Rope Basics: Rope Handling and Simple First Ties
Facilitator
Gestalta (they/them)
Gestalta, Berlin: My approach to shibari has evolved as the result of over a decade of practice on both sides of the ropes and a broad range of influences that I appropriate, mix, and develop in my own practice. This has shaped my teaching style into one that seeks to reflect the experience of both tying partners on a deep level. I have a strong belief that shibari should not be prescriptive and encourage students to explore it as a flexible set of tools; adapting each tie to the body of the tied partner, and to their needs and desires within each individual situation. My teaching process aims to enable this by giving students a framework of the fundamental principles behind shibari; including safety efficiency and fluency, but also body awareness, communication, and conscious consideration of their own experiences and motivations.
I absorbed most of my technical rigging style a natural process of observation and experience from inside the ropes of the people I was tied by as a model. In this respect, I have been lucky to have had a broad range of influences to teach as Gestalta in Berlin
My technical style has naturally evolved through keen observation and firsthand experience. Previously, I had the privilege of working professionally as a Shibari model, offering me the opportunity to be tied by accomplished practitioners from Japan and Europe. These encounters have enriched my knowledge and repertoire with invaluable techniques and insights. Presently, my focus centers on the exploration of movement both with and within ropes. This ongoing research fuels my passion for pushing the boundaries of shibari and continuously expanding my understanding of its possibilities.