Warning, this event was expired!
The Tengu tie is one of the iconic ties in Shibari. Getting its name from the winged mythical creature in Japanese folklore, the Tengu is an upper-body harness that binds the arms bent at the elbow tightly back and to the sides of the body.
Why should you tie the Tengu harness? Many upper-body harnesses can give you a headstart to your more advanced tying journey, but some are more intricate or demanding than others. We offer the Tengu as a means to give you an upper-body harness in your toolbox which you can practice with confidence, alongside instructors who can help you trouble-shoot in person. Why do we recommend it for beginners?
It is VERSATILE
– The Tengu is one of a handful of classical upper-body harnesses available that works well for floor-based tying, partial and full suspensions.
– The tie creates a real sense of opening the chest and the heart and creates a feeling of real intimacy within the rich feelings of vulnerability it supports.
– It is tender but can be tough, playful, or humbling and it is adaptable to your intentions in tying your partner.
It can be SAFER
– A particular benefit of the Tengu is that it avoids many of the vulnerable nerve pathways in the arms that can be a larger risk in some of the other upper-body ties.
– Another benefit is that in many people it tends to be a fairly sustainable position that allows for a longer exploration.
We will start off with a short introduction, followed by touching on the principles and safety concerns before a deep dive into the structure and reasoning for the pattern. After a break, we will learn the main pattern in detail and tie following along before tying solo with input from your instructors. Expect to have a second break before learning a variation on the Tengu and cementing the pattern. The full workshop duration will be ±5 hours.
There is space for a maximum of 6 pairs. The workshop is for tying pairs, and roles will not be switched during the workshop. If you want to attend but do not have a tying partner, please reach out ASAP and specify your preferred role, top (tying) or bottom (being tied) so that we can match where possible.
You will need to bring the following on the day:
– Your rope kit: at least three 8m lengths (class rope is available to use and rope is available for sale before the class)
– Comfortable clothes (like you would for yoga class)
– A learning attitude, this is an educational space
– Notebook and pen; this will be your primary means of capturing any information to practice after the workshop – no recordings.
