TensionMTL
Montreal, QC
Montreal's Shibari studio. Rigorous technique, intentional community, safer space.
- Jams
- Private lessons
- Intensives
- Workshops
TensionMTL
Montreal, QC
Montreal's Shibari studio. Rigorous technique, intentional community, safer space.
More about TensionMTL
Tension is Montreal's dedicated Shibari studio — a serene, Japanese-inspired space near Berri & Beaudry Metro built for rigorous learning and genuine community. Founded by Willcat and Masha, we offer a clear progression from your first knot to suspension, with safety and technique at every step.
Our component-based methodology draws from martial arts principles, making complex rope concepts accessible without sacrificing depth. Classes run from Fundamentals through FloorPlay, THE L.A.B., and Partials & Play, with private sessions and open rope socials.
Tension is explicitly inclusive: anti-racist, anti-sexist, and affirming of all bodies, identities, and experience levels. We hold community standards and an accountability framework because the space you learn in shapes the practitioner you become.
Beyond classes, we host Soiree Shibari performances, Life Drawing, guest workshops, and carry Japanese-imported rope treated in-house. Come to learn. Stay for the community.
The Team
Willcat
(she/they)Co-Founder · Educator · Artist · Author
William is an experienced shibari practitioner and educator known for high-intensity, risk-aware, movement-based rope bondage. Their background in instructional design, public safety training, and adult education informs a structured, component-based pedagogy emphasizing fundamentals and risk awareness. Founder of Tension MTL and author of Fundamentals: Shibari for Beginners & Beyond. Not formally authorized in any Japanese rope style; drawing from Kanna Sama, Pedro Cordas, and Midori.
Masha
(she/her)Teacher · Rigger · Model
Masha came to shibari as a rope model first, learning from the inside before she ever picked up a rope. She knows what it is to be held, so she understands how to hold. As a small femme who often ties larger partners, her practice is grounded in leverage, efficiency, and precision over force. She cares especially about legitimacy in boundaries: the felt right to say no, pause, or ask for more, a right she works to restore for women and marginalized people in rope spaces.
Accessibility
Work trade or volunteer discounts available.
Physical space
- Lowered suspension points
Sensory experience
- Low-scent environment
- Neurodiversity-affirming
- Trauma-informed
- Quiet or low-stimulus area available
Financial accessibility
- Sliding scale or reduced-cost options
- Community or scholarship spots
Community Safety
We take community safety seriously. While studios operate independently, we uphold clear expectations around consent, accountability, and care.
If something feels off, you can use our reporting system. All concerns are reviewed thoughtfully.
