Roughly speaking there are four main suspended positions: feet pointing downward, feet pointing upward, belly pointing downward, belly pointing upward. Shibari actually has 9 distictictively different suspension positions. We will describe them at a later stage in detail. However, at this point – in order to understand gravity pull/weight management – it suffices to concentrate on these four. Other positions, from a gravity pull point of view, are variations on the same theme.

Gravity pull is used for two main purposes: to intensify discomfort sensations and/or to intensify the effects, the ropes and knots have on Ki meridians and Tsubo. In most cases the two are intertwined.

A basic rule for Shiatsu is: the harder you push (on the Tsubo), the more intens the effect. This of course within reason. You cannot push as hard on a thumb as you can on the buttocks. So we are looking for OPTIMAL, not maximal energy!

How to calculate the pressure?

Gravity PULL is felt as a PUSH – the body pushing onto the ropes (i.e. the ropes “pushing themselves into the body”). So while it is actually a pull, it is felt, hence identified as pressure on the body. How to calculate the weight distribution, hence the number of supporting points on the body?

Let’s suppose the suspended person is in a straight, belly down or belly up position. Let us first identify where the body weight of this person exactly is.
roughly 70 percent of the body weight in the torso (central H) – of this 70 percent 50 percent is in the pelvic/buttock area, 30 percent is in the shoulder/breast area and the final 20 percent is in the central area.
some 20 percent of the body weight is in the legs
some 10 percent of the body weight is in the arms and head

Since the body in this position is parallel to the floor/earth, the weight is more or less evenly distributed. Let is assume the body weight of this person is 150 pounds.
15 pounds of this weight are in the head and arms
30 pounds are in the legs
105 pounds are in the central H, and off this 105 pounds:
52.5 pounds are in the pelvic/buttocks area (50 percent of 105 pounds)
31,5 pounds are in the shoulder/breast area (30 percent of 105 pounds)
21 pounds are in the central area (20 percent of 105 pounds)

Let’s assume you are using 5 mm rope, of which a length of roughly 40 centimeters will actually be carrying/supporting weight (this is one winding around one area).For the legs the formula now is:

40 x 0.5 = 20 square centimeters – 30 pounds : 20 square centimeters = 1.5 pound per square centimeter (that is the equivalent of 0,75 liter of water on one square centimeter. To put this in perspective in simple terms, you have just placed 20 winebottles, cap down, pressing on a very small area of the arm).

For one winding around the pelvic area this means: 52 pounds : 20 square inch = 2.6 pound per square centimeter!! Now we are talking big Coca Cola bottles instead of wine bottles. See the difference?

All this though is only partially true, because the body is anything but a flat surface. Whereever bones are close to the surface or organs are under pressure there are differences. However, the above calculation provides you with a good rule of thumb to go by.

Evening out pressure:This picture shows the weight distribution in a suspension. Because the arms are on the back you need to add their percentage to the torso weight. The extra (main) torso wieght points are the result of the fact that the arms are not individually supported and the legs are only supported through the ankle windings.

What the above calculation means is that providing more support points on different areas of the body usually won’t help you to even out the pressure, felt in one or two specific areas. What DOES help is to add more rope windings to the same area (meaning you have to look at the different individual areas). With one rope winding around the hips, the average pressure is 2.6 pounds per square centimeter. Ad an extra winding adjacent to it and the perssure will be reduced to 1.3 pounds per square centimeter. Add another winding and it is reduced to 0.87 pounds per square centimeter. In that area of course.

All this only works if the spine is in its normal – i.e. more ore less straight – position!

If the spine is curved the weight, like water, will opt for the easiest way down, which is through the lowest point. This means that extra weight is placed on that area and sideway-pull comes into play. For example, if a person is hanging from the ankles and wrists only, back facing down, the pull on the ankles and wrists will be downward AND sideways! This creates an entirely different situation, because the insides of the windings (the areas closest to the fixation point, i.e the hook or the beam) will support nothing. This – in general – HALVES the support, i.e. DOUBLES the pressure per square centimeter, the windings are providing with the majority of the weight supported by the lowest winding only

The effects of sideway pull: In this suspension the full body weight is distributed 50/50 over each leg. However, due to the fact the legs are spread, the sideway pull effect occurs, which will put considerable extra strain on the inside of the ankles. De facto, more than three quarters of the weight-per-leg is carried by the inside ankles only.

Now let’s move on to the top-down positions

Things become entirely different, when the body is in a top-down position (head facing either upward or downward) because there suddenly is no more 10-70-30 percent rule of thumb. No, for these positions you have to take all of weight of the body into account, since all of it is wanting to go down (this is also the case for single point suspensions, regardless the position) and the trajectery is more or less from ONE point to ONE point. Now you, quite literally, will have to “catch weight”.

The easiest way to look at the situation is to imagine the highest windings are taking all the weight and you can recude that, by adding windings and support ropes below this. But it is a little more complicated than that!

The bulk of the body weight will accumulate where the bulk of the body mass is. In other words, if the suspension is head up, most of the weight/gravity pull will accumulate in the buttocks. If it is an inverted (upside down) bondage, it will accumulate in the shoulders. hence you need to make sure most of the weight is “caught” between the highest suspension/support ropes and the accumulation point. A support point under the buttocks will help greatly (since the buttocks are designed to catch weight), but that same support under the shoulders in an inverted position will not (it will actually be quite painful and dangerous). In an inverted position, try and catch most the weight on the hips. In a head up position a support rope under the feet (something the suspended person can “stand” on). will help greatly, provided there are sufficient windings to catch the weight and distribute it evenly under the soles.

Important things to consider

A knot that catches pressure will work as a cathalist for the gravity pull and will collect most of it, i.e. press into the body the hardest. This is also true for windings, that cross over each other. Try to avoid such situations, especially in the upper torso (ribcase) area and on the hip bones. Do not place knots or cross-overs directly on the spine, but next to it.

Choose a suspension position first and create it with maximum comfort (minimim discomfort). You can add discomfort through removing windings, not through removing support points. There are a few sequences of positions (i.e. go from one position to another) and we will describe these elsewhere, but as a general rule of thumb, do not go from one position to another, since it is unlikely the body will be able to cope with such changes.

Most recipients – especially novices – will feel a sense of minor panic in the very early stages (especially through the process of bringing them up). Be alert but do not immediately respond unless there is a serious problem. If there is not, the fear will subside once they are up and more or less comfortable with the new situation.

Use at least 5 mm ropes for suspension windings (you will find everything about ropes and strength on the Level 1 CD). The more body weight, the thicker the ropes should be, in order to even out pressure.

Pressure tightens ropes! This means that no matter how precise you have made your windings, variations and changes will occur. These are especially important whereever they interfere with the bloodstream and breathing (ribcase and diaphragm area).

Due to the fact that the organs, positoned in the belly, are not in fixed positions but can move about, these come into play in inverted positions, since they will put pressure on the diaphragm and as a result limit the lung area from the inside!

 

The above article is a reprint from our information/educational site Kink Culture.
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