Self Suspension Space

ROPECRAFT Registration on Friday opens at 2 pm in the Coltrane meeting room at the Sheraton Lisle. It’ll be open in Coltrane between 2 and 8 pm and open between 8 pm and Midnight at our info desk near the security checkpoint. C’mon down with your photo ID to get your badge, sign your paperwork and get your photo consent ribbon if desired! The earlier you register, the more time you have to enjoy our Meet and Greet and Art Show starting at 7 pm in the Atrium!

The Chicago ROPECRAFT Erotic Art and Multimedia Salon features two-dimensional, sculptural, and performance art as the kickoff to our weekend event. Enjoy catered snacks and delightful sights in knotty company! Our art show features talents from across the nation and is curated by Mistress Mayhem.

Enjoy some “Old-Man”-style yoga and stretching with Graydancer. This will be heavily in the slow, gravity-assisted “yin” style of yoga, and expressly intended for all bodies and levels of experience with modified poses as needed. Remember, saying “I’m not flexible enough to do yoga” is like saying “I’m too dirty to take a shower.” Guaranteed to improve your first day of ROPECRAFT, and tops who attend get an extra 250 points for their House!

We are bottoms with lots of experience. We’ve been there and done that. We know a lot about physical preparation for play. But as more experienced bondage bottoms, we need to stretch more than just our limbs and ligaments to have better scenes. The goal of this class is to give us a new way of thinking about our bottoming, to help us limber up our minds and hearts, so that we can bring more to a scene, and to help us deal with mental/emotional/ psychological challenges, injury and scene flops, and, yes getting older in the rope scene.

Format: stretch-along

Materials: yoga mat or other floor covering if desired

“Shibari,” in Japanese, means simply “to Tie.” In this class A Stitch of Trouble teaches the basics of creating the geometric patterns generally associated with this style of bondage. They want students to come away from this class with a foundation for future ties and an understanding of the risks associated with all rope bondage and how to mitigate them.

The ties taught in this introductory level class are a basic cuff and a few different chest and body harnesses.

Materials: 2-3 pieces of rope, single braid or twisted, natural or synthetic fiber, 25 to 30ft in length

A Discovery Lab/Discussion with Stranger and Gray!

Unfortunately our planned instructor for this time won’t be able to make this ROPECRAFT. But it’s still a good chance to explore ways a smaller person – like Stranger – could suspend a larger person – like Graydancer. This is NOT a how-to suspension class – but it will be a co-led discovery lab where we will try things out, then try other things. You’re welcome to tie along as we CONQUER GRAVITY, or just come and contribute to the exploratory nature of this class.

Patterns in rope are beautiful and are the main things taught to beginners so they have a benchmark to show progress. But patterns can also be time-consuming and tedious to complete leaving both partners bored and frustrated. In this 90 minute class, you’ll learn some tips and techniques for moving your rope fluidly and efficiently. Walk away with several new methods for practicing your new handling skills. And bottoms, your participation, and feedback are vital!

Format: tie-along

Materials: 1 length of rope, 7-8 meters (20-25 feet). (Loaner rope will be available for those who do not have their own on hand.)

Note: Working with a partner you know is ideal for these exercises. The presenters will do our best to pair those students who attend without a tying partner.

Prerequisites:
Tops: Ability to tie a stable single- and double-column tie.
Bottoms: Ability to give verbal and non-verbal feedback.
Level: Beginner/Intermediate
Type: Hands-On

Take your rope bondage to new heights with partial suspension. We will cover the safety and practical basics surrounding suspension including mechanics, hardpoint selection, hardware, and some ties and positions to get you started.

Format: Tie-along

Materials: Participants are encouraged to bring at least four 30-foot lengths of 6mm or 8mm (1/2″ or 3/8″) rope and their imaginations.

This class covers the negotiation of rope scenes as well as understanding the risks of rope bondage and looking out for your own safety during play. In addition, we discuss how to be an effective communicator during a rope scene. We approach this topic from both the bottom’s perspective (led by Dhyana) and the top’s perspective (led by Kat).

Format: Lecture and discussion.

