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Privacy Policy & Terms of Use

thebodyalreadyknows.com  ·  Elżbieta Pękalska, trading as The Less Book

Effective date: 18 August 2026  ·  Last updated: 18 August 2026

By accessing thebodyalreadyknows.com or subscribing to receive content from The Less Book, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to this Privacy Policy and Terms of Use, effective from 18 August 2026.

Privacy Policy

1. Who We Are

This website is operated by Elżbieta Pękalska, trading as The Less Book, a sole trader based in the United Kingdom. We are the data controller for personal information collected through this website.

ICO registration reference ZC225184.

Email: ela@thebodyalreadyknows.com
Website: thebodyalreadyknows.com

2. What Data We Collect

2a. Mailing list subscribers

When you subscribe through our signup form, we collect your first name and email address only. We do not collect payment information, physical addresses, or sensitive personal data through this form.

2b. Customers purchasing products

When you purchase LESS — The Body Already Knows or any companion guides, practice materials, or additional content through our store (powered by Payhip), we collect your email address and billing information required to process your payment. Payment card details are processed directly by Stripe, our payment processor. We do not store your full card number. Payhip acts as the Merchant of Record for sales and handles transaction processing on our behalf.

2c. Information collected automatically

Our website hosting provider (Hostinger) may collect standard server logs including your IP address, browser type, operating system, and the pages you visit. This data is used for security and abuse prevention only.

3. Legal Bases for Processing

Under UK GDPR, we process your personal data under the following legal bases:

  • Consent — when you subscribe to our mailing list and tick the consent checkbox
  • Contract performance — when you purchase a product, to fulfil your order and provide customer service
  • Legal obligation — we are required to retain purchase and financial records for six years under HMRC requirements
  • Legitimate interests — to operate and improve our website and services

4. How We Use Your Data

  • To send you the free first chapter of LESS — The Body Already Knows (mailing list subscribers)
  • To send you occasional emails about the book, companion guides, practice materials, events, and updates
  • To process and fulfil your product purchases
  • To send order confirmation and delivery details
  • To respond to your enquiries and customer service requests
  • To comply with legal and tax obligations
  • To detect and prevent fraud and abuse

5. Our Products — Scope of Content

The Less Book offers the following types of content and products:

  • LESS — The Body Already Knows: the main book, available as a digital PDF
  • Companion guides: supplementary written material supporting the book's framework
  • Practice materials: guided somatic and body-awareness practices
  • Chinese medicine guides: educational materials on Chinese medicine principles, the Five Spirits, seasonal rhythms, and their application to the body
  • Massage and bodywork suggestions: self-massage, acupressure, and touch-based practices for home use, offered as educational guidance only
  • Extended appendices: supplementary clinical and reference material expanding on the book's appendices
  • Additional educational content: essays, frameworks, and related materials

All products are educational resources only. Please see Section 4 of the Terms of Use below for the full health and educational disclaimer.

6. How We Store and Share Your Data

Your data is stored with the following trusted third-party providers:

  • MailerLite — email marketing platform storing mailing list subscriber data. GDPR-compliant. Privacy policy
  • Payhip — e-commerce platform processing book and product sales. Privacy policy
  • Stripe — payment processor handling card transactions. Does not store full card details on our behalf. Privacy policy
  • Hostinger — website and email hosting provider. May retain standard server logs (IP address, browser, timestamp) for security purposes. Privacy policy

We will never sell, rent, or share your personal data with third parties for marketing purposes. We may disclose data if required by law, court order, or to protect our legal rights.

7. International Data Transfers

Some of our service providers operate internationally. MailerLite is based in the EU. Stripe may process data in the United States and other countries. Where data is transferred outside the UK or EEA, we rely on appropriate safeguards including Standard Contractual Clauses approved by the UK Information Commissioner or equivalent mechanisms.

8. Data Retention

  • Mailing list subscriber data — retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
  • Purchase records and financial data — retained for six years as required by HMRC
  • Customer service correspondence — retained for up to three years
  • Server logs — typically retained for 90 days by our hosting provider

9. Cookies

Our website may use basic functional cookies to ensure the site operates correctly. We do not use advertising or tracking cookies. Third-party services we use (including Payhip and Stripe) may set their own cookies on their platforms under their respective privacy policies. You can configure your browser to refuse cookies, though this may affect certain site functions.

10. Children's Privacy

Our website and all products are intended for adults. We do not knowingly collect personal information from children under the age of 13. If you believe a child has submitted personal information to us, please contact ela@thebodyalreadyknows.com and we will delete it promptly.

