From the Ground Up #3

Join us for our third From the Ground Up series - newly revised and updated!

From the Ground Up is an intermediate-level shibari class series for rope students looking to expand their technical skills with the goal of suspension in mind, starting with harnesses suitable for suspension and ending with learning how to get our partners airborne!

A summary of what you’ll learn:

• Essential upper- and lower-body harnesses for suspension
• How to attach hangers to harnesses to create solid, stable uplines
• Fun, sexy, and sadistic partial suspensions and predicaments
• How to get your partners in the air, even if you're a smaller rigger
• Core static suspension positions, including face-up, face-down, side, and a slight torsion (twist)

Ideal for those confident with single and double columns, frictions & hitches, rope safety, and basic harness-building, but new to suspendable harnesses and suspension.

Details:

Prerequisites:
This series of classes is aimed at intermediate students. Those interested in participating should know how to tie:

• Single- and double-column ties
• Forward vs. reverse tension
• Common hitches & frictions (half hitch, Munter hitch, X-friction, half-moon friction, & hojo cuffs)
• Lock-offs/how to burn rope
• Basic harnesses/have an understanding of how & why harnesses work
• Basic understanding of nerve safety, including signs/symptoms of nerve compression
• Bottoms should have basic body awareness, an understanding of nerve compression vs. circulation loss, and an ability to speak up and advocate for themselves before/during/and after a scene or labbing session.

Class Details:
In this 8-part series, we will teach you skills and harnesses needed to grow from a rope bondage intermediate student into a beginner rigger, culminating in how to use these skills and harnesses in partial and full suspensions. The series consists of seven core classes, with an optional 8th:

• Harnesses for Suspension: Part 1. In this two-part class, we'll begin the series by learning a few harnesses essential for doing suspensions. This first class will go over a hip harness with multiple attachment points, a booty basket (a.k.a. "mono-bloc"), and a tengu, which is an upper body harness with the arms bent laterally, representing the wings of a Japanese supernatural entity by the same name.
• Harnesses for Suspension: Part 2. In this two-part class, we'll begin the series by learning a few harnesses essential for doing suspensions. The second class will go over futomomos (bent-leg ties), a mermaid harness (thighs tied together), and an arms-free chest harness with multiple attachment points.
• Preparation & Review. This class is dedicated to discussing safe suspension hard point options, how to set up a ring vs. pole, and suspension gear options. We will discuss important safety concerns as well. If there is time, we will review some of the harness content from the Earthbound series as well.
• Upline P0rn. In this class, we will learn several variations of hangers (how we attach an upline to a harness) and ways to build safe uplines. Bottoms will get the opportunity to see what safe hangers and uplines look like, allowing them to advocate for their own safety in suspensions. People will not be suspended in this class.
• Playing With Partials. Here we will get to practice harnesses and uplines by creating fun partial suspensions (one or more body parts suspended while you maintain contact with the floor). Riggers will get to practice uplines on their partners, while the bottoms will start to get a feel for how suspension will affect their bodies, therefore building body awareness (a very important rope bottoming skill).
• Grounded Predicaments. In this class, we will learn some fun predicaments, which are partials that force the bottom to choose/alternate between two or more challenging positions. This will allow riggers to practice uplines in more stressful or "urgent" scenarios while still keeping their partners partially on the floor. Bottoms will get to practice active bottoming, body awareness, and communication skills.
• Intro to Suspension. In this class, we will put all of the skills we've learned to use in our first full suspensions. We'll discuss different ways to get our partners off the ground, including active bottoming techniques to make lifting/lowering easier on our riggers.
• BONUS CLASS: Basic Static Positions. This class is optional, but for those who want to take their new suspension skills a step further, we will explore some basic static positions (meaning one position without transitions into other shapes). We will explore face-down and side positions, and, if time allows, a gentle torsion (twisted shape). This will give riggers and bottoms the opportunity to explore suspension in a supervised environment.