Rope bondage is a dangerous activity. While we do everything we can to emphasize safety, the simple fact is that eventually we will all cause harm. Reacting badly to that harm, however, has the potential to cause far more damage than the initial harm ever could. In this discussion class, we will talk about ways to mitigate harm, both before and after the fact. We will discuss the different kinds of harm—physical, mental, emotional, and more—that we are likely to
encounter, how to solicit genuine feedback, and how to make true apologies to those we harm. We will also discuss some of the gaps and pitfalls in our negotiations that can precipitate that can precipitate these harms in the first place.

This is a discussion for everyone, whether you tie, are tied, or both—we all have to deal with harm, and we all have much to learn from one another.

Join as yoga teacher, conscious kink educator, and rope bunny
Shakti Bliss teaches you to use your body and your breath to create
a safe container for the deep emotional experience of a rope scene.
Both tops and bottoms will learn how to take care of their bodies
to arrive authentically in a scene, and specific techniques for
grounding the nervous system before, during, and after a
scene.

Format: discussion, participation

Materials:

“Body awareness is a key component of all of our rope experiences. In this class, we’ll explore the body mechanics of bottoming, learn how to better understand our emotional responses to physical stimuli, and look at ways to more effectively communicate what we are experiencing to our partners. The hands-on portion of this class will include exercises designed to improve your overall awareness and communication. This is an all-levels, all-bodies class where an introspective learning mindset is encouraged. We also recommend bringing something to take notes with and a tying partner to practice with.

Format: Tie-along (partnered preferred)

Materials: An open mind, 1 piece of Natural Fiber Rope, notetaking materials if desired.

Patterns, schmatterns…let’s talk about the reasoning behind different transition choices, and build your ability to create unique sequences! This class is intended for folks who are just starting to work through transitions in suspension, and is self- or partnered-suspension friendly. To begin, Shay will bring the class along on the process to collaboratively create a demonstration transition sequence, discussing the “decision points” and pros and cons of different selections. Participants will then tie (or be tied in, or both) a suspension-worthy chest and leg ladder harness—Shay will quickly guide you through tying a leg harness, or you can tie your personal favorite. Within an outline, participants will choose their own adventures, utilizing these harnesses for partial and full suspension sequences.

Teaching Assistant: Miss DC

Format: suspension tie-along

Prerequisites: Intermediate, Intermediate suspension. Tying attendees should know basics of upline management, risk and body awareness for suspension, and experience with arms-free chest harnesses. Folks of all skill levels are also welcome to attend and “audit” the content.

Materials: Tying attendees need a basic suspension kit. At least 4 x ~30′ and 2 x ~15′ pieces of rope for harnesses, 2 x ~30′ pieces for uplines (rated rope recommended), climbing-rated carabiners x 3-6, safety cutting tool.

Whether you’re looking to tie (or be tied) for the first time, or you’re a veteran rope practitioner with hundreds of bondage scenes under your belt, this class is for you. In this lecture and discussion-based workshop, we will explore ways of using and interpreting language to better negotiate for what we’re really looking for in a rope bondage scene, as well as how to better meet our partners’ needs, wants and desires. We will explore ways to help experienced players feel less like service techs and rope mannequins, and help brand new players get their first taste of rope in a way that honors their consent, and keeps them coming back for more.

Format: lecture and discussion

Your scene doesn’t end when the up lines come down. Scene dynamic can and should be sustained until the last rope is removed from your bottom’s skin. It’s all in the details, and this class will walk you through strategies for keeping your scene strong until the last moments. We’ll explore how sustained rope tension is an articulation of sadistic intention, demonstrate how to maintain contact within the scene and create seamless transitions into aftercare, and discuss how these skills empower both top and bottom to maintain their respective headspaces. With this approach, the climax of the scene becomes the release from rope and not the re-engagement with gravity, which re-emphasizes rope as the implement of power exchange.

Format: partnered tie-along

Materials: at least three hanks of rope of the material of your choice

Hands-on workshop where participants will learn 2 knots, 2 hitches, and 2 ties that will provide a solid foundation. An understanding of safety is assumed. Rope kits are available for purchase ($20/kit) or you may bring your own 1x10ft and 1x30ft lengths to use.

