Shibari – Kinbaku
The art of binding the body with ropes is a fascinating practice. Shibari or Kinbaku—as rope bondage is called in Japanese—has much in common with dance, yoga, and meditation, and offers a wide range of intense physical, mental, and emotional experiences. Shibari is arguably one of the most diverse practices in the BDSM community and, in its performative and aesthetic dimensions, also one of the most visually appealing. Shibari is increasingly being recognized beyond the erotic scene as a distinct art and performance form in its own right.
The Workshop Series
The five parts of the SHIBARI BASICS series—the INTRO DAY, theFLOORWORK I & II workshops, and the PARTIAL SUSPENSION I & II workshops— complement each other, and it definitely makes sense to take them in this order. But that’s not required. Even as a beginner, you’re welcome to start with FLOORWORK II or PARTIAL SUSPENSION I if you attend the INTRO DAY the Friday before. You can still make up the other workshops later. The only exception is PARTIAL SUSPENSION II, for which you must either have taken PARTIAL SUSPENSION I ( or have comparable knowledge) or have acquired the necessary foundational knowledge by attending an INTRO DAY or a FLOORWORK course, combined with the CHEST HARNESS & SUSPENSION LINES – PREPARATION & REPETITION workshop .
Floorwork I & II
These workshops focus on the basics of Japanese-style rope bondage. In addition to basic and improvisational techniques, classic patterns, and various safety considerations, we also explore body awareness and posture, as well as interaction and communication between partners. In doing so, we discover how the binder and the bound can shape their encounter in diverse ways—through a trusting interplay of power and submission, empathetic communication and mutual devotion, and deep connection and intensity.
SHIBARI BASICS – FLOORWORK I & II are both suitable for “ beginners ” when combined with the introductory session on Friday—the INTRO DAY. It’s also possible to attend only Friday as a trial day. Those who already know the basics can start on Saturday instead.
SCHEDULE
Fri, May 12, 2023 - 5:00 p.m.–10:30 p.m.
Sat, May 13, 2023 - 10:30 a.m.–9:00 p.m.
Sun, May 14, 2023 - 10:00 a.m.–1:00 p.m.
+ Bondage Jam
LANGUAGES
German, English
COSTS
Registration fee per person
Fri – CHF 44 + XXX
Sat & Sun – CHF 66 + XXX
Fri, Sat & Sun – CHF 110 + XXX
The remaining balance of the workshop fee, based on the social sliding scale, can be paid on-site in cash or via TWINT.
Average price:
Fri – CHF 165
Sat & Sun – CHF 330
Choose your own price based on your financial situation. The main thing is that you join in!
We warmly invite people with high incomes who can afford it to pay significantly more than the regular price so that we can continue to offer this service to people with little or no income. We thank you in advance for your solidarity!
Workshop participants are cordially invited to attend the Bondage Jam in the afternoon following the Sunday morning session and put what they've learned into practice.
Please also read all further info below, too.
FURTHER INFORMATION
NOTES ON THE EVENT
Singles, couples, and all other types of relationships are welcome to sign up.
We’ll be switching roles—that is, the exercises will be repeated so that all participants get to experience both tying and being tied up. Couples who do not wish to switch roles may remain in their assigned roles. Please let us know when you register if this applies to you.
The goals of our events are collaborative learning within the group, supporting shared processes, and personal development. Couples and all other types of partnerships or arrangements are welcome, but you should be aware and open to the fact that the courses are not designed as partnership experiences and that we address each person as an individual. For example: To involve all participants equally, we usually work with randomly assigned partner combinations during the exercises. This means there will be both same-sex and opposite-sex pairings. Participants should generally be open to working with any person and any body. Exceptions can be discussed on a case-by-case basis.
Gender identity, sexual orientation, age or membership of often marginalized groups such as BBIPoC, migrants, refugees, LGBTQIA*, disabled people, etc. are not criteria when registering and selecting participants. This means that, in principle, everyone is equally welcome and we endeavor to do justice to the respective constellation and different needs, but our resources are limited. If you have any questions in this regard, please contact us.
We expect you to act with care, be communicative, prioritize consent, and be mindful, and we encourage you to respect your own boundaries and take personal responsibility.
Hate speech will not be tolerated. Please bring “Candy Speech” with you.
We reserve the right to ask participants to leave the workshop if their behavior is harmful or overly problematic, and we reserve the right to do so without explanation—though we will likely try to explain it. The workshop fees would then be refunded in full. Any further claims are excluded.
You can read more about this topic here.
PRICES AND IF SOLD OUT
This event is being held under special conditions; we want to make it as inclusive as possible. Therefore, there is no set price for the workshop that must be paid in addition to the registration fee.
We’ll let you decide how much—taking your financial situation into account—you can and would like to contribute toward your participation beyond the registration fee.
We’d like to point out that the regular price for a workshop like this—if one wants to make a living from it, as we certainly strive to do—must be around the amount mentioned above.
We warmly invite anyone who can afford it to pay significantly more so that we can offer a reduced price to people with little or no income.
Payment options—cash or TWINT—will be available on-site.
Is the event sold out on the ticketing platform? Contact us! There may be a waitlist or another way for you to attend after all.
CANCELLATION POLICY
Cancellations are free of charge up to eight weeks before the course begins; up to four weeks before the course begins, a cancellation fee of 20% of the course fee applies; and up to two weeks before the course begins, a cancellation fee of 50% applies. Later cancellations and refunds of course fees are not possible. However, participants may find replacement participants to take their reserved spots. If the organizer cancels the course, the full course fee will be refunded. No further claims are permitted.