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Description
Foundations of Self-Suspension workshop
This hands-on class presents key skills for self-tying and foundations for self-suspension, taught by experienced self-suspension instructor Parker. **This Foundation of Self-Suspension workshop is a prerequisite for more advanced self-suspension workshops in Coil & Cord's self-suspension curriculum.**
This workshop include risks and risk-reducing measures, and similarities and differences in risk and approaches between self-suspension and partner suspension.
The hands-on portion of the class will include skill-building exercises for practicing key self-tying skills that are also foundational for self-suspension, such as:
one-handed tying
tying without seeing
using your toes
using your core
using your face
determining the harness(es) that are best for your individual body
For participants who have sufficient rope skills on the ground to go to the air, the workshop will also introduce self-suspension techniques. If ready for this content, participants can learn:
specific self-suspension methods and practice
up-line techniques and tie-offs optimized for self-suspension
self-suspension planning
techniques for going up and coming down in self-suspension
proprioception, body awareness, and physical control in self-suspension
the importance of self-leveling and relative heights in self-suspension
participants who are relatively new to self-suspension can learn a relatively static face-up self-suspension; more advanced self-suspenders have the option to learn some additional transitions and positions
other tips and tricks for self-suspension based on the needs, skills level, and questions of the participants
Prerequisites
The minimum prerequisites for the class are: facility with rope-handling, controlling tension, attaching a new rope, square knot, half-hitch, and a Somerville bowline single column tie. It is also recommended that you can self-tie some sort of chest harness.
Materials needed: Each participant will need at least 8-10 ropes, with each rope 25-35 feet in length. We recommend 6mm-diameter jute or hemp, and/or 5mm or 6mm POSH as most suitable for this class. For suspension uplines, synthetic materials such as POSH provide a safety factor far greater than that of natural fiber ropes--though many people also suspend with jute or hemp uplines, cautiously, and with an awareness of that risk. 100% nylon or MFP rope in similar diameters are also acceptable. For this workshop, do not use ropes made of cotton rope, sisal, manila, polyester, or nylon/poly blends, or other hardware store rope or rock climbing rope. Rope is available for sale at Coil & Cord.
About the Instructor: Known internationally for their distinctive self-suspension techniques and highly dynamic self-suspensions, Parker RopeBoi (they/them) loves to share their passion for self-tying and tips and tricks from 16+ years of self-tying and teaching. They have presented at major conventions and rope events as well as at numerous nightlife, theater, gallery, and community venues across North America and beyond. Parker is a founder of Coil & Cord Studio in Brooklyn.
Date & Time
Mar 7 - Aug 16, 2026
Venue Details
Coil & Cord
200 6th StreetBrooklyn, New York 11215
