I’ve met many people new to shibari who are eager—sometimes very eager—to suspend or be suspended.

And I get it. Suspension is intense. It’s exciting. It’s often treated like a milestone or an achievement. But in my view, suspension should not be treated as a goal. It’s not a prize to be rushed toward. Suspension is serious, and while it can be deeply rewarding, it also carries real risks. It’s all fun and games - until someone gets hurt.

Now, I’m not here to be the rope scene’s worried mother (even though sometimes I feel like one). I’m not here to tell anyone what they can or can’t do. But what I can do is share the knowledge, perspective, and experience I’ve gathered over years of being both a rigger and an advanced rope bottom.

In this workshop, we’ll explore what makes a rope structure on the body stable enough to support suspension - what I call a stable structure.

Suspension requires a different level of attention to detail than floor work. Placement, tension, weight distribution, and durability become crucial - and both partners need to stay attuned to these elements in real time. Together, we’ll examine how to build structures that can hold the body safely and effectively in the air.

We’ll focus on both upper- and lower-body harnesses, drawing inspiration from several established styles: the Kazushi-style of Zor Neurobashing, the minimalist approach of Nicolas Yoroi, and the well-known forms of Japanese riggers like Akira Naka and Kanna. These reference points will serve as springboards for discussion, not rigid templates. The goal is not to imitate - but to understand the principles that make a structure stable.

Then we’ll build and test our own. Through hands-on exercises, we’ll explore how to manage tension, refine placement, and assess the strength and sustainability of our ties. From my perspective as someone who has spent extensive time on both ends of the rope, I’ll emphasize the collaborative nature of this work - how both rigger and bottom contribute to the success of a suspension.

Prerequisites:
This workshop is for pairs with solid experience in partial suspension. Riggers should have suspension line handling fully integrated into their muscle memory, and both partners should have a clear and practiced communication dynamic.

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