KNOT LOVE: A Spiritual Shibari and Rope Jam Workshop

I'm finally teaching an in-person shibari workshop again in Santa Cruz! I started leading a rope meetup here in 2014 and have mainly been teaching online since the pandemic. I think this is going to be a really fun event!

If you think you need to just learn a couple of knots to practice shibari you're going to be pleasantly surprised! This workshop will go into the inner game of shibari by cultivating yourself through several spiritual embodiment practices. From this place I'll teach you a foundation for rope play that cultivates deep intimacy, trust, and connection.

After a potluck dinner, we'll have an evening introduction to erotic rope play and an open rope jam. No problem if you've never been to a rope jam before! It's basically free time to practice what you've learned.

No experience with rope is necessary and there will be plenty of rope to use (or you can certainly bring your own). Feel free to invite a friend!

This workshop will explore how to cultivate greater connection and erotic desire with yourself and others by combining elements of spiritual embodiment and meditation practices, partner connection exercises, and an introduction to shibari, the art of erotic rope play.

An afternoon Spiritual Shibari workshop will be followed by an evening KNOT LOVE rope jam and snuggle party.

This workshop is suitable for all experience levels with shibari. Beginners will get a solid foundation for learning erotic rope bondage while experienced shibari artists will discover exciting ways to deepen their existing practice.

ARRIVE 2:30-3

Come early to settle in, mingle and browse a library of shibari books. The venue is a private residence in the Santa Cruz mountains next to a creek with a hot tub. Address sent upon registration. If you do not receive the address, please email Edward: edward@knot-love.com.

AFTERNOON 3-6 SPIRITUAL SHIBARI

In the afternoon session we’ll learn how to apply four different spiritual practices as a foundation for learning and applying shibari skills. These practices will help you cultivate and embody relaxation, confidence, and awareness inside yourself along with deepening your connection to your partner.

Along with learning technical rope skills you'll experience:

• Taichi to feel more relaxed and balanced
• Qigong to feel grounded and energized
• Sheng Zhen to feel open hearted and connected
• Aikido to embody our true erotic spirit

Several shibari techniques will be covered such as a wrist tie, chest harness, leg tie, and more.

POTLUCK 6-8

We’ll then have a break for a delicious, community supported potluck meal. Please bring something to share!

EVENING 8-10:30 KNOT LOVE ROPE JAM / SNUGGLE PARTY

KNOT LOVE is an exploration of shibari that develops deep intimacy, trust and connection through the tying of hearts to hearts instead of just limbs to limbs.

As you relax your body, quiet your mind, and open your heart, you and your partner can become one through the erotic art of spiritual rope bondage!

We will have an opening circle for introductions and intentions, a series of guided connection exercises along with an introduction to erotic rope play, and then free time to snuggle, flirt, and practice your erotic rope skills with each other.

All genders, orientations, and relationship styles welcome. We are very LGBTQIA+ friendly. No previous knowledge of rope play is needed!

This will be a loving, substance free space where you can relax and drop in with yourself and others, get your touch needs met, be seen and heard, and experience sensual pleasure.

This is a second-base container, meaning tops/bras can come off, but underwear must stay on. We suggest dressing sexy, yet comfortable, and wearing layers. Think soft materials instead of jeans or things with hard buttons or clasps.

This is not a play party. Think of it more as a space for open-hearted people interested in safely exploring sacred sensuality and erotic rope play.

We will do our best to balance the guest list to ensure that masculine and feminine energies are equally represented, however you may occasionally be partnered with the same gender. At all times you will be fully at choice with who you would like or not like to interact with.

You will have the opportunity to practice expressing what feels good and what doesn’t, asking for what you want, setting boundaries, saying no, and hearing a no without taking it personally.

Rope will be available for use and to purchase. Please order your rope ahead of time.

Feel free to invite your sex-positive, heart-centered, consent-minded friends to this event.

••• AGREEMENTS

-This is a substance-free event.

-To respect those who are sensitive to smells, please avoid perfume, cologne, or other strong smells

••• Facilitator:

Edward Willey has been teaching meditation, qigong, and martial arts with a philosophy of unconditional love for over 15 years. He holds a 2nd degree black belt in Aikido and is a senior instructor of Sheng Zhen Meditation.

He has helped thousands of people relax their bodies, quiet their minds, and embody the true spirit of an open heart. He is also the founder of KNOT LOVE, an open-hearted approach to erotic rope play.

www.knot-love.com

Address sent upon registration. If you do not receive the address, please email Edward: edward@knot-love.com.