WORKSHOPS

General Information About Workshops

Some workshops are divided into multiple parts and can be conducted as standalone sessions or combined into multi-day training.

• Duration: 3–6 hours teaching, excluding breaks (per part/day), depending on the workshop.
• Group Size: Small groups (3–4 pairs) or large groups (up to 12 pairs).
• Instruction Language: Finnish / English
• Style and paradigm: Depending on the workshop, I combine and utilize various different styles, my own perspective and experience. Read more about me from my bio.
• What to Bring: Sufficient ropes (check workshop details), comfortable clothing, and an open mind.

All workshops listed below can also be organized as private small-group sessions upon request; see additional details.

By contract I teach workshops in different venues. Contact me for more info and prices.

Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku

Level: All levels
Prerequisites: None – everyone is welcome!
Duration: 3 hours
Equipment: 1-3 ropes. Ropes available for loan

This beginner-friendly workshop is your gateway to the fascinating world of shibari and kinbaku, the art of Japanese erotic rope bondage. Designed for those with little or no experience, we cover the basics of tying, safety considerations, and the philosophy and history of the practice.

What You’ll Learn:

• Basic Ties: Single column tie (sct) and double column tie (dct), foundational techniques used in many shibari practices, taught through clear, step-by-step instructions.
• Safety: Understand the fundamentals of safe rope handling, nerve safety, communication, consent, and risk management.
• Philosophy and the History: Explore the cultural and historical roots of shibari and kinbaku, as well as their philosophy and the psychology behind the practice, such as trust and surrender.
• Applying Knowledge: Learn how to apply techniques in a rope session and how to continue practicing the art.

This workshop is suitable for anyone interested in shibari and kinbaku.

Fundamental Patterns

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 5 ropes).

Build a foundation for versatile rope sessions in this beginner-friendly workshop.

What You’ll Learn:

• Three Classic Patterns: TK (Gote), Futomomo (Leg Binder), and Arm Binder / “strappado” (front and back).
• Enhancing Tying Process: Balance technical tying with a smooth flow.
• Improvisation and Variations: Learn to adapt and personalize the taught ties.

Suitable for beginners or those who want to tie more efficiently.

Suspension Basics

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent, knowledge of gote (TK) tie
Duration: 5 hours
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes).

This workshop introduces functional and effective suspensions, providing a solid foundation for further exploration.

What You’ll Learn:

• Rope Locking and Line Management: Techniques for securing ropes for suspensions and managing lines for safety and control.
• Suspension Basics and Safety: Understand the physics and safety aspects of suspensions, risk awareness, preparation, and risk management.
• Communication and the Bottom’s Perspective: Preparing for suspensions, communicating in challenging situations, and understanding the experience of being suspended.
• Simple Suspensions: Beginner-friendly suspension techniques.

Designed for those new to suspensions or looking to improve their skills.

Advanced Suspensions 1

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie and understanding of suspension basics. It’s recommended that the model has prior experience being tied.
Duration: 6 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 10 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Take your skills to the next level in this dynamic workshop designed for riggers with basic suspension experience.

What You’ll Learn:

• Efficient Rope Management: Streamline rope and line handling for smoother, faster, and safer suspensions.
• Smooth Transitions and Body Handling: Master seamless transitions between positions without losing control or connection.
• Sequences: Create dynamic sequences by combining multiple positions into cohesive flows.
• Problem Solving: Address and resolve issues and complications effectively.

Suitable for those looking to enhance technical skills and explore diverse suspensions.

Advanced Suspensions 2

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie and understanding of suspension basics.
Duration: 6 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 10 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

This workshop focuses on the aesthetic and emotional aspects of suspensions, deepening connection and expressive power.

What You’ll Learn:

• Suspension Aesthetics: Create visually stunning suspensions emphasizing form, beauty, and emotional connection.
• Introspective Approach: Explore an intense, introspective approach prioritizing vulnerability and the psychology of surrender.
• Dynamics in Suspensions: Maintain powerful dynamics in sessions despite technical complexity.

