A Safer Introduction to Suspension

New tops and bottoms often rush toward suspension, for many perfectly valid reasons – suspension offers a unique sensory experience, it’s showy, it’s an easy way to structure a scene. Some of the most visible styles of suspension, however, are not well suited to beginners. Nobody would do dare-devil stunts their first time on a motorbike, but in rope we often see beginners trying to replicate the high-risk feats performed by the top professionals in the world.

This course provides an entry-point to suspension that focuses instead on safety and accessibility. We will use simple harnesses that avoid common sites of injury, to begin exploring suspension in a way that allows you to build the key skills for tying in the air in a low-risk, low-pressure setting. You’ll learn about the fundamental physics and body mechanics of suspension, where and how to support the body at different angles, and what the top and bottom each need to be thinking about to create a safe and enjoyable scene, all through hands-on practice with common suspension poses.

For those who already suspend, this class will include a wealth of tips and techniques, particularly around support line handling and hip support.

If you haven’t done any suspension yet, this class is a great place to start.

Prerequisites & Preparation

Bottoms should not have any contraindications to chest or hip compression. If you’re not sure, get in touch before class.

Both tops and bottoms should have substantial prior experience with rope on the floor, and should read the following articles before class:

Basic Bondage Safety

Basic Suspension Safety

Hardpoint Evaluation

Tops should be able to quickly tie an on-the-bight column tie (i.e. one that doesn’t require pulling through the entire rope, and leaves a usable bight), as well as basic knots such as a square knot, double half hitch, and slipped half hitch. To prepare for this course, tops should also learn and practice these two specific harnesses:

Suspension Shinju

Swiss Seat

If you fail to study those harnesses before class, you will have trouble keeping up and may not be able to perform all the in-class exercises. You do not need to practice suspending with them; just be able to tie them from memory on the floor.

Class Schedule

11a-6p, Sat & Sun July 9-10th

There will be a 1-hour lunch break around 1pm, and 1-2 shorter afternoon breaks. Please bring any snacks you need for the afternoon breaks; only the lunch break will be long enough to go out foraging.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Birdhaus, 263 Adelaide Street West, Toronto, Canada