Format: Lecture, Demonstration, Hands-On

Materials: two lengths of rope: 1 x 10 foot, 1 x 30 foot.

Rope bondage is a visual as well as visceral medium. Along with photography, artists have been sketching, painting, and even sculpting rope bondage for decades. This is a class on how to create your very own event, from the organizer and the model’s perspective, including recommended practices for using rope as a tool for modeling, inspiring a supportive, inclusive environment and establishing a sustainable event. The class will end with an actual figure drawing session, so bring your pencils (or whatever you want to sketch with!).

Materials: sketching materials – pencils, paper, etc.

“Ever heard someone say ‘Well, just add more rope!’ when speaking of tying larger people? That’s all well and good, but it matters greatly *where and how* that extra rope is added. Size does not determine what makes a good rope bottom, or what one is able to do in rope! We’ll talk about ways to address differences both on the floor and in the air, as well as extensive discussion on bottoming skills regardless of size.

Format: Theory/tie-along
Materials: Rope (3-10 ~30ft lengths recommended)
Skills needed: Single column tie proficiency (any), active communication, general body awareness

Our relationships with our bodies are complex and ever-changing. This class brings influences and inspiration from a wide variety of self portrait artists to cover everything from low-tech hacks for lighting, rules for compositions and shoot ideas, how to shoot beautiful photos with a cell phone, to complex concepts like self forgiveness and honesty to help us turn portraiture into a powerful project of control, self confidence and self love for all bodies.

Format: lecture and discussion

Description coming soon. Supplies needed thus far: one partner.

Often, the rope marketed for use in bondage is soft and silky smooth. While it’s great for sensual play, this rope isn’t very intimidating! In this class, we’ll take a walk on the other side of the tracks – using the raw, rough, scratchy, and harsh rope that your mother warned you about. We’ll compare the pros and cons of different rope types and show how they can transform once-innocent ties into something a little more torturous. Whether you hate the soft stuff, are looking for a way to add some punishment to your bondage, or are just scratching the itch to try something new, you’ll find plenty of new ideas!

People who tie often need to practice their tying more often than a willing partner is available. People who enjoy being in rope, can find it useful a foundational knowledge of how rope is tied and may want to be in rope more often than someone who ties is available. In this class A Stitch of Trouble will teach and break down ties that can be done on oneself that will help improve rope handling, and tie endurance.

Format: unpartnered tie-along

Materials: At least 2 pieces of rope, solid braid or twist, any natural or synthetic fiber, 25 to 30ft in length

This intermediate class covers some of the forms that aren’t chest or hip harnesses. This includes the “surf” portion: ebi (shrimp) and kani (crab) shibari as well as the “turf”: a hogtied based off of a basic agura (cross-legged) shibari tie. Time permitting, we cover the basic momo (peach) shibari as dessert! Participants should be competent with knots, frictions, and rope handling skills and should be able to complete basic ties such as single and double column ties and a basic chest harness.

Format: Interactive tying.

Prerequisites: Knowing how to tie a single column, reverse tension, frictions, and cinches is required.

Materials: Participants will need 5 – 6 pieces of rope.

“Diamond chest harness with arms bent up at the sides”
This class will combine the intensity of the Hojo-Hishi pattern with the arm positioning of the Tengu tie in a form that is appropriate for upright suspensions. Participants will have time to experiment with Postman, M-shape, Windmill other upright variations.

Prerequisites: Ability to construct a stable single column tie and in-line cuff.
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Class Size: 15 tying pairs, observers to room capacity

Format: suspension tie-along (advanced skill level), auditors (all skill levels)

Materials: 4-5 lengths of rope 7-8 meters, natural fiber. Suspension gear

In this class, you are invited to bring – either verbally or as a demonstration – your favorite method for coming down from a suspension (either partnered or solo). Facilitated by Graydancer, we will talk and mutually explore the considerations and techniques that make those last few inches count!

Diamonds Are Forever: Introduction to hishi-pattern concepts.

