Nothing about shibari is objective. We all have our go-to harnesses, favored tying styles, preferred type of rope – even something as seemingly simple as a single-column tie becomes nuanced with time and practice, varying from one rigger to the next. Knowing this (and with a diverse team of riggers, bottoms, switches and even shibari beginners), agreeing on the best Shibari Study classes of 2024 was going to be a way longer meeting than any of us was prepared to sit in in the run-up to the festive season. Our best classes, however, that we could do. From the Shibari Study team, with love, we present the classes that stuck with us this year – we hope you find them as inspirational as we did, and maybe even discover a new favorite that you might have missed…
As I sit down to write which class was my favourite of 2024, I’ve taken a look back and realised how many awesome things have landed on the site this year. It’s so difficult to boil it down to just one class. There’ve been so many great bottoming focused classes, self-suspension classes, drills and skills, and a plethora of great streamed classes too (heck, I even did a couple with my love Seira Bights).
Yes, we can learn another harness or improve our skills and techniques, but I find the psychology of rope is the majority of its appeal.
Since I can pick only one though, I have to call out the wonderful Feelings Game with Lief and Icky. All of their classes are amazing and the energy between them is so fun to watch, both bringing really important aspects of learning to the site. What strikes me about the Feelings Game in particular is that it's non-verbal, it causes us to think more critically about why we tie, and to convey and ingest emotive responses. Non-technical teaching will always rank really highly for me. Yes, we can learn another harness or improve our skills and techniques, but I find the psychology of rope is the majority of its appeal. Lief and Icky really tap into that for me in this class. Having the negotiation, session and debrief is also a super insightful format for anyone to consider when learning rope: there are steps both before and after the actual rope that are as (if not more) valuable to our growth, and I’m thankful that we can share in that experience too. – Mo Bights, Community Manager
Picking a favorite Shibari Study class from 2024 is impossible – I love so many classes that we dropped this year, and am so excited about the educational value of so many of them for all sorts of different people at different levels. But in terms of which class made its way into my own tying most prominently, that would be Bänana's Lacing Forearm Binder Partial Suspension class. One of my closest tying partners and I threw that forearm binder on several times and had so much fun. The ability to load the arms completely separate from the chest comes with both a lot of freedom and a lot of limitations, which leaves room for all sorts of interesting exploration and opportunities to get creative! – Fuoco, Director of Education
Ms Reemah and Lavender’s Solo and Partnered Stretching was my pick for the year. As someone who ties more days than not, this year has really highlighted for me how essential it is to take care of my body and mind, and this video is a wonderful resource for doing just that. Incorporating stretching into my routine has helped me stay grounded, protect against wear and tear of tying, and approach each session with more information and more intention.
In particular, this video stands out for its thoughtful pacing and clear guidance, along with its emphasis on the role that partnered stretching can play in post-scene recovery and reconnection – elements that resonate deeply with me. I appreciate how Ms Reemah speaks to the role that partnered stretching plays in her aftercare routine specifically, walking us through stretches that feel relevant to what was tied, and connective as we come out of rope together.
Stretching may not be the most glamorous part of tying, and it’s often overlooked by those who don’t bottom, but it’s such an important practice.
Stretching may not be the most glamorous part of tying, and it’s often overlooked by those who don’t bottom, but it’s such an important practice. This video is a gentle reminder of that, and I’d encourage anyone to make it part of their routine. It’s a simple way to care for yourself and enhance the overall experience – I feel like this video is guaranteed to improve your shibari sessions. – Anoxia, Director of Marketing
I really liked this class from Lief and Icky because it showed me a different side of the practice. This rope game might be about learning good tension, but it’s also a great example of creating a sense of fun and engagement between rope partners. I loved that they were both laughing during the session – it felt so natural and they seemed so comfortable, which allowed me to engage a lot more too. It’s such a contrast to a lot of the other videos I’ve watched, which seem to always be quite serious, very gentle, and rather subdued. This one is fun, vibrant, filled with laughter and movement – as someone still quite new to shibari, it showed me that’s allowed and that all are welcome to enjoy this practice in whatever way feels right. It doesn’t have to be super serious. Beyond that, I appreciate how assertively Lief explains things, combining theory and practice using an amazing pace and tone of voice. Lief and Icky hold the space really nicely, both with each other and with the viewer. – Maria, Operations Manager
This whole collection was one of the highlights of the year for me, both in terms of hua hua’s incredibly thoughtful instruction and because it sparked a real revelation for me: there’s nothing floor play can’t do! Tying on the floor with just basic skills can be every bit as rich, imbued with intention, emotionally resonant, strenuous, even erotic as ties that incorporate complicated techniques and full suspensions.
Tying on the floor can be every bit as rich, imbued with intention, emotionally resonant, strenuous, even erotic as ties that incorporate complicated techniques and full suspensions.
Like so many rope bottoms, I spent my first years in ropes feeling like “progress” equated to proving myself in more and more elaborate ties. In the last year or two, I’ve found the opposite to be true: being able to explore all those same exciting, scary, fun, arousing emotions I want in rope in increasingly simple ties feels like a real evolution of my practice. This collection speaks to exactly that, exploring how pacing, the positions you choose and even the ways you touch your partner as you tie can unlock a spectrum of sensations and emotions. The Armbinder Flow, in particular, was really inspirational for me, since so much of my “why” for tying is grounded in eroticism. hua hua and her model Dantianshi beautifully demonstrate how even something as seemingly simple as this armbinder can create space for sensuality and tension, vulnerability and forcefulness… It’s become a theme in a lot of Shibari Study’s recent content, but it bears repeating: fiddling less and focusing on your model more may just be the key to truly connective tying. – Annie, Head of Copy
This class is absolute pedagogical gold and a great example of how there are learning and teaching opportunities to be found in all aspects of rope, including when things don’t necessarily go according to plan. The energy Ms Reemah and Anansi brought into the studio was playful, intimate and educational, and I learnt so much during those shooting days. When it comes to this class though, I was genuinely floored when reviewing the final class before releasing it. Originally, we weren’t sure if we could release this class because of the turn it took mid-suspension with the nerve compression. Fuoco’s idea to have an interview-style voice-over where they all watch the class together and talk about what went down and how to handle situations like this was such a valuable addition to the content. Moving forward, we want to focus on this type of format more: it’s such a great platform to amplify everyone’s voice and experience – both rigger and bottom – and dig a little deeper into the whys as well as the hows of shibari. – Anton, Shibari Study Co-Founder
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