Liability Waiver and Course Participation Agreement

The Alchemy of Living is a trading name of The Performance Tree Ltd. Any references to The Alchemy of Living in this document refer to the same legal entity, abbreviated as AOL.

By reading all of the statements contained in this document and ticking the appropriate box, I hereby confirm and accept all of its terms, conditions, and statements, including those parts relevant both generally to The Alchemy of Living courses and specifically to AOL Tantra Massage courses within AOL.

1. The Alchemy of Living – Tantra Massage Courses

1.1. Applicant’s Responsibilities, Declaration of Consent to All Risks, and Clarification of Content

I hereby give my consent to participate in and to receive massage and/or other bodywork, or instruction in Tantra Massage, Yoga, bodywork including genital massage and intimate touch, energy work training, and any body-related interaction (henceforth “The Alchemy of Living courses”), and to use massage oils or any other props, gels, or creams from AOL, its teachers, trainers, assistants, or related personnel (henceforth “AOL”), and I acknowledge and agree that I am doing so at my own risk. I hereby declare that I am fully aware and accept that my health and safety with respect to such training are my sole responsibility. I acknowledge that my participation in any training program, courses, or activities with The Alchemy of Living’s may result in my bodily injury, discomfort, purification effects, hyperventilation, increased heart rate, emotional releases, and emotional overload among other effects, up to and including – in an extremely rare case – my own death. My decision to receive training or participate in any courses or activities with The Alchemy of Living is voluntary, and I know of, understand, and assume any and all risks associated therewith.

1.2. Nudity, Intimate Touch, and Genital Massage

I hereby declare that in full awareness and agreement, I choose to participate in AOL’s massage courses and I am aware and fully accept that these courses include and involve nudity, partial nudity, intimate bodily touch, genital massage (including inner vaginal massage for women and penis and testicular massage for men), multiple exchange of massage partners during the courses, and full-body touch, and I agree in advance to participate in all of the above mentioned activities.

1.3. Potential Risks and Side Effects of Tantra Massage

Massage benefits include pain relief, relaxation, blood pressure moderation, stress reduction, and anxiety management. Unfortunately, there are some risks to massage therapy that you should be aware of before engaging.

  • Blood Clots

The American Massage Therapy Association (AMTA) cautions massage therapists about the risks of massaging a client with high blood pressure. The pressure exerted during a massage could potentially cause arterial plaque to rupture and release blood clots into the system. Though the risk is low for such an event, blood clots can travel to the heart or brain. Clients with deep vein thrombosis (DVT), a condition that causes blood clots to develop in the deep veins of the body, are especially at risk. Massage greatly increases the risks of a clot being released and traveling to the lungs.

  • Nerve Damage

Some forms of massage, such as deep tissue massage (Including Tantra Massage), Structural Integration, and Rolfing require the massage therapist to exert pressure past the skin layer in order to manipulate muscles and connective tissues. During Tantra Massage training if a participant does not communicate and does not give or receive proper feedback from another participant or from The Alchemy of Living’s teachers, assistants, or staff, this may bring about the exertion of too much pressure, resulting in temporary nerve damage to a participant.

  • Infectious Skin Conditions

A number of infectious conditions of the skin can be transmitted during massage, despite the best efforts of The Alchemy of Living to screen participants within reason. These include herpes, cold sores, shingles rashes, warts, and ringworm. Likewise, as in the case of warts, during Tantra Massage training, people may unknowingly spread the contagion from one area of a person’s body to another or to themselves.

  • Temporary Side Effects

Side effects, otherwise known as purification effects, may include temporary pain, soreness, discomfort, bruising, swelling, and a sensitivity or allergy to massage oils. Also, nausea, vomiting, temporary diarrhea, emotional expressions, and emotional release may exhibit, among other conditions.

1.4. When to Avoid Massage

Certain medical conditions may increase the risk of experiencing negative side effects from massage. These include cancer, severe heart conditions, high blood pressure, fractured or broken bones, blood clots, burns, lesions, any forms of arthritis and osteoporosis, mysterious pain, skin rashes, and infectious diseases of the skin or sexually transmitted diseases. If I suffer from any of these conditions or another serious illness, I commit to inform The Alchemy of Living, when applying for any course and to consult my physician before joining a Tantra Massage course. As a pregnant woman I am aware that I am required to inform The Alchemy of Living of my pregnancy before joining any course and to consult my healthcare provider before joining a Tantra Massage course.

