Playtime: Maximalism

In this shibari demonstration and discussion, Margherita and her model TrueBlue share a maximalism-themed playtime session that asks: how many ropes can we put on? One of the earliest lessons you’re likely to learn in your shibari journey is that it only takes a few fundamental skills and a single rope to effectively tie someone up… But why stop at just one rope? This inspirational tying session is all about exploring how, with even just beginner techniques, you can use plenty of rope to create ties that are all about constriction, sensation and connection. In the first part of the class, Margherita demos how to join two ropes, an essential technique when you’re building ties that require multiple ropes. In the second part of the class, Margherita and Blue discuss important considerations for this unstructured and “maximalist” approach to rope, particularly regarding safety and communication. As they say, the idea is not to tie along or recreate their tie, but to explore collaborative planning and creating your own with your rope partner. In the third part of the class, Margherita and Blue share their maximalism session, talking through the process, decision-making and experience as they tie. Finally, after the ropes have come off, the pair share their feedback and impressions of the session, a reminder that no matter how many ropes, good bondage is still – first and foremost – about remaining attentive to the person and not just the ropes. This inspiration session is intended for shibari beginners and forms part of our Getting Started curriculum.