Suitable for advanced riggers exploring the emotional and aesthetic depth of suspensions.

Semisuspensions 1

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie and understanding of suspension basics. It’s recommended that the model has prior experience being tied.
Duration: 5 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the possibilities and versatility of semisuspensions in this focused workshop.

What You’ll Learn:

• Striking and Functional Semisuspensions: Create impressive semisuspensions considering aesthetics, emotional connection, and safety.
• Opportunities and Challenges: Understand the advantages and limitations of semisuspensions compared to full suspensions or floor ties.
• Practical Techniques: Learn various semisuspension techniques through step-by-step guidance.

Suitable for those looking to incorporate semisuspensions into their sessions.

Performance and Stagecraft 1

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie and understanding of suspension basics.
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 10 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

This workshop focuses on tying and suspensions in performance settings and how to create a compelling and visually striking show.

What You’ll Learn:

• Performance Planning and Preparation: Considerations and planning for an effective performance.
• Communication: Rigger and model communication and dynamics during performances.
• Avoiding and Resolving Issues: Handle potential problems and minimize their impact on the performance.
• Technical Aspects and Skills: Tying within a limited time frame with the right rhythm and intensity; balancing planning and improvisation.

Suitable for advanced riggers and models aiming to improve their performance skills.

Hashira Workshop

Part 1: Hashira Basics

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie and understanding of suspension basics; it’s recommended that the model has prior experience being tied.
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 10 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the use of a hashira pillar in tying. This workshop combines technique, aesthetic expression, and physical and psychological elements in hashira-based ties.

What You’ll Learn:

• Basics: Fundamental hashira tying techniques, limitations, possibilities, and session structure.
• Aesthetics and Philosophy: Explore the aesthetic and emotional depth of hashira, as well as its significance in the history and philosophy of the practice.
• Attachment and Safety: Master methods for attaching to a hashira pillar and ensuring safety.
• Semisuspensions in Hashira: Selected semisuspension techniques using the hashira.

Suitable for those new to hashira tying or looking to refine their skills.

Part 2: Suspensions in Hashira

Level: Intermediate–Advanced
Prerequisites: Knowledge of gote (TK) tie, understanding of suspension basics, and prior suspension experience; it’s recommended that the model has prior experience being tied. Knowledge about hashira basics: (skills from the the Part 1 or similar).
Duration: 4 hours
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 10 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

This continuation of the hashira workshop focuses on suspensions using the hashira.

What You’ll Learn:

• Managing risks and maintaining safety in challenging suspensions.
• Creating functional and visually striking suspensions using the hashira.
• Crafting dynamic shapes and aesthetic compositions while enhancing emotional impact with the hashira.

Suitable for those with some hashira experience who want to develop technical and creative skills.

Rope Session and Dynamics

Part 1: Building Meaningful Connection in a Session

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the psychological and physical elements that influence a rope session and its dynamics. The workshop includes theory and practical exercises, addressing both the rigger’s and model’s perspectives.

What You’ll Learn:

• Session Dynamics: Creating and strengthening emotional and physical connections during tying.
• D/s Elements: Incorporating dominance and submission, trust, and surrender into rope work.
• Safe and Liberating Environment: Create and maintain a safe, open environment for vulnerability and emotional expression in shibari and kinbaku.
• Bottom’s Expression and Communication: Verbal and non-verbal expression, interpreting body language, and using it to communicate and enhance session dynamics.
• Additional Tools: Using tools like candles, whips, gags, or blindfolds and their impact on rope sessions.

Part 2: Flow and Emotional Depth in Tying

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent, and Part 1 of Rope Session and Dynamics
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the importance of flow in rope sessions and its psychological effects. The workshop includes theory and practical exercises.

What You’ll Learn:

• Flow and Rhythm: Understand and enhance the flow of tying, controlling rhythm and intensity in sessions.
• Pain, Pleasure, and Shame: Intentionally use various emotions and sensations to deepen rope sessions.
• Use of Voice: Utilize vocalization, speech, tone, and other verbal expressions to strengthen connection and dynamics.