So you know a couple knots, frictions and hitches. You’ve already got your basic Gote and Futomomo structure down. Now what!? We can begin playing with the structures that make up some of our favorite ties and create a whole new look, yet maintain their structural integrity. Through learning and applying these new patterns attendees will learn a finer control of tension, rope handling, and aesthetics. We’ll also cover some interesting tips of how placement of frictions can be used for pressure point play. This will be an intermediate to advanced class.

Format: tie-along

Prerequisites: Single-column tie, understanding of basic frictions (reverse tension, half-hitch, munter-hitch),

Materials: 3 to 5 8-meter lengths of rope (natural fiber preferred).

Lower body harnesses are foundational for many suspensions…or make great handles for bedroom bondage! After a discussion of basics like wrap placement and risk awareness, Shay will survey the class and attendees will vote for the ties they most want to learn. Based on popular demand (and perhaps a bit of cajoling to choose her favorites), ties covered may include a swiss seat, drum harness, woven hip harness, three-column-tie hip harness, gunslinger, mermaid tie, leg ladder harness, futomomo, and the elegantly named Butt Rainbow Thigh Tie of Doom.

All the ties shown in this class are suspension-worthy; Shay will demonstrate attaching hangers and using them for suspension, and participants with adequate experience can get airborne as well. Attendees are also welcome to come and stick with floorwork, as the majority of the class will focus on the harnesses themselves. Self-tyers welcome. Teaching Assistant: Miss DC

Prerequisites: Intermediate skill level – This class is appropriate for folks from an intermediate floor work level to experienced suspension.  To tie along with the harnesses, experience with non-collapsing single-column ties and basic risk and body awareness for bondage is required. To suspend in class, upline management skills and experience is required.

Format: tie-along (auditors of all skill levels welcome)

Materials: For harnesses, 2 x ~30′ and 2 x ~15′ lengths, nylon/jute/hemp/cotton are all OK. 6mm diameter preferred, 5mm or 8mm also acceptable. For suspension (optional), your basic suspension kit (including at least one ~30′ upline). Safety cutting tool.

Too often, queer and trans bodies don’t fit within the aesthetic expectations laid out by the glossy pages of popular rope manuals. Further, common Shibari and Western ties aren’t always physiologically suitable for queer bodies. This workshop offers queer alternatives for some common ties that work more efficiently on bodies that don’t reside within the gender binary. Discussion surrounding increasing queer advocacy and shattering gender stereotypes in rope will be interwoven throughout.

Format: this class is a tie-along for queer-identified individuals

Materials: 3 or more Hanks of rope of choice

Sex isn’t just in the hips. This creative class is not bound by conventional dildo strap-on
placement. Want to tie a dildo to your boot? Chest? Anywhere you want?! What may start out
as quirky shenanigans can lead to pleasurable explorations of some dildo-tastic possibilities for
queer sex and sex for bodies with different abilities. BYOD (Bring Your Own Dildos!)

Materials: rope of your preference, dildo(s)

Format: tie-along

This year ROPECRAFT invited six artists to be “in residence” at the event with the intent of finding out what inspired them. In this panel they will talk about both their experiences at the event and also answer questions about their particular processes of creating art. What will come out of ROPECRAFT?

Few things in life are as exciting, or as confusing, as entering the BDSM scene. Bottom or Top? Mistress/Master or Slave? Dominant or Submissive? Leather, rubber, vinyl, spandex or latex? Coke or Pepsi?

New bottoms and tops can often find themselves at a loss at play parties, events or at fetish clubs. How do you navigate the deep waters of the BDSM world? How do you get what you want but insure the safety that you need? How do you ride the excitement of all the new experiences but maintain your grip on reality?

This class will help demystify the basics of scene etiquette, negotiation, personal responsibility, and safety (physical, emotional and psychological) that will help you lay the foundation for survival and success in the BDSM scene.

After a day full of learning and expansion, come process your thoughts, appreciate your community and prepare your body physically for another day of kinky fun with morning yoga with Shakit Bliss Bunny!

