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Preparations

PREPARATIONS

This is a “guide” for those who are planning to get suspended, considering it or want to support a suspendee.
Normally I’d like to take some time before the suspension to sit together, talk about all the details and give the information needed to start your suspension. However, here you can find the general guidelines for a suspension.

Private suspensions means it’s your special moment, I’ll do anything to give you the best experience possible.

I’d prefer a private suspension to be as private as possible, this to preserve privacy, intimacy and concentration. You can always bring one or two people to support you and watch, but please let me know upfront how many people are joining you. If they’re there to take pictures for you, that’s okay, but always ask before taking pictures, I do not allow pictures without consent.

Please ask them to read this guide, and abide by the rules.

In case it is your first suspension normally I suggest two hooks in the back (so called “Suicide Suspension”), this position is on average the easiest and most comfortable.

preparation

There are a few things you can before the suspension, which will help you with your experience.

Have a bath or shower before. This is a special event, make yourself feel good. If you plan on being pierced on a hirsute (hairy) area, shave or trim it before. This will help plasters adhere better.

It is good to stay sober and drugs/free for at least 3 days before the suspension (both for your mind and body).

Abstain from alcohol and drugs (weed included) on the day itself is mandatory! I will not suspend your if I feel you are intoxicated.

Alcohol, coffee, caffinated drinks and aspirine can increase bleeding.

Make sure you drink a lot of water the days previous to the suspension.

Eat properly during that day. I recommend you to have a carbohydrate based meal a few hours before. This is very important and can make a world of difference to your experience.

Bring comfortable clothing (mind the fact that it could get small stains of blood), mind that the area I’d pierce needs to be open. So if you’re planning on doing a 2 point back, the back needs to be free. (For female presenting people something with an open back is sufficient)

Make sure you have some warm clothes too, afterwards you might feel cold.

If you have a playlist you want to play, bring a device that can connect through bluetooth or save it on a USB.

Bring a bottle of water and a juice or a cola. Bananas, chocolate and snacks also help a lot, the suspension is physically demanding, and your body will appreciate a boost.

Try to have a good rest the day before and take time to relax. If possible plan two days off, one for the suspension and one for recovering. If necessary, it is possible to work the day after, but it is good to give yourself time to enjoy and rest after.

What to expect the day of the suspension:

For the observants, please remain quiet and respectful during the whole procedure. Be mindful that this is the suspendee’s moment, not yours.

On your arrival we’ll have a chat, I’m here to answer any questions you might have, and talk about what you want or expect. (We will have discussed this previously, in person or via email, but it’s good to check things!) If you have any concerns, any medical conditions or allergies you need to tell me!

This is your event, and it’s mu job to make it a positive and comfortable experience. Talking to me will help with this! The timing of the whole procedure is completely in your control, please let me know what you want, if you don’t feel well or you want to stop.

YOU ARE IN TOTAL CONTROL

When it is your turn to get suspended, you will be asked to come to the piercing area. I work creating the so called “sterile field” for the work station in order to provide complete safety. Please don’t touch or put anything or touch the workstations or trash cans.

Your skin will be cleaned and we will mark the placement for the hooks.

When you are ready I will pierce you with a sterile needle, and insert a sterile hook.

This will be repeated until all hooks are in place.

This might be painful, but remember, you can stop at any time and we’ll go at your pace. When you are ready and feeling ok, you will be taken to the suspension area.

Once in the suspension area, your hooks will be connected with shackles to the rigging (ropes).

At this moment there will be no pressure on your hooks. All the rigging equipment we use, from ropes to shackles, is safety rated to a minimum of 6 times your weight, and often much more. Nothing will break unless we hang more than 10 heavy people from the same rig!

When you are ready, the tension will be taken up, and you’ll feel a tightness in the hooks.

For first timers, or if you wish, I will stay with you and talk to you and advise you towards getting off the ground. It can be a strange and scary experience, and there’s a few things which might help, so having someone by your side can be very useful. If you don’t want this, let me know. You’re free to change your mind at any time.

When you are ready, you will slowly be lifted off the ground and start your flight.

I will stay at your side checking how you are during the whole suspension. When you are ready to come down, you will let me know. The amount of time you want to suspend is different for everyone, it can be from a few seconds to an hour, you will feel when you’re done.

If any problems might occur, such as skin tearing (which rarely happens), you will be advised to come down.

After the suspension we will disconnect you from the rig (suspension point), and you’ll be taken to the after-care area. The area around the hooks will be cleaned and disinfected, and the hooks removed. Your skin will be massaged lightly to remove any trapped air, in order to increase the healing and a sterile plaster will be applied.

aftercare

There should be no serious effects from suspending, but you might well feel a bit tender where you were pierced, for a day or so. The experience of suspending can be very draining, and it is normal to feel tired once the adrenaline wears off, so consider this for getting back home and working the next day, etc. Again eating well and resting will help the recovery.

You will bleed a little from the wounds. The amount can vary, but we recommend sleeping on a towel or old bedding in case the plasters leaks during the night. The next day you remove the plasters while showering, after that there is no need to keep the wounds covered. Just be careful not to remove the scab, keep them clean but do not soak, as with any healing wound. You’ll be left with a small round or crescent scar where the hooks were, they will fade with time.
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Hopefully all this information will help in creating an idea of what to expect.

Suspension can be a challenging but life changing experience, and each person and occasion is individual.

Please get in touch if you have any question, I”ll happily discuss anything you have on your mind. Feel free to ask any questions!

Love

Aiko
Burning Moon Body Art