THE PARLOUR is an experimental format—inspired by open bodywork and play spaces such as the >> Bondage Jams —dedicated to the diversity of massage forms and the joy of practicing and experiencing them. THE PARLOUR is not really intended for beginners there are no classes offered there. Rather, we would like to welcome experienced and professional bodyworkers to come together and create a space where getting to know one another and exchanging ideas, giving and receiving, touching and being touched, experiencing and experimenting can be enjoyed outside the contexts of work, training, continuing education, and workshops, and away from health and healing goals.
THE PARLOUR is, therefore, a space for free, hands-on exchange in the form of sessions, where all forms of massage and massage experiments are warmly welcome. On certain dates, we invite guests to provide a brief, roughly one-hour presentation as inspiration—if this is the case for the upcoming session, you’ll find more details below. In any case, however, the event first offers visitors the opportunity to get to know one another and exchange ideas about practices and intentions, so that they can then come together in constellations suited to their projects. At least three hours are then set aside for the actual sessions, which everyone is free to structure as they wish.
We look forward to sharing this massage space with you!
INPUT ON APRIL 28, 2023
ENERGY FIELDS FOREVER
Many people know that encounters are an exchange of energy. Anyone involved in dance, touch, body therapy, or group work can attest to the fact that this creates a powerful field—an energy field. The power that unfolds when we engage with something in a focused setting can be liberating, uplifting, deeply connecting, and powerful.
What is less well known is how to consciously create such fields. Yes, they arise automatically—but that is precisely why they often don’t go in the direction we want—they can get out of hand. When energy fields tip into the negative, the atmosphere suddenly turns sour, nothing seems to go right, and an event seems cursed—that’s when knowledge of energy fields becomes a valuable tool. It’s a shame we don’t learn this in school.
This session offers an introduction to the art of creating and maintaining energy fields. Building on a proven method from Qigong, the ancient Chinese form of energy work, you will learn a practical technique that you can apply right away.
A CONTRIBUTION BY VALENTIN BLUMENTHAL
, who earned his doctorate in China on the history of Chinese self-cultivation methods
and has been teaching qigong in Switzerland since 2018.
SCHEDULE
6:00–6:30 p.m.
!!! Doors open – doors will close after this time!!!
6:30–7:30 PM
Welcome, introductions, & setting up the space
7:30–8:30 PM
Input
8:30–11:30 PM
Sessions
We'll clean up together afterward.
LANGUAGES
German, English
HOSTS
Hannah
Choose your ticket price based on your own assessment.
With our Low(er) Income Tickets, we want to give low-income individuals the opportunity to attend our events.
We cordially invite high earners to make it with a higher contribution possible for us to make this offer.
With that in mind, we would like to thank you in advance for your support.
For people with very low incomes, there are usually additional options available for even lower prices.
Please don't hesitate to contact us with any questions. We'd love to have you join us!
Please also read all the additional information below and
pay particular attention to the notes regarding equipment and materials you need to bring...
PRICE PER PERSON:
CHF 80.00
Low(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 65.00
II – CHF 50.00
III – CHF 35.00
High(er) Income Tickets
I – CHF 95.00
II – CHF 110.00
III – CHF 125.00
FURTHER INFORMATION
EQUIPMENT AND ITEMS TO BRING
The studio has futons measuring 160 x 200 cm. They do not come with covers. The yoga blankets provided can only be used as covers if you are wearing clothing while practicing.
If you are working without clothes or with very little clothing, or if you are working with oil, other liquids, or staining materials, you must bring your own appropriate covers, fitted sheets, and water- or oil-resistant sheets.
When using oil, you must bring and use safe mats and/or containers for the oil bottles. No oil may be spilled on the wooden floor. Anyone working with oil may only walk through the studio in socks to avoid leaving footprints.
We also offer seat cushions, yoga blankets, yoga mats, and Airex mats.
You must bring all other materials needed for your own massage practice.
ENTRANCE
The doors are only open during the hours listed above. To get to the studio, do not go through the front door; instead, go straight through the tall metal gate into the garden, then up a few steps through the large red door. Please take off your shoes outside and bring them, along with all your other belongings, through the studio to the kitchenette and changing room.
SEXUAL OPENNESS
THE PARLOUR is sex-positive only insofar as nudity, genitals, arousal, and pleasure—for example, in the sense of holistic, tantric, or Taoist concepts—are permitted to play a role; However, practices that aim for mutual sexual arousal and move beyond the traditional roles of giving and receiving, as well as “holding space,” are not welcome at THE PARLOUR, unlike at many of our other events.
GENERAL INFORMATION ABOUT OUR EVENTS
The goals of our events are collaborative learning within the group, supporting shared processes, and personal development. Couples and all other types of partnerships or group dynamics are welcome, but you should be aware and open to the fact that the events are not designed as partnership experiences and that we address each person as an individual. For example: To involve all participants equally, we usually work with random partner combinations during exercises. This means that both same-sex and opposite-sex combinations will occur. Participants should generally be open to working with every person and every body. Exceptions can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Gender identity, sexual orientation, age or membership of often marginalized groups such as BBIPoC, migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA*, disabled people, etc. are not criteria when registering and selecting participants. This means that, in principle, everyone is equally welcome and we endeavor to do justice to the respective constellation and different needs, but our resources are limited. If you have any questions in this regard, please contact us.
We expect you to act with care, be communicative, prioritize consent, and be mindful, and we encourage you to respect your own boundaries and take personal responsibility. Hate speech will not be tolerated. Please bring "Candy Speech" with you.
We reserve the right to ask participants to leave the event if their behavior is offensive or disruptive, and we reserve the right to do so without explanation—although we will likely try to explain our decision. In such cases, the workshop fees will be refunded in full. No further claims will be accepted.
You can read more about this topic here.
PRICES AND IF SOLD OUT
With our Low(er) Income Tickets, we want to give low-income individuals the opportunity to attend our events. We warmly invite those with higher incomes to help us make this offer possible by paying a higher fee. With this in mind, we thank you in advance for your solidarity.
For PEOPLE WITH VERY LOW INCOMES, there are usually even more affordable options available. Please don’t hesitate to contact us and ask. We’d love to have you join us!
Is the event sold out on the ticketing platform? Contact us! There may be a waiting list or another way for you to attend after all.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations are free of charge up to eight weeks before the course begins; a cancellation fee of 20% of the course fee applies up to four weeks before the course begins, and a cancellation fee of 50% applies up to two weeks before the course begins. Later cancellations and refunds of course fees are not possible. However, participants may find replacement participants to take their reserved spots. If the course is canceled by the organizer, the full course fee will be refunded. No further claims are permitted.