B is a rope bottom, yoga teacher and educational facilitator from Austin, TX and enjoys reminding people how to breathe fully, stay present and come home to their bodies through movement. She will lead a vinyasa style flow appropriate for newbies or yogis with a regular practice. Both rope tops and bottoms will receive stretches to help prepare their muscles for healthy movement and strength building exercise to engage their body and free their mind.

Also known as Anza or “Barbarian Sitting” is a sitting crossed leg position than can start off simple, but ramp up to incredible intensity. Together we’ll go over the basic components of the tie from positioning to knots and frictions. We’ll cover simple constructions for interesting floowork exploration to advanced forms for extreme semenawa.

If time allows demonstration of suspension applications.

Requirements:

• 3-6 natural fiber ropes 25-30 ft.
• A non-collapsing single column cuff.

“Rope for sex” doesn’t always mean positions – some people like to include rope directly on the genitals. This class will be a hands-on tie-along demo as Graydancer and Naiia show several techniques for tying rope on cocks, balls, vulvas, and asses for pleasure, pain, or whatever your consensual kink desires.

Sadomasochism doesn’t need to be complicated. Your “hurty” tool of choice should enhance the experience for you and your partner, not slow you down. This class covers minimalistic ways to cause pain using rope as a tool, with the intention of using rope techniques that won’t distract you and your partner from your sadomasochistic goals.

Futomo-who? Takate go-where? Want to just tie someone up and do terrible and / or wonderful things to them? Come to this class to learn some fun sexy rope stuff that you can do that doesn’t require a master’s degree in shibari. Interactive tying. Participants will need 5 – 6 pieces of rope. Knowing how to tie a single column will be helpful but covered.

Lecture where participants will learn about rope safety, risk awareness, and care for before, during, and after a rope experience. Hands-on workshop where participants will learn foundation knots, hitches, frictions, and forms to form a solid base from which they can start their rope journey.

Participants will then learn how to apply those foundation components to create several different structures in order to explore the many possibilities of these basics in practice as well as adaptations for limited flexibility and other concerns.

Rope kits are available for purchase ($20/kit) or you may bring your own 1x10ft and 1x30ft lengths to use. No lending rope will be provided.

• Format: Lecture, Demonstration, Hands-On Participant
• Minimum Skill Level: Beginner

Do you want to play with that sexy new person over there but you don’t know how to approach them? Do you struggle with entering conversations, or are you unsure how to find the play you want? Are you on the autism spectrum? So is your instructor! Come to this class to discuss how to approach people for play without scaring them away, negotiation and consent for the eternally awkward, and learn how to identify body language, tone, and word choice to work towards better communication and start building the social connections you want.

This instructional teaches not only variations on the Tasuki Shibari pattern, but also demonstrates applications for Agoura and Ebi Shibari. Partial suspension for torture play taught. Applications for full suspension discussed with a demonstration if allowed by class time.

• Prerequisites: ability to construct a non-collapsing single column tie. Familiarity with the components of a gote shibari will be helpful.
• Class Type: Hands-On
• Level: Intermediate

Crystals have been used as allies for energy work and self-healing for centuries. With their highly charged energetic properties, crystals can also add an intense spiritual dynamic to any rope scene.

Explore how to negotiate scenes to increase energetic intimacy, how rocks can be critical to the sadistic rigger’s toolbox, and how to incorporate crystals specifically into a ground rope or rope suspension scene.

Participants will receive general knowledge about the properties of some commonly used crystals as well as basic skills for using their properties in sexy and energetically responsible ways.

Hands-on workshop where participants will learn how to apply essential foundation knots, hitches, frictions, and forms to create hog, frog, crab, and shrimp ties with adaptations for limited flexibility and other concerns. An understanding of safety and foundations (reef knot, half hitch, joining rope, single column tie, double column tie) is assumed.

Rope kits are available for purchase ($20/kit) or you may bring your own 1x10ft and 1x30ft lengths to use. No lending rope will be provided. Format: Lecture, Demonstration, Hands-On Participant Minimum Skill Level: Beginner/Intermediate

This hands-on class will teach methods for binding the torso with breasts of any size. Several different ties will be presented, including ties to accentuate (and sensitize!) breasts of various sizes and shapes. We will also present a few tips and tricks that you can incorporate in harnesses you already tie. This class is intended for folks of any gender with breasts/chest tissue.

