All the Rope (aka Munter, Munter, Munter, Half Moon!)

Had a great weekend at Snowbound last weekend. Missed the first night due to working the club, but made it early the next morning (too early, way too early). We went to really good classes all day. Starting with lashing people to bamboo (where we won some bamboo), getting back into box tie rhythm while learning some new variations, discussing partial suspensions and what you can do with them, and then a really awesome hip harness, and a really mean waist cinching sadistic tie.  Plenty of nuggets to be had, and new ties to experiment with, which we did later that evening at the play party. Sunday’s unconference brought more ties to learn, talk about, and practice, and So many munters, you wouldn’t believe. And while we stayed longer than anticipated, the discussions were still going strong when we headed home mid-afternoon.

He and I have decided to make Monday our date nights, complete with rope lab time. And we have plenty of new things to work on, not to mention the chest-loading harness that I started researching for him when the idea was first proposed. I’m not a huge fan of suspending in TKs. He spoiled me with several years of simple chest wraps for suspension, that putting that kind of pressure on my (already poorly circulating) arms, is just terribly uncomfortable. And that’s not what I learned suspension is. So many years of comfortable flights. But there are always new things to learn, new experiences to be had, and so we go forward. Looking for ways to make it work, for us both.

I often communicate to him, while trying new things, about tingly feelings and loss of circulation as follows: “So, X is tingling, but I’m alright with it.” I know how my body reacts to restriction, and being a masochist, I’m alright with a certain level of discomfort when doing things I like. But he always taught me that complete verbal communication is vital to suspension. So, I let him know, and we keep going, until it gets past a point where I’m alright with it, or a point when we feel it’s been tingly too long, or the pain starts to go in a not good way. With suspension, this can be a tricky line, especially with TKs. But we’ve also learned when just a finger slid under the line, or a movement of half an inch is all that is needed to relieve the pressure.

As was repeated often last weekend – suspension is not safe. We only can work to mitigate the risks as much as we can. Going forward, there is a new space we are working with. It has amazing potential. And for us, RACK, isn’t just about knowing there are risks, but making sure everyone is educated to what all the risks Are. Learning and teaching is a continuous process, each new tie, each new space, each new piece of gear, or rope, gives us something new to learn. And to share with others.

Wow, I’m rambling all over the place. 🙂 Let’s just end with – my life is amazing, rope is wonderful, and I am so incredibly grateful to everyone who is with me on this journey.