Suspension Bondage Is Dangerous

We love suspension bondage and we’re excited to share it with you. We want to be very clear, however, about the risks involved.

1. Suspension bondage involves unavoidable risk. Like rock climbing, suspension is a risky activity. Good preparation and training can reduce your risk, but even if you do everything right there is still a chance that you may be injured or killed, or that you may injure or kill another person.

2. We don’t have all the answers. Unlike rock climbing, suspension bondage has no professional standards bodies and no expert consensus about best practices. This book is based on years of study, practice, and consultation with outside experts. Nonetheless, you should be aware that suspension is still a developing field, and our understanding of the best way to do things is still evolving.

3. You can’t learn suspension from a book. The only safe way to learn suspension is to work with a qualified instructor or mentor. This book is a valuable adjunct to expert instruction, but not a substitute for it. Without a skilled teacher to guide and evaluate you, you cannot learn suspension without placing your partner in tremendous danger.

4. Don’t get ahead of yourself. Suspension is fun and exciting, and you will likely be tempted to rush ahead and try activities that you aren’t yet ready for. We can’t stress enough the importance of proceeding slowly and methodically, and always working within your skill level.

5. Always use good judgment. Your best defense against mishap is your own common sense and good judgment. Always be mindful of what you’re doing, and err on the side of caution.

Your partner is placing tremendous faith in your competence and judgment. If you are careless or overly ambitious, they are likely to pay a heavy price for your foolishness. Make sure that you are worthy of their trust.

Suspended Animation accepts no responsibility for any injury or death which may occur as a result of the activities described in this book. By reading this book, you agree to take full responsibility for your actions and their consequences.

Harness Variations

Hip Harness Variations

The hip harness we used in FTGU 101 consisted of a single wide band of rope going around the hips. You’ll sometimes find that you need something more elaborate, either because of your partner’s anatomy or because of the demands of the particular suspension you’re performing.

Many of these variations are good candidates for rigging with a Y hanger.

Two separate hip wraps

This version of the hip harness is identical to the face-up chest harness.

A more secure hip harness uses the buttocks to stabilize the harness and lock it in place. This harness is identical in construction to the face up chest harness.

Begin with two wraps around the waist, secured with a half hitch. Bring the remaining rope down to below the buttocks, bend it 90 degrees, and wrap it horizontally around your partner’s body. Continue to wrap in the usual fashion until you run out of rope and secure the harness with one or more half hitches.

Depending on the suspension you’re planning, you can tie this harness with the connecting line in front or in back. Generally speaking, the knots should on whichever side is on top to avoid creating uncomfortable pressure points.

Right: Use a Y hanger

Rig this harness with a Y hanger.

Wrong: Avoid the connector

Do not rig from the connecting line: it is relatively weak, and putting pressure on it will tighten the lower wraps.

Anchoring the hip harness

Attaching the hip harness to the thigh harness using leftover rope helps to stabilize both harnesses.

Because of the shape of the hips, the standard hip harness shouldn’t slide down the body. It may, however, tend to slide up onto the abdomen, especially if you use it for the initial lift. To prevent it from moving up, you can use one of the more secure variants shown in this section, or you can anchor it to the thigh harness.

In many cases, a simple line connecting the hip and thigh harnesses will be enough to keep the hip harness from moving up, and to keep the thigh harness from moving down. You can connect them using leftover line from the hip harness, or you can begin the thigh harness with a lark’s head on the hip harness before moving down and beginning to wrap around the thighs.