A discussion about the particular experiences of being a person of color in the kink scene.

Patterns are awesome. They allow us to achieve specific aesthetics and functionality with our rope. However, they’re also often cumbersome, fiddly and increase the difficulty in maintaining a ‘scene’ energy.

This class comes from a particular rut Rocket experienced with her rope topping… and aims to give an ‘easy’, approachable *play* style of rope bondage that emphasizes the people involved and not much else.

• Type: Tie-along
• Materials: Rope (2-5 30ft hanks)
• Skills needed: single column tie, basic hitches/frictions, active communication, general body awareness

This class will focus on the skills involved in tying and bottoming for improvisational suspension. Participants will learn the basics of creating an improvised harness and suspending with it as well as body manipulation.

They will also learn the risks and advantages of this style of rope, as well as the anatomical aspects and physical skills involved in bottoming for it.

Join Marceline and Anya Demure and create some wild shapes and feelings!

Prerequisites: both tops and bottoms should be comfortable with suspension and should know at least one upper body and one lower body harness (ex, chest and hip)

Lab time is when we get to become mad scientists and delve into all that is rope. All to often lab can become a time for tops to just practice a pattern. How can we take lab and learning time in rope and get the most from it as bottoms?

We propose: exploring ties, learning more about your body in rope, and working on the goals and the desires of the rope bottom. Bring a rope top and learn how to voice your desires, work on your goals, and build a more inclusive lab environment.

Time will be set aside during class for a guided exploration (on the floor or in the air) if attendees wish to explore specific lab scenarios with their stunt top.

• Type: Theory/tie-along
• Materials: Stunt Top, Rope
• Skills needed (bottoms): an active voice, and ideas for exploration
• Skills needed (stunt tops): Familiarity and comfort with the execution of ideas the bottom wants to explore.

This session will not be teaching patterns, uplines, etc.

Every person who ties rope has gone through a phase in their rope tying career where they thought “I just wish I could tie my partner without fumbling.”

Yes, even “Big Name”™ Rope tops, who have the books, the porn sites, the workshops, the YouTube channel. They all got to their level of tying with a lot of practice.

In this all-levels bondage class Trouble leads students through a series of drills that help develop tension and speed while tying.

Partners will be asked to trade off tying and being tied.

While there’s no single “right” way to do rope bondage performance, this class presents one process for designing shows that can work well for a variety of settings and audiences.

This class is intended for experienced rope practitioners who are looking for ways to improve their creative process, and will also offer practical performance advice for both on and off the stage.

A lecture will be followed by a participatory (non-tying) group exercise. Performance partners are encouraged to attend together if possible.

Many of the most important and iconic ties in Japanese style rope bondage can be broken down into a few fundamental units. In this class, we’ll improve your handling and flow with the most common hitches.

Together we’ll explore all the components of what makes a tie work with some free form exercises to help us become more fluid with our rope handling. We’ll finish off by putting everything together in a Hojo-Hishi, a pattern which includes just about every standard friction you might encounter in the wild.

By breaking down this tie into its parts, students will have a firmer grasp as to how these tools can work in conjunction to build strong stable ties, and improve their own ability to identify and improvise structures in patterns of their own.

• *Hands On*
• *Skill level: Beginner/Intermediate*
• *Required Gear: (4-5) 25-30ft lengths of rope*

The Widow Harness is a suspendable, highly sustainable arms-front chest harness that works amazingly well for a large variety of body types and flexibility levels.

In this class, we’ll discuss the various elements of the tie including the basic pattern, attachment and suspension applications, and nerve and safety issues. At the end of the class, those who feel comfortable with their work will have the opportunity to test it in the air.

This class is for students with a solid grasp on their fundamentals that can already tie a solid chest harness. The ability to tie a TK is not required, but is recommended as this tie borrows a number of elements from the TK.

The ability to suspend is not required for this class—there are plenty of ground/partial suspension applications of this harness.

