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This workshop is designed to help both tops and bottoms improve their suspension work, whether they’re taking their first steps into partial suspension or already practicing full suspension.

Register Here!

To register, please complete these steps:

  1. REQUIRED: Complete this form to help us tailor the workshop to you!
  2. REQUIRED: Purchase tickets! You can purchase multiple tickets on behalf of others, but remember that each person must have their own ticket regardless of role (top, bottom, switch, self-tie, etc.).
  3. OPTIONAL: RSVP on Fetlife to help others find the event and to help you remember!

If we have enough interest, we may offer this again on October 20-21. If you can’t make the September date, fill out this form and indicate your availability for the October dates.

Logistics

  • Dates: 9/22-23
  • Times: 10am to 5pm each day
  • Cost: $40 per person
  • Limit: 16 people (if the workshop is full and you want to attend, please send us a message to be added to the waiting list)

Who is it for?

  • Tops and bottoms ready to start practicing suspension, leveled for partial or full suspension as appropriate for current progression.
  • Tops and bottoms already practicing suspension (partial or full) ready to refine and/or improve their suspension skills.

This is for people who practice or are ready to start practicing either PARTIAL OR FULL suspension. All of the activities in the workshop can be adapted for partial or full suspension depending on the experience and comfort level of the participants.

This is NOT just for people new to partial or full suspension! Even if you’ve been practicing suspension for a while, we are confident most participants will learn some things in this workshop.

What will we study?

Tips for tops and bottoms that explore:

  • assessing anchor and suspension points and related suspension hardware
  • assessing ties for suspension and the essential elements to examine before suspending
  • methods to use (and not to use) for attaching to various ties, when best to use them, and why
  • methods to use (and not to use) for attaching to and locking off on various types of suspension points
  • entering and exiting partial and full suspension
  • lifting and lowering and determining which things to lift or lower first
  • understanding the importance of levels
  • processing, moving and engaging in suspension
  • monitoring the body and body mechanics
  • communicating throughout a suspension
  • managing multiple uplines
  • thinking through and working with transitions
  • identifying and responding to common problems and difficulties

What should I already know?

  • Bottoms: experience being tied in and processing single and double-column ties, folded-leg ties (futomomo), chest harnesses (arms-included or arms-free) and optionally hip harnesses (for full suspension)
  • Tops: able to competently and quickly tie single and double-column ties, at least one style of folded-leg tie (futomomo) and at least one chest harness (arms-included OR arms-free); for full suspension, able to competently and quickly tie at least one style of hip harness

Do I need a partner? Can I self tie? Can I “audit” the workshop?

Most forms of rope bondage are collaborative in nature, so we definitely recommend you have a partner to work with during this workshop. Having a partner with whom you already have some experience working together in rope is also recommended, given the nature of the workshop. (Remember that a practice partner for rope and educational events does not need to be a romantic or intimate partner.)

However, if your goal is to learn to do self-suspension, then the information and skills we address during this workshop will help you in that pursuit, and the exercises can be readily adapted for self-tying and self-suspension. One of the facilitators, Bound Light, has experience in self-tying and self-suspension, and she will be able to assist in that capacity.

That said, you are also welcome to come on your own. There will still be plenty to learn even without a practice partner during the event. While you may not be able to participate in all the activities or exercises, many can be tested using a weight, a heavy bag, or by tying your own leg. But please note: this will not be an appropriate place to try to “find” a partner during the event.

Who’s Leading This?

Ma’iitsoh Yazhi: Fetlife | Instagram – Alex (Ma’iitsoh Yazhi) has been studying and practicing rope bondage since 2012. Through his studies, he has come to value the importance of fundamentals and an understanding of the choices we make in rope. He also values the importance of the rope community and has been helping to run Rope Bite in Richmond since 2013 and Rope Study through RVA Rope since 2015. His extensive background in education, training, and curriculum development informs his approach to rope education. He also likes taking pictures.

Bound Light: Fetlife | Instagram – Bound Light has been practicing rope bondage for nearly 6 years and has also studied with and taken classes from many experienced and well-regarded rope tops and bottoms. She’s helped with running Rope Bite for the past 4 years and Rope Study for the past 3. Her background in dance and gymnastics, and her continuing interest in acro-yoga, inform her perspective as a bottom. Her background in education informs her approach to rope education.

Sardonic: Fetlife | Instagram – Currently based in Richmond, VA, Sardonic is a rope top, educator, rope maker, and rope care enthusiast. He first found rope in 2012, and it has since become an integral part of his life. Sardonic believes that it is deeply important to understand both the principles and mechanics of how rope moves, how the human body works and the fundamentals of handling and tying. This creates the opportunity to focus less on the rope, and more on the connection, the unspoken conversation, between partners. He believes that when we tie, we are tying people, rope is simply the tool we use to achieve this.

Alina: Fetlife | Instagram – Alina is a sadomasochistic, queer switch, with a passion for creating safer spaces for individuals of all backgrounds to explore, discuss, analyze, and experience kink. She has been involved in kink for three years, focusing primarily on needle play/blood play, impact, knife play and rope. She enjoys mixing and incorporating different types of play with rope, and believes that kink is best experienced through a framework of combined self-reflection, self-compassion, and good communication. As a presenter, she enjoys helping to facilitate learning through sharing and discussion of ideas and experiences.

Questions?

If you have questions, please contact us.

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