Scheduling:

• Each class is 2 hours long and does not include time to practice after class. Each class is scheduled 2 weeks apart to give you time to practice the skills you learned at home. If you do not have a hard point at home, you might find our Open Studio Hours a good opportunity to practice the skills you're learning in a supervised environment. We may also be able to arrange private time for you to come practice on our rigs.
• Please don't attend if you're feeling ill. We do allow missed classes for illness and other absences, and are willing to work with you to schedule makeup classes.

Group Rules:

• Please review our group rules. Attending means you've read the rules and agree to follow them.
• You are required to sign our Liability Waiver if it's your first time attending. If you'd rather not submit your personal information online, you can print this form ahead of time, or we will have some paper copies available at check-in.

Buying Tickets & Event Capacity:

• Tickets are $250 per tying pair for all 8 classes. If you don't want to take the bonus 8th class, you can sign up for the first 7 classes for $215/tying pair.
• We are limiting attendance to 5 tying pairs. We strongly recommend that you bring a partner to practice on, as not everything we teach will be self-tie-friendly.
• We will allow some of our previous Suspension Series graduates (and those whose skills with which we are familiar and comfortable) to take the bonus 8th class, Basic Static Positions, on its own for $50 per tying pair. Please reach out to us directly for the promo code to sign up for this!
• If you want to avoid Forbidden Tickets's fees, you can select the registration-only ticket and pay an alternate way. We accept cash, checks, credit/debit cards, PayPal (@BoxTieStudio), Venmo (@boxtiestudio), and Cashapp ($ropespaced). If you pay one of these ways ahead of time (not at the door), please indicate which order it's for (the email address on your order works).
• We strongly believe in making rope education accessible to all, no matter your economic status; if the ticket cost is a little out of your budget, please reach out to us and we may be able to work something out. Payment plans are also an option!

What To Bring & Wear:

• Bring a blanket or yoga mat to sit or tie on; there are a few chairs. Also bring water, rope, and safety shears.
  • Students should bring with them a full suspension kit. This should consist of at least six 8-meter/30-foot lengths, two 4-meter/15-foot lengths, two 8-meter/30-foot uplines (we recommend POSH or similar synthetic material), a suspension ring or rigging plate, a climbing strap, at least two rated carabiners, and an emergency cutting tool. If you need recommendations on what to get, please check out our guide here.
  • We also sell rope, if you don't have any yet.
• Dress comfortably in clothing that isn't too loose or flowy and still permits a full range of motion (many people wear workout clothing). Vanilla to the door, no nudity inside; genitals and anuses must be covered.

Parking & Arrival Time:

• Doors open at 6:00. Please try to arrive early! We will be closing the doors at 6:30 so we can start ASAP. If you know you're going to be late, please text Cait at (207) 558-2930. If you arrive and the door is locked, please knock loudly, as our doorbell is broken :(
• There is plenty of parking. When you turn onto Ingersoll Drive, the parking lot is the first left, and we are the first building on the left. We are the second-floor end unit; you'll see tall windows and skylights from outside. Please text Cait at (207) 558-2930 if you have trouble finding us.

Miscellaneous:

• No guns or other weapons are allowed on the premises.
• There is no smoking indoors. Please step outside to smoke.
• The use of drugs or alcohol is prohibited. If you're suspected to be under the influence, you and your partner will be ejected from that night's class. If a second infraction occurs, you will both be ejected from the rest of the series without refund.
• We have a dog and there will likely be dog fur throughout the studio, although we do our best to keep it as clean as possible. If you're allergic, please take note.
• There are 3 short concrete steps to get into the building and a flight of carpeted stairs to get into the studio. Unfortunately, there is no elevator access.

If you have any other questions, please reach out to us or text Cait at (207) 558-2930! You can also contact @ropespaced (Cait) or @Griffin207 (Jack) on FetLife. Otherwise, we hope to see you there!