Both parts are designed for those looking to deepen their understanding of the psychological aspects of rope sessions and develop skills in creating and maintaining strong dynamics.

Bedroom bondage

Part 1: Sensual

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent.
Duration: 3 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 6 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the sensual side of ropes in this intimate workshop.

What You’ll Learn:

• Elegant and Erotic Tying: Learn effective, simple ties prioritizing sensuality and connection in confined spaces like a bedroom.
• Gentler Approach: Avoid unintentional discomfort or pain with ropes.

Suitable for those seeking an introduction to softer, sensual tying.

Part 2: Intense

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent.
Duration: 3 hours
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 6 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui, impact play tools, clamps, gags, and other BDSM equipment.

Take bedroom bondage to a more intense level, introducing edgier elements.

What You’ll Learn:

• Intense Ties: Create restrictive and controlling ties to deepen power dynamics.
• BDSM Elements and Pain: Learn to apply controlled pain and discomfort using ropes.
• Impact of Control: Use control and its intensity to enhance dynamics and expression.

Suitable for those with some tying experience looking to explore more intense bedroom play with ropes.

TK (Gote, Takate Kote)

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent; Part 2 requires knowledge from Part 1.
Duration: 3 hours per part (6 hours total for both parts)
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 6 ropes).

This two-part workshop dives deep into the iconic gote (TK) tie, widely used in shibari/kinbaku.

Part 1:

• Learn different arm placements behind the back and their impact on the tie.
• Explore TK variations, from traditional to modern styles.
• Understand and avoid common issues and risks for safer ties.

Part 2:

• Focus on maintaining flow while tying TK for a better experience.
• Practice variations and creative adaptations for different bodies and session goals.
• Examine the benefits and drawbacks of additional ropes in TK structure and personalization.
• Explore how TK influences session tone, aesthetics, and emotional charge.

Suitable for riggers of all levels aiming to master this iconic tie comprehensively.

Floorplay 1

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent. Knowledge of gote (TK) tie.
Duration: 4 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

This workshop focuses on floor-based ties, exploring intense and dynamic session tying without suspensions.

What You’ll Learn:

• Floor Ties: Use tying techniques dynamically without suspension lines.
• Body Handling and Movement: Learn to move your rope partner effectively on the floor.
• Effective Use of Ties: Apply basic ties to create intense floor sessions in various positions.

Designed for those wanting to create intense rope sessions without the complexity of suspensions.

Shame Play and Erotic Exposure

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent
Duration: 3 hours.
Equipment: Your own ropes (at least 8 ropes), optional accessories like a tenugui.

Explore the psychological intensity of humiliation and shame in the context of shibari and kinbaku.

What You’ll Learn:

• Incorporate feelings of shame and vulnerability to deepen the emotional charge of a session.
• Gradually expose the body erotically during tying, either sensually or in an objectifying, fetishistic manner.
• Recognize individual differences and emotional impacts.
• Define boundaries and assess psychological risks.

Suitable for those exploring the psychological dimensions of shibari and kinbaku.

Photography and Aesthetics

Level: Beginner–Advanced
Prerequisites: Skills from the “Introduction to Shibari and Kinbaku” workshop or equivalent; basic photography knowledge and a camera are recommended.
Duration: 5 hours.
Equipment: Camera + accessories, ropes (6–10 pieces), optional props like a tenugui.

This workshop focuses on photography within the aesthetic framework of shibari and kinbaku.

What You’ll Learn:

• Rope Composition and Aesthetics: Make ties look visually appealing in photos.
• Lighting and Angles: Find the right angles, model positioning, and lighting to enhance mood.
• Collaboration with Models: Facilitate communication and model expression.
• Timing and Safety: Capture the moment effectively, addressing challenges and potential issues.

Designed for those interested in photographing their own or others’ ties.