I just finished translating a weekend intensive specifically for rope bottoms by Tiger Aiko, so your

I just finished translating a weekend intensive specifically for rope bottoms by Tiger Aiko, so your question is amazingly well timed! :) I wanted to talk about some of this stuff anyway because I feel it’s very important and often overlooked.The super short answer is: absolutely be familiar with what’s about to happenAbout KnotsWhile the type of knots used (especially in suspension) are pretty standard, their placement can be adjusted depending on the tied person’s preference.That’s definitely something to discuss before tying. If you don’t know what works for you, start with partial suspensions/partial ties in order to find out.For example: if you’ve never done a futomomo (leg-to-thigh tie) before, have yourself lifted starting from the floor so you can still touch and hold your own weight on the ground, but you can bear forward to test the tie as if you’re in the air. Then gauge your pain/pinch level, and your tolerance for it. That specific tie has an inside the leg and outside option, so find what works best for you.Same goes for chest harnesses; some people prefer more rope support with the ‘cross’ style, some less with just wraps. For a decorative or floor-only tie, start with one part of it, and move forward in pieces (i.e. don’t just “go for it” and do a full body ~mummified in 18 different types of knots~ crazy elaborate thing first time around– tie the chest part, see how it feels for 15 minutes or so, then untie. Do the legs, feel it out again for some time, and so on).About Range & ToleranceStretching was a really important point in the workshop, especially pair stretches. These are “yoga-type” (for lack of a better description) exercises done with a partner in order to increase flexibility, and actually test your limits while improving them. It also helps with:body awarenesshow to relax into an extension and know when you’re unconsciously tensing muscles due to pain (especially the upper chest/diaphragm– that area should always be relaxed) recognizing dangerous pain versus discomfortand –most importantly– teaches you how to move your body out of the “I’m at my limit” pose into a more tolerable one. For example, while your partner is extending your arms back, you can roll your shoulders or arch your spine to find what action reduces the strain.The key is to practice it in stretches because you can do them over and over until it becomes second nature. Your body will automatically know what to do. When you’re stuck in rope this can be a life saver.About Strength & AdjustmentMost ties have a “resting pose” that’s the easiest to maintain, and a more strenuous but better looking “show pose” (an exaggerated back arch, etc). People tend to find the resting poses naturally, but also let themselves just hang in the rope at that point, which doesn’t relieve pressure-type pain and numbness. Shifting your weight in the rope, however, can help. Especially the bearing of the weight, so that under your own power you’re maintaining the position. The ropes aren’t cradling you 100% and therefore aren’t applying all that pressure to your body. The example we were given was the running post man– to relieve hand/arm discomfort from the TK (or whichever chest harness), the tied person can push down on the leg wraps, bringing the weight distribution under their own power. The same can be done with back resistance during a leg or ankle/foot suspension. Of course saying that is way easier than doing it– maintaining that strain takes a tremendous amount of endurance.This is only a tiny bit of the information given during the workshop, so if you ever have a chance to attend on of Tiger Aiko’s sessions, I absolutely recommend that you do!She teaches really fundamental stuff about the importance of knowledge as a rope bottom, and that being tiny and stretchy isn’t the 'be all end all’.Each body is different, and each one has its own strengths and weaknesses.Knowing yours, and knowing about what to expect in rope, are things that we should never stop learning and improving!For a full walk-through of safety and starting out, I highly recommend Clover’s Rope Bottom Guide ♥ Hazel -- source link

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