Safety first

Your well-being comes first. Below is what we ask you to read before your first visit, and what we train our team on every month.

Calm is the goal. Caution is how we get there.

Hallway with arched opening and travertine floor

2+

First-aid certified staff per shift

1

AEDs on site per location

72 hrs

Cold plunge water cycle

<60 sec

Emergency response target

Before heat

Heat is powerful medicine when used well, and unpredictable when ignored. Read this first.

  • Avoid sauna if a clinician has advised against heat exposure.
  • Be careful with pregnancy, heart conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, fainting history, dehydration, certain medications (beta blockers, sedatives), and acute illness or fever.
  • Hydrate with water or electrolytes before, during, and after your session.
  • Do not use the sauna within 48 hours of meaningful alcohol or recreational substance use.
  • Leave the sauna the moment you feel dizzy, nauseous, short of breath, or unwell — tell a staff member on your way out.
  • Start with shorter sessions (8–12 minutes) and build your tolerance over weeks, not days.
  • Exit the sauna slowly, stand still for 10 seconds, then walk to the rest lounge before any cold immersion.
  • Remove metal jewelry before entering — it heats quickly.

Before cold

Cold immersion is intense by design. Respect it and it respects you back.

  • Cold immersion is powerful. Start with 30-second immersions and build gradually.
  • Be careful with cardiovascular conditions, uncontrolled blood pressure, pregnancy, fainting history, Raynaud’s phenomenon, or any cold sensitivity.
  • Exit immediately if you feel dizzy, numb, short of breath, or experience sudden chest discomfort.
  • Breathe through your nose, slowly and calmly. Do not hyperventilate.
  • Never enter the cold plunge alone — our attendant is always on deck during open hours.
  • Do not submerge your head below the chill line; our plunges are designed for chest-deep immersion.
  • Warm up slowly after immersion — a 5-minute rest is better than an immediate sauna re-entry.

Before bodywork

Our bodywork is a wellness experience. It is not a replacement for medical care.

  • Tell your practitioner about injuries, recent procedures, pain flags, or pregnancy — before your session, not during.
  • Bodywork at Vellum is a wellness service, not a registered massage therapy (RMT) service. We do not provide insurance receipts.
  • Communicate pressure preferences at any point. A good practitioner welcomes the feedback.
  • If you are recovering from surgery or acute injury, please see a physiotherapist or registered massage therapist first.
  • Guests under 18 require a parent or guardian present and written consent.

Red light room

Our panels are medical-grade, but the session still has rules.

  • Follow the session time guidelines provided by staff — typically 15–25 minutes.
  • Eye protection is provided and required, even with eyes closed.
  • If you are photosensitive or taking photosensitizing medications (tetracyclines, certain retinoids, St. John’s wort, some diuretics), consult your healthcare provider before booking.
  • Do not apply any topical products, especially retinoids or exfoliants, within 2 hours of a red light session.
  • Do not exceed recommended time. More is not more.
  • Skip the session if you have an active skin infection, open wound, or recent injectable cosmetic treatment within 48 hours.

Compression recovery

Pneumatic compression is gentle, but certain conditions need a green light from your clinician.

  • Skip compression if you have a suspected or confirmed DVT (deep vein thrombosis), peripheral neuropathy, severe varicose veins, or an acute leg injury.
  • Start at lower pressure settings if you are new to compression. Staff will walk you through the adjustment.
  • Remove the boots immediately if you experience numbness, cramping, or pain — not just discomfort.
  • Pregnant guests should consult their healthcare provider before their first session.

General wellness disclaimer

The things that are true across every ritual at Vellum.

  • Vellum services are wellness experiences, not medical treatments.
  • Nothing at Vellum is intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.
  • Guests should consult a qualified healthcare professional for any medical concern.
  • If you are unsure whether a service is safe for you, ask your doctor before visiting.
  • Listen to your body and communicate with our staff at all times — staff are trained to help, not push through.

In an emergency

Flag a staff member. We move fast.

Every shift has at least two Canadian Red Cross Standard First Aid + CPR-C certified team members on the floor, plus an AED at reception. If you feel unwell during a session, step out, wave to staff, and we’ll take it from there.

For any genuine medical emergency in the facility, we will not hesitate to call 911 and accompany you. Our incident-response playbook is published internally and audited quarterly by WorkSafeON.

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