Learn Shibari at Studio Ma
with Confidence, Connection, and Intention

At Studio Ma, we don’t just teach you what to tie — we teach you how to create meaningful rope experiences.
 

Our Foundations Programme offers a clear, supportive pathway into Shibari, designed for beginners and those returning to basics, while remaining deeply valuable for experienced practitioners. You’ll learn practical skills you can use immediately, alongside a framework that helps your scenes make emotional, somatic, and relational sense.

Whether your curiosity is technical, sensual, creative, or relational — this is where your practice can truly begin.

Join us and build a Shibari practice that feels grounded, expressive, and alive.

 

The Path:
The Five Elements
A Clear Framework That Makes Rope Make Sense 🜃🜄🜂🜁✧

All our foundational teaching is based on a framework devised by Anna Noctuelle, inspired by the Five Elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether.

These Elements describe the different qualities present in rope scenes — grounding, flow, intensity, lift, and connection. Instead of memorising endless patterns, you’ll learn how to choose, shape, and adapt your tying with intention.

This framework runs through everything we teach: rope handling, body handling, harness choice, floor work, partials, and suspension. It gives you freedom, clarity, and confidence — even with minimal technique.

✨ Less complexity. More depth. Better scenes.

 

Foundational Class 0

The Five Elements of Shibari

Your ideal first step.

This introductory class welcomes you into Shibari through playful, accessible exercises that help you feel comfortable with rope and bodies — including your own. You’ll explore rope handling, movement, and partner awareness through the lens of the Five Elements.

No experience needed. No pressure to perform. Just a clear, embodied introduction that sets you up for success in every class that follows.

!Perfect if you’re curious, nervous, or unsure where to start!

 

Foundational Course 1

Earth — Intro to Floorwork 🜃

Earth is where confidence is built.
This course grounds your practice in solid, floor-based tying while developing trust, communication, and embodied presence. You’ll learn essential techniques — including Single and Double Column Ties, frictions, rope handling, and foundational harnesses — alongside consent, safety, and bottoming skills.

By the end of this course, you’ll have reliable tools you can return to again and again, and the confidence to create simple, connected scenes that feel good for both partners.

!Ideal for beginners and anyone wanting stronger fundamentals!

 

Foundational Course 2

Learning the Gote

The Gote is iconic — and often misunderstood.

In this four-week course, you’ll learn to build a stemless, adaptable Gote that prioritises real bodies, safety, and connection. We break down structure, tension, alignment, and nerve safety while developing sensitivity to your partner’s physical and emotional responses.

This course deepens your understanding of control, flow, and trust, and gives you a Gote that actually works — on the floor and beyond.

!For those ready to deepen their skills with clarity and care!

 

Foundational Course 3

Water - Intro to Partials 🜄

This is where movement enters the scene.

You’ll learn how to safely and creatively introduce up-lines into floor play, transforming familiar ties into dynamic, flowing scenes. We focus on reinforcing harnesses, locking off lines, and adapting earlier material for partial suspension.

Clear, practical, and confidence-building, this course helps you expand your scenes without rushing into full suspension.

!Perfect for improvers ready to explore lift and flow!

 

Foundational Course 4

Fire — Play with Fire 🜂

Fire is about intensity with intention.

This course explores sensation, stress, and edge — including bamboo play — while keeping consent, communication, and presence at the centre. You’ll learn how to work with heat and challenge without losing connection or care.

Fire invites you to explore your “mean side” consciously, turning intensity into a powerful, shared experience rather than something uncontrolled.

!For those curious about sensation, power, and emotional charge!

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Foundational Course 5

Air — Introduction to Suspension 🜁

Suspension changes everything — and it deserves respect.

This course offers a supported, safety-focused introduction to suspension, covering harness preparation, line management, equipment choices, communication, and movement. We emphasise thinking ahead: how to lift, how to transition, and how to get down safely.

You’ll gain not just technical skills, but the mindset needed for suspension to feel spacious, intentional, and rewarding.

!Your gateway into suspension, taught with care and clarity!

 

Ether

Embodied Connection Classes ✧

Ether is the space between.

These classes explore intimacy, responsiveness, and pleasure-led connection — with or without rope. This is where technique dissolves and presence takes the lead, offering a grounded, honest exploration of connection without fluffy mysticism.

 

Ready to Begin?

You don’t need experience.
You don’t need perfect technique.
You just need curiosity and consent.

Finding Your Level
In order to join us for international workshops

Foundational Course 1 - Earth: Intro to Floorwork,
Foundational Course 3- Water: Intro to Partials and
Foundational Course 5 - Air: Intro to Suspension
(or the knowledge of this content from similar workshops) is  usually required.  

Most of our classes are marked with the level required, please find here an explanation:
 

These guidelines are here to help you choose the class that fits where you are right now. We've written them around competencies rather than specific courses, because students come to us from all sorts of teachers and schools — and what matters is what you can do, not whose name is on your "certificate".

