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Description
Heavy Lifting: Principles & Artistry of Managing Larger Bodies in Suspension
** 7/12 WORKSHOP POSTPONED DUE TO PRESENTER INJURY **
This class focuses on the technique and artistry of tying, lifting, and suspending bigger bodies in shibari. Designed for intermediate to advanced tying pairs, we’ll explore how to safely lift heavier bodies, adapt harness design, structure, and tension to support more weight while maintaining comfort and aesthetics, and managing uplines and weight distribution to create dynamic experiences and shapes, all while centering play, beauty, and consent-driven connection.
During our time together, we’ll cover:
Lifting Body Mechanics:
For the rigger to prevent strain and injury when lifting
For the bottom when active bottoming
Physics:
How force and center of mass come into play
Harnesses:
Options/variations that distribute weight across muscle & flesh
Uplines:
Considerations, strategy, and weight distribution for safer suspensions
Transitions:
Shape & Experience-Making for both rigger & bottom
Decision-making, communication and handling real-time adjustments in suspension
Descent & it’s implications
Aftercare
Considerations specific to high-risk play
Taking care of your body (riggers & bottoms!)
Taking Up Space
Celebrating size diversity in rope
Come ready to practice intentionally, ask questions, and build confidence in creating compelling, supportive ties that honor aesthetics, safety, and your connection in rope.
This is a class grounded in risk awareness and respect, and is geared specifically to fat/tall/large bodies. While all folks are welcome, please keep this intention in mind.
Partnering: One tying pair ticket admits two people. Observer tickets are also available.
Skills/Experience Required:
Riggers should: know both a suspension worthy chest (arms-free, tengu, arms-front, box-tie, etc) and lower body (waist/hip/leg) harness, and be able to safely test their own ties and manage multiple suspension uplines.
Bottoms should: be familiar with discomfort, be able to distinguish between “good” vs “bad” pain, and be able to distinguish between circulation and nerve numbness. Bottoms should be able to manage their bodies in suspension, and communicate rigger feedback in real-time.
What to Bring: Full suspension kit (10-15 ropes, carabiners, straps, etc), Cutting Tool
Note: This class would not be possible without the teamwork, emotional, and physical labor of Steph/Void as I learned to tie her in a way that fulfills our desires of dynamic, semenawa-style semi/full suspension.
Ages 18+
Presenters
Liv (they/he) (Soft Daddy) & Steph (she/her) (Void) are New York-based rope partners and best friends, dedicated to showcasing the beauty and capabilities of fat bodies in rope bondage. Soft Daddy is a transmasc, top-leaning, rope-switch; and Void is a badass bottom and performer. Tying together for 3 years, they focus on adapting traditional shibari motifs for fat bodies and challenging the idea of size exclusivity in rope and BDSM. Their partnership is built on a commitment to showing up, being creative, being vulnerable, and trusting in each other. Together they are breaking down barriers within the kink and art form of western rope bondage.
Sash: Sash Russek (they/he) is a trans masc NYC based personal trainer and leatherdyke. Sash’s training style is centered on weightlifting and empowering clients to feel strong, powerful and at home in their bodies. Sash works primarily with queer/trans, fat and hypermobile clients and is looking forward to this rope-training crossover.
Date & Time
Sun, Jul 12, 2026 12:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Venue Details
Coil & Cord
200 6th StreetBrooklyn, New York 11215