11. Security

We take reasonable technical and organisational measures to protect your personal data. We work with reputable, industry-standard service providers who maintain strong security practices. No method of transmission over the internet or electronic storage is 100% secure. While we do our best to protect your personal information, we cannot guarantee its absolute security.

12. Your Rights

Under UK GDPR, you have the following rights:

  • Right of access — request a copy of the personal data we hold about you
  • Right to rectification — ask us to correct inaccurate or incomplete data
  • Right to erasure — ask us to delete your personal data
  • Right to restriction — ask us to restrict how we process your data
  • Right to data portability — receive your data in a portable format
  • Right to object — object to our processing of your data
  • Right to withdraw consent — at any time, without affecting prior processing
  • Right to unsubscribe — opt out of marketing emails using the unsubscribe link in any email

To exercise any of these rights, contact ela@thebodyalreadyknows.com. We will respond within one month.

If you believe your data has been handled improperly, you may lodge a complaint with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) at ico.org.uk, or with your local data protection authority if you are based in the EU.

13. Third-Party Links

Our website may contain links to third-party websites including Payhip, Stripe, Substack, LinkedIn, and others. These operate under their own privacy policies, which we encourage you to review. We are not responsible for the privacy practices of third-party sites.

14. Business Transfers

In the event that The Less Book is involved in a merger, acquisition, or sale of assets, your personal data may be transferred as part of that transaction. We will notify you of any material change.

15. Changes to This Policy

We may update this policy from time to time. Changes will be posted on this page with an updated date. For significant changes, we will notify current subscribers by email where possible.

Terms of Use

Effective date: 18 August 2026

1. Acceptance of Terms

By accessing thebodyalreadyknows.com and using our services or purchasing any product, you agree to these terms of use and our privacy policy, effective from 18 August 2026. If you do not agree, please do not use this website.

2. Content and Intellectual Property

All content on this website and in all products offered by The Less Book — including the book LESS, companion guides, Chinese medicine guides, practice materials, massage and bodywork suggestions, extended appendices, essays, frameworks, images, and design — is the intellectual property of Elżbieta Pękalska. You may read and share links to the content freely. You may not reproduce, copy, distribute, or commercialise any part of the content without prior written permission.

3. Digital Products — Purchases, Delivery, and Refunds

All products (including the book, companion guides, Chinese medicine guides, practice materials, and extended appendices) are sold as digital products through Payhip. By purchasing, you receive a personal, non-transferable licence to use the content for your own personal purposes. You may not redistribute, resell, or share the files with others.

Digital products are delivered electronically upon purchase. Because digital products are delivered immediately, we do not offer refunds once the file has been downloaded, except where required by UK consumer law. If you experience a technical problem receiving your purchase, please contact ela@thebodyalreadyknows.com and we will resolve it promptly.

4. Educational Disclaimer

All content and products offered by The Less Book — including the main book, companion guides, Chinese medicine guides, practice materials, somatic exercises, massage and bodywork suggestions, extended appendices, and any additional educational content — are provided for educational and informational purposes only.

Nothing in these materials constitutes medical advice, diagnosis, treatment, or a therapeutic relationship. The practices, frameworks, and information described are not a substitute for professional medical, psychological, or healthcare advice. The somatic, body-awareness, and touch-based practices contained in the materials are gentle educational exercises intended for self-exploration only. The Chinese medicine content is provided for educational understanding, not clinical diagnosis or treatment.

Always seek the advice of a qualified health professional with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition, before beginning any new physical or wellness practice, or if you are experiencing a mental health difficulty. If you are under the care of a healthcare professional, please discuss any new practices or approaches with them before beginning.

Use of any practice, exercise, or approach described in these materials is entirely at your own discretion and risk.

5. Limitation of Liability

To the fullest extent permitted by UK law, Elżbieta Pękalska and The Less Book accept no liability for any direct, indirect, incidental, or consequential loss or damage arising from your use of or reliance on the content of this website or any product. This includes, without limitation, any physical, psychological, or financial loss arising from use of the practices or information described.

6. Governing Law

These terms are governed by the laws of England and Wales. Any disputes will be subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

7. Severability

If any part of these terms or this privacy policy is held invalid or unenforceable, the remaining provisions shall remain in full force and effect.

For any questions about this policy or these terms, please contact ela@thebodyalreadyknows.com
Effective from 18 August 2026
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