or consequential damages, loss of data, income or profit, property damage, and third-party claims.

9. Dispute Resolution

In Brief:

• Belgian law applies
• Mediation before litigation
• Direct communication preferred
• Fair resolution sought

9.1 Applicable Law and Jurisdiction

These terms and conditions, and all services provided by Studio ES, operate under Belgian law within the jurisdiction of the Flemish Community (Flanders). Any disputes arising from or relating to these terms or our services fall under Belgian jurisdiction. The Antwerp Court of First Instance shall have exclusive competence to hear any disputes.

9.2 Dispute Resolution Process

Studio ES prioritises amicable resolution of any disagreements through direct communication with customers. Should a dispute arise, both parties agree to attempt resolution through the following steps:

1. Direct communication with Studio ES
2. Professional mediation through a certified Belgian mediator
3. Legal proceedings as a final resort

Both parties agree to participate in at least one mediation session before initiating legal proceedings, unless immediate legal action is required by law.

10. Contact Information and Communication

For questions, concerns, or communications regarding these terms or any services, please contact Studio ES through the following channels:

By post: Studio ES, Frederik de Merodestraat 3, 2800 Mechelen, Belgium;

By email: sam at studio-es dot be; and

By phone: +32 499 35 31 60