2. The Alchemy of Living– All Courses, Workshops & Retreats

2.1. Declaration of Confidentiality and No Recording Policy

I hereby commit not to record (by means of video, audio, or any other means) the content, teaching materials, lectures, sessions, or any other content or teachings of The Alchemy of Living’s courses in which I participate. I am aware that if I breach this commitment, I may be expelled immediately from any course with no refund or compensation and I may become the subject of legal action against myself as well as incur fines and legal/financial liability for copyright infringement.

I also hereby commit not to distribute course materials provided directly to me to anyone, regardless of whether that person/those people may have previously joined The Alchemy of Living’s courses, in any format – whether printed, digital, or based in social media or online content. Unauthorized distribution of The Alchemy of Living’s materials will be considered a breach of this agreement, and perpetrators will be subject to legal repercussions.

Additionally, I hereby commit to keep all content of The Alchemy of Living’s courses in which I participate confidential and to respect the privacy of all participants. Therefore, I will not reveal the identity of other participants or the specifics of their experiences or statements during the courses to anyone in any form, including through social media or other public or non-public options.

2.2. The Alchemy of Living’s Right to Refuse Acceptance

I have been informed and accept that The Alchemy of Living has the right to refuse the participation of myself or any person to any of its courses. Furthermore, I am fully aware and accept in advance, that The Alchemy of Living reserves the right to expel, dismiss, or send home myself or any participant from any of its courses at any time during any of its courses for the following reasons:

  1. Incompatibility/problematic behaviour that disrupts course harmony;

  2. Breaking the rule that stipulates no recording of any kind;

  3. Disregarding or breaking any of the other rules of conduct as explained in the first session of the course;

  4. Aggressive or disrespectful behaviour toward any teacher, staff member, or course participant;

  5. Any other disturbing, abnormal, or adverse behaviour that negatively impacts the course, the teacher(s)/assistants, or other participants.

Such decisions will not be made lightly. However, if made, these decisions will be taken at the sole discretion of the course teacher(s) and will be final.

I understand and accept that in the case of my expulsion from any of AOL’s courses, there will be no refund of any kind of my payments by The Alchemy of Living at any time. I declare that I am fully aware of the “no refund” policy in case of expulsion from a course and I agree in advance to withhold any claims for a refund in such an event.

2.3. Declaration of Waiver of Rights

In exchange for receiving the training from AOL, I, for myself and on behalf of my heirs, executors, administrators, and personal representatives, hereby waive, release, discharge, and hold harmless The Alchemy of Living from any and all liability for any and all injuries, including death, damages, or claims relating to or resulting from my participation in The Alchemy of Living’s courses or any of its training programs, now or in the future, foreseen or unforeseen. Further, I will indemnify and hold harmless The Alchemy of Living from and against any and all claims, rights, damages, liabilities, losses, loss of employment-related costs, and all other costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys’ fees) arising from or in connection with any injuries to other persons or damage to property caused by or attributed to me.

3. Community Activity

Unless provided in writing, digitally or on paper by AOL, no events or training run by students of AOL are in any way affiliated or related to AOL.

If graduate teacher students or any other type of students from AOL choose to run their own practice session or events, ticketed or unticked, they must acknowledge that these events have no affiliation and are not related to AOL or their courses.

AOL accepts no liability or responsibility for personal activities organised by students or other persons with materials or techniques taught on official courses or through unofficial courses or methods by AOL. 

Any courses run that claim affiliation to AOL, directly or indirectly, without prior written permission, digitally or on paper, may be liable to legal action.

4. Declaration of Agreement to All Terms

I have read in detail and fully understand this Liability Waiver and Course Participation Agreement regarding my participation in The Alchemy of Living’s courses and specifically regarding the benefits, potential risks, and side effects associated with Tantra Massage courses and training programs, retreats and/or other bodywork done with AOL.

I acknowledge that I have read and understood the release and indemnification provisions set forth in the preceding paragraphs as well as all other declarations, commitments, and statements within this document, and I agree to and accept all of the terms outlined within this document. By ticking the appropriate box on the relevant off and online document(s) and application forms.