While many workshops on semenawa (責め縄) center on the techniques and mindset of the rigger, this unique offering shifts the focus to the bottom’s experience. Developed by Saara Rei and Natasha NawaTaNeko, this workshop explores how the bottom can actively engage in and practice semenawa—not simply as a passive recipient, but as an embodied, present, and responsive participant.

Combining somatic bodywork, theoretical insights, and hands-on rope exercises, this intensive guides pairs in cultivating a shared "semenawa state of mind." Each exercise is designed to deepen the bottom’s physical and emotional awareness, while still offering valuable insights for riggers. After all, Kinbaku is an art of relationship—when one partner grows, both evolve. In that spirit, this workshop invites both roles into deeper listening, intention, and co-creation.

Semenawa is often translated as “tormenting rope,” but the meaning of seme is layered, contextual, and deeply personal. Rather than defining it narrowly, this workshop opens up space to explore both the physical intensity and emotional depth of the practice—how it challenges us, and how it can transform us.

Over the course of two days:

• Day 1 will focus on foundational techniques, physical limits, and practical tools for engaging with intensity.

• Day 2 will dive into power dynamics, emotional processing, and internal landscape work.

Who is this for?

• Models: All experience levels are welcome.

• Riggers: Must be comfortable with at least semi-suspension, as the workshop will not cover technical rigging instruction. Riggers should feel confident making their own adjustments to meet the intention of each exercise.

No prior experience with semenawa, or specific styles associated with it (such as Naka-ryu or Kanna-ryu), is required. Even if you’ve never encountered the word before, you are warmly welcome.

About the developers of this workshop:
Natasha NawaTaNeko is a Russian born, Berlin based experienced rope bottom and author of the recent book “Somatics for Rope Bottoms”. In Kinbaku, she is looking for true emotions and authenticity and sees rope bondage as deeply intimate and erotic practice that has also a profound transformational potential. Natasha keeps exploring her own resistance and surrender in ropes of her partner Alexander NawaRonin ever since 2011.

Saara Rei is a multidisciplinary performance artist and Kinbaku educator with a lifelong foundation in music, dance, education, and public speaking. Since 2014, she has explored Japanese-inspired rope bondage as a medium for vulnerability, presence, and truth. Known for her surreal, emotionally charged performance style, Saara brings a deeply embodied understanding of rope from her years of experience as both a bottom and a rigger. She is a co-founder of Embodied in Rope, a comprehensive educational project for rope bottoms, and co-host of the podcast Model Behaviour.

While Natasha loves to teach on the subject of rope bottoming, she is not a huge fan of public speaking and the format of workshop facilitation - thus, she has agreed along with Saara that she will pursue other mediums of spreading such knowledge (such as her book and her blog) while Saara carries on their work via workshop facilitation.

If you are interested in booking this workshop in a part of the world near you, then please send an email.