4 Things I Learned from Practicing Shibari
I remember seeing photos of Shibari practice, admiring the models’ incredible flexibility, the way their expressions reflected the emotions the ropes evoked.
I wanted that too. I wanted to challenge my body, to feel more connected to it. More than anything, I wanted to feel.
Fast forward to 2022, Lieven offered me my first Shibari experience. To be frank, I don’t remember much about the feelings at the time. As Lieven later told me, he could sense that I wasn’t sure how to process it. It was all too new.
When facing the unknown, fear is natural, I decided to practice rope again after the initial “unsure”. With consistent practice in the following months, I quickly realized that being in rope would become a part of my life. Through it, I’ve learned lessons that extend far beyond the rope itself.
1. Body Awareness Is a Lifesaving Skill
Practicing Shibari carries risks. Bodily and nerve injuries can happen even with care. Learning to identify sensations, recognize pressure points, and know when adjustments are needed became essential for my safety.
Before Shibari, I struggled with body awareness. I remember my tennis teacher in college giving up on me because I couldn’t activate my "core" to swing a racket. I was uncoordinated, disconnected from how my muscles moved.
Shibari changed that. I became attuned to my physical sensations: where tension built up, where pressure was uneven, how my blood flow was affected. I learned to communicate with my rigger, to know my limits before I needed to be freed from restraint.
2. My Body Wasn’t Broken. In Fact, It Is Strong!
That awareness led to something deeper: pride and appreciation for my body. I could do this.
I had lost nearly 50% of my spine mobility. I couldn’t even turn my back to look behind me. My physical therapist was shocked at how poorly my body was functioning in my early 30s. But through Shibari, I realized something powerful! My body wasn’t lost! It was still strong. It had been carrying resilience all along, waiting for me to recognize it.
3. Flexibility Is a Practice. And So Is Self-Compassion
That realization led me somewhere unexpected: yoga.
I had despised yoga before. I wasn’t flexible, I wasn’t mobile. I was struggling to reach my toes. I was too embarrassed to attend yoga class. I started to understand that I am not behind, but giving myself more grace to meet where I am, understanding it will take time, I found peace in that process.
4. Breath Is the Anchor in Both Pain, Surrender, and Relief.
If surviving contractions during birth was my first lesson in the power of breathing, then being suspended in the air was the close second.
Breathe in. Breathe out. Feel the sensation. Feel the restraint. Feel the pressure. Feel the pain. And yet… feel the calmness. Feel the peace. Feel the embrace.
And finally, feel the ultimate relief when the rope is untied.
Now, I get to capture these moments and share them with you. When you look at the art hanging on your wall, you don’t just see an image, you can FEEL it. You can feel everything I felt in that moment!
Ready to experience the power of Shibari through art? Explore my collection of large-scale fine art prints and feel the sensations, emotions, and beauty captured in every moment. Bring the transformative energy of Shibari into your space today!
