Caritia (no pronouns)

My journey into Japanese-inspired rope (shibari/kinbaku) began over 10 years ago, over that time I have learned from a broad range of European and Japan-based teachers. My tying style is centered around the ritual of floorwork, movement, and playful present attention to the person I am tying. Minimalist ties for maximum effect with some partial suspension play sprinkled in is what I aspire to create. For me – moving and being moved in every sense (of the word) are my reasons to tie or be tied.

When teaching I aim to offer access to different learning styles, there is no one size fits all when it comes to rope (or anything else). I thrive on serious fun and intentional boundary-communicated space.

Ceci Ferox (they/them)

Ceci teaches Japanese rope bondage from top, bottom, and switch perspectives. Their tying is influenced by traditional Japanese styles as well as contemporary western organic and artistic tying. They like to focus on elements of technique and communication rather than patterns and sequences. Their tying is created in the moment, inspired by each situation and partner.

“Rope for me is a medium for meditation, empowerment, intimacy, and sexy times. It is also about continuous learning and wonder.”

When teaching and organizing events, they draw on their expertise as a community educator to bring people together.

“My goal is to create safer spaces for people to communicate through rope.”

Read more about Ceci in our interview.

Website: https://www.ceciferox.fi/

Gestalta (they/them)

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 which 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.

Website: http://gestalta.co.uk/

Note: As we are currently looking for a new permanent physical space, this teaching system is currently interrupted. But we are still offering rope classes. Please have a look in our event calender. 

Our class system tries to offer you possibilities to choose your own way of learning all of these fundamental principles.

We start with our ABSOLUTE BEGINNERS class which we run every Thursday. If you wish to invest more and regular time, feel free to join our 5-week-beginner course that runs every Wednesday.

After you have learned the absolute basics, we offer beginner courses with lots of different topics every Thursday. We will cycle through lots of topics like tension, patterns, communication, health & safety, psychology, etc. every week.

We also offer a ROPE HANGOUT twice a month. The rope hangout is an open space to meet new people, practice and tie, and get some help from others and/or one of our teachers. This is your communal practice space, designed mostly for beginners but also open to other people wishing to practice. After the rope hangout, we extend the space into a rope jam which allows time to practice and tie without a dedicated teaching space.