The courses listed under each level are examples only, meant to give you a feel for the kind of training that lands you there.

Not sure where you fit? Get in touch. We're always happy to talk it through with you.

 

Beginner

The very beginning — and a lovely place to be. No experience needed, no prior skills assumed. Just bring your curiosity.

Who it's for Complete beginners, or anyone with only a little exposure to Shibari.

For riggers No prior skills required.

For models No prior skills required
— only a willingness to:

• communicate openly

• follow instructions

• take an active part in the learning

 

Improver

You've got the basics under your hands and you're ready to build on them.

Where you might be coming from Something equivalent to:

• Studio Ma Foundational Course I: Earth

• Anatomie Studio Discover Shibari Series — Course I

• a similar beginner-level course

For riggers You should:

• understand basic rope handling

• be familiar with the Single Column Tie (SCT)

• be familiar with the Double Column Tie (DCT)

• be able to tie at least one upper body harness

• be able to tie at least one lower body harness

• have basic partner communication skills

For models You should:

• be comfortable being tied for extended periods

• understand basic rope communication

• be able to communicate comfort and discomfort

• have a basic awareness of circulation-related concerns

• be able to stay aware of your body while being tied

• be comfortable giving feedback to your partner

 

Improver+

Where you might be coming from Something equivalent to:

• Studio Ma Foundational Course III: Water (Introduction to Partial Suspension)

• Anatomie Studio Discover Shibari Series — Course III

• a similar introductory partial suspension course

For riggers You should:

• have solid rope handling skills

• have basic body handling skills

• be able to tie uplines for partial suspensions

• reliably tie at least one upper body harness suitable for suspension

• reliably tie at least one lower body harness suitable for suspension

• understand the principles of reinforcing the stem

• understand basic risk management

• understand the difference between nerve-related and circulation-related concerns

• communicate clearly throughout a tying session

For models You should:

• be comfortable taking part in partial suspensions

• understand basic suspension-related risks

• be able to identify and communicate changes in sensation

• understand the difference between circulation restriction and nerve sensations

• be able to stay aware of your body under moderate physical stress

• be able to communicate clearly before, during, and after a tie

• understand your own comfort levels and boundaries

 

Intermediate

Where you might be coming from Something equivalent to:

• Studio Ma Foundational Course V: Air (Introduction to Suspension)

• Anatomie Studio Discover Shibari Series — Course IV

• a similar introductory suspension course

For riggers You should be able to:

• tie at least one safe, structurally sound upper body harness suitable for suspension

• tie at least one safe, structurally sound lower body harness suitable for suspension

• handle uplines safely in full suspension

• lift and lower a partner safely and with control

• perform basic suspension transitions

• conduct nerve checks

• communicate suspension risks effectively

• understand the body mechanics relevant to suspension

• understand your own risk profile and the risks suspension carries

• communicate confidently and clearly throughout a scene

For models You should:

• be comfortable spending time in full suspension

• be able to identify and communicate nerve sensations promptly

• understand basic suspension risk management

• be able to assess comfort, sustainability, and intensity while suspended

• have enough body awareness to stay present through suspension scenes

• be able to keep communicating clearly under physical and emotional stress

• understand and communicate your personal risk profile and boundaries

• be able to give meaningful feedback during and after a scene

 

Intermediate+

Where you might be coming from
Regular suspension experience, well beyond introductory suspension classes, having an understanding of how to recognise different styles and what they imply.

For riggers You should:

• be comfortable working in suspension and transitions

• reliably tie several upper body harnesses suitable for suspension

• reliably tie several lower body harnesses suitable for suspension

• execute transitions confidently and safely

• handle uplines efficiently and smoothly

• understand advanced suspension risk management

• be able to assess a tie's sustainability throughout a scene

• understand injury prevention and mitigation strategies

• adapt your techniques to different bodies and contexts

• communicate clearly and proactively throughout a scene

For models You should:

• be comfortable with extended suspension work

• be comfortable with transitions while suspended, with good proprioceptive awareness

• understand your personal risk profile in detail

• be able to identify and communicate nerve sensations quickly and accurately

• be able to estimate and communicate the sustainability of positions and ties

• be able to process and communicate intense physical sensations

• be able to process and communicate emotional responses as they arise

• actively contribute to risk management and scene development

• have a clear understanding of how to prevent and minimise injury

• be an active, collaborative partner

 

A Note for Models

You're not expected to know how to tie — unless you also identify as a rigger.

That said, moving up through the levels does assume a growing fluency in:

• communication

• body awareness

• risk awareness

• sensation tracking

• partner collaboration

• suspension literacy

As the technical complexity grows, so does your role in it. The more advanced the work, the more actively you share in keeping it safe, keeping it talking, and shaping the rope experience itself.

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🎟️ Book your place and start building a Shibari practice that feels confident, connected, and true to you.

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