• Students will need two to two and a half lengths of 8m/30ft rope, with natural fiber being strongly recommended.
• Students will also need a scarf or tenugui 36”-45” in length.
• Students that wish to test their harness in the air should bring appropriate suspension hardware.
• Students must also bring a cutting tool that they are comfortable with.

Have you often found yourself staring at a class description that includes the requirement of a “suspendable,” rope pattern? Have you ever wondered what “suspendable,” even means? Under Tension offers a method to diagnose the outcomes created by suspending a pattern or form. Additionally, the class offers diagnosis options pre-suspension, during suspension, after suspension and after rope is removed.

• Prerequisites:
  • Person tying: ability to construct a harness (chest, hip) or another form
  • Person in rope: ability to be in the harness or form for several minutes and offer constructive verbal feedback
• Class Type: Hands-On
• Level: Intermediate
• Student equipment needs: 5-6 ropes 7-8 meters (20-25’) in length, suspension gear (carabiners, ring, straps, etc.)

Upper body harnesses are foundational for many suspensions…as well as being lovely for decorative floorwork, or great handles for bedroom bondage! After a discussion of basics like wrap placement and risk awareness, Shay will survey the class and attendees will vote for the ties they most want to learn. Based on popular demand (and perhaps a bit of cajoling to choose her favorites), ties covered may include a basic shinju-style chest harness with weaving variations (including “heart harness” and binder-like modifications), figure-8 chest harness, and a hishi-style (diamond) chest harness.

All the ties shown in this class are suspension-worthy; Shay will demonstrate attaching hangers and using them for suspension, and participants with adequate experience can practice this as well. Attendees are also welcome to come and stick with floorwork, as the majority of the class will focus on the harnesses themselves. Self-tyers welcome, but note that the harnesses shown are difficult self-ties that require creating frictions and hitches behind your back. Variations for different body shapes, and to focus on minimizing (or emphasizing) chest tissue, will be discussed.

Teaching Assistant: Miss DC

Polyamory, Monogamy, Consensual Nonmonogamy, Swinging, Master/slave, Dominant/Submissive, Daddy/boy… We will discuss a variety of relationship types and how they’re reflected in daily life. What do these terms mean in your lives and relationships? What resources are available for people exploring these relationship types?

Naiia and Shakti Bliss will combine their knowledge and personal practice of mindfulness to take you on a journey of enhancing your connection and energetic exchange during rope play and scenes. In this class we will discuss and experiment with how mindfulness practices, meditation and linking your breath to movement can affect your play. Some of this class will involve partnered activities but it is not necessary to have a partner to attend this class.

There isn’t always a suspension top available when a person who enjoys being in rope wants to fly. In this class A Stitch of Trouble teaches basic harnesses for static self suspension, how to manage the risks inherent with this type of bondage, and how to create pulleys and use leverage to safely get oneself off the ground as well as safely back to it.

This is an intermediate level rope bondage class. Students attending this class should be able to tie a non-collapsing single column tie while holding a conversation.

Once upon a time I was under the impression that rope was nice. Happily I learned otherwise, and now you can too! We’ll explore pain, breath and stamina. Calf ties, face ties, and breath constriction, oh my! We’ll also discuss some types of mental/emotional sadomasochism with rope.

• Type: Tie-along
• Materials: Rope (1-5 ~30ft lengths recommended)
• Skills needed: Single column tie, basic hitches, active communication, general body awareness

Hear a group of professional and hobbyist photographers talk about the specifics of how they work with models for their kink shoots – everything from the legalities of model releases to how to create a supportive environment for the models, as well as techniques for getting the shot you want.

After two days full of learning and expansion, come process your thoughts, appreciate your community and prepare your body physically for the Monday Ropenspace kinky fun with Monday Morning yoga with Shakit Bliss Bunny!

B is a rope bottom, yoga teacher and educational facilitator from Austin, TX and enjoys reminding people how to breathe fully, stay present and come home to their bodies through movement. She will lead a vinyasa style flow appropriate for newbies or yogis with a regular practice. Both rope tops and bottoms will receive stretches to help prepare their muscles for healthy movement and strength building exercise to engage their body and free their mind.