Rope suspension is a BDSM practice in which a person is partially or fully lifted off the ground using ropes tied around their body and attached to a secure overhead point. The person being suspended is called the rope bottom, and the person doing the tying is the rope top or rigger.
People are drawn to suspension for the intense physical sensation of weightlessness and pressure, the deep trust it requires between partners, and the visual and artistic quality of the ties themselves. It sits at the advanced end of rope bondage because it demands knowledge of body mechanics, nerve placement, and load-bearing technique.
Worth knowing: Suspension carries real risk of nerve damage, circulation loss, and falls, so it requires a rigger trained in anatomy and hardpoint safety, agreed-upon safewords or signals, and a plan for immediate release and aftercare.
Also called: partial suspension, full suspension, inverted suspension, face-down suspension, rope bottom, rigger, shibari, kinbaku, static suspension, dynamic suspension
