Effective Date: June 17, 2025

Welcome to melanieschwindt.com (“the Site”), operated by Melanie Schwindt (“we,” “us,” or “our”). Your privacy is important. This policy explains how we collect, use, share, and protect your information.

1. Personal Information You Provide
   We collect personal information when you:

• Submit a contact or registration form. 
• Sign up for newsletters, courses, or telesangha. 
• Communicate with us via email or phone. 

This may include:

• Full name 
• Email address 
• Phone number 
• Any other information you voluntarily submit 

1. Form Submission Data (via Ninja Forms)
   Our forms are built using Ninja Forms and integrated through WPBakery Page Builder.

When you submit a form:

• Your responses are securely transmitted 
• Metadata such as IP address, date/time, and referring URL may be recorded. 
• Consent checkboxes (if present) are logged. 
• Submissions may be stored in a secure WordPress database or sent via email to the site owner. 

Ninja Forms follows WordPress security standards. Learn more in the Ninja Forms Privacy Policy.

1. Automatically Collected Information
   When you browse the Site, we may automatically collect:

• Your IP address 
• Browser type and version 
• Device type and operating system 
• Referring and exit pages 
• Date/time of visit and pages viewed 

This data is anonymized and used to improve the site experience.

We use your information to:

• Respond to inquiries or requests 
• Send updates, confirmations, or event details. 
• Deliver newsletters or content you’ve opted into. 
• Improve website performance and usability. 

Comply with legal obligations.

We do not sell or rent your information. We may share it with trusted third parties for the purposes of:

• Email marketing (e.g., Mailchimp or ConvertKit, if used) 
• Payment processing (if applicable) 
• Spam prevention and security 
• Website backups and analytics 

All third-party services are selected with care and required to handle your data in compliance with applicable privacy laws.

We retain personal data only for as long as necessary:

• To fulfill your requests or services 
• To comply with legal or accounting obligations 

Until you request deletion

Under GDPR (if you are in the EU), PIPEDA (for Canadian users), and HIPAA (if you are in the USA) you have the right to:

• Access your personal data 
• Request correction of inaccurate data 
• Request deletion (“right to be forgotten”) 
• Withdraw consent for marketing or data processing 
• File a complaint with a data protection authority 

To make any of these requests, please contact us (details below).

Our Site may use cookies and tracking tools to:

• Ensure proper site function 
• Measure traffic and user behaviour (e.g., via Google Analytics) 
• Enhance your user experience 

You can control cookie preferences through your browser. Some cookies are essential for the website to function.

By using this Site and submitting your information, you consent to:

• The collection and use of your data as described 
• Communication from us (you can opt out at any time) 

Storage and processing of your data in accordance with this policy

We may use the following services that collect or process your information:

• Ninja Forms – for form creation and submissions 
• Google Analytics – to analyze user activity 
• Web hosting providers – to securely serve our site 
• Email services – to send updates or newsletters 

These services may store data on servers located outside your country. We ensure all partners meet legal standards for data security and compliance.

This website is not intended for children under the age of 16. We do not knowingly collect personal data from minors.

We take steps to protect your information, including:

• HTTPS encryption 
• Regular site updates and security plugins 
• Access controls and form validation 
• Secure hosting environments 

However, no system is 100% secure. Use the Site at your own discretion.

We may update this Privacy Policy periodically. Updates will be posted here with a revised effective date.

If you have questions about this policy or wish to exercise your privacy rights, contact:

Melanie Schwindt
📧 hello@melanieschwindt.com
📞 905‑466‑5270
📍 803–1425 Ghent Avenue, Burlington, Ontario L7S 1X5