Shibari Academy

Welcome to the world of single column ties, the cornerstone of all Shibari ties! By now, you should have practiced basic knots, be aware of how to use the ropes' friction to your advantage, and have gone through Shibari basics regarding safety and other considerations to ensure a successful Shibari session. It is time to graduate to actually tying something/someone up!

What I like the most about single column ties, from a beginners' point of view, is that you can practice these ties on yourself. At this point in your journey, you don't need a partner yet which allows you to get plenty of practice at your convenience. You can use a bedpost or a chair as a column to tie, that said, I strongly recommend you use your ankle or thigh. 

Tying yourself allows you to understand how it feels like to be tied, how tightly you should make the tie, and how to avoid rope burn. Tying yourself will improve your technique and create deeper empathy for the person being tied because you will know what they are feeling. 

In order to fully master the single column tie you must: 

1. Practice the tie on yourself using our video tutorial to guide you. 

2. Practice the tie on yourself from memory, without any visual aid.

3. Once you have memorized the tie, focus on your technique. How does it feel like when you are tying yourself? Should you go faster? Slower? Are you able to follow a rhythm when you are tying? Try to match the rhythm to your breathing. How does it feel like when you are adjusting the tie?

Be curious and experiment with yourself until you are happy with what you are seeing and feeling. 

Have fun tying!

Eve