VoxBody Studio offers a Rope Bondage CORE CURRICULUM to take students from absolute beginner through suspension.
Our core curriculum is taught through four series: FUNDAMENTALS, PROGRESSIONS, ASCENT and ONWARD. Each series consists of several classes. ONE CLASS from each series takes place once monthly. Students can move through the curriculum in 14 months. Read below for more details.
ALL CORE CURRICULUM CLASSES THROUGH AUGUST 2024 CAN BE FOUND ON OUR CALENDAR HERE.
Not sure if you are ready to dive into a dedicated long-term program yet? We suggest dipping your toes in at our monthly BEGINNERS JAMS or ONLINE BEGINNERS CLASSES to explore rope in a fun and casual setting.
Beginners Jams
Beginners Jams take place monthly on second Fridays. Sign up solo or with friend(s)!
Each jam begins with a hands-on introductory rope bondage lesson. The second half of the jam is dedicated to open tying time, socializing, and practicing your new found rope skills.
If you are considering the CORE CURRICULUM, we recommend attending at least two beginners jams first. Beginners Jams cycles through FIVE months of different content, and then repeats. Content in Beginners Jams is not progressive from month to month and need not be taken in order. Jump in at any point!
If you want to attend but cannot do it in-person, or the date you selected is sold out, please look for ONLINE Beginning Rope with Blue on fourth Mondays. These online classes use the same content at Beginners Jams and, because they are online, never sell out!
Beginner Jams experience level: “I am totally new to rope”.
Fundamentals
FUNDAMENTALS takes place monthly on third Thursdays. The ties and exercises in these classes are for partnered rope; sign up with a friend (each class ticket is for a tying pair)!
We recommend taking at least two beginners jams/online beginners classes before attending these classes, or comparable foundational rope experience.
This beginners series is for students who are interested in enrolling in the CORE CURRICULUM program; this is your 101-level deep dive!
Students should attend all four classes in the FUNDAMENTALS series before moving onto PROGRESSIONS. FUNDAMENTALS cycles through FOUR months of different content, and then repeats. Content in FUNDAMENTALS classes is not progressive from month to month and classes need not be taken in order. Jump in at any point!
FUNDAMENTALS experience level: “ I can tie / I have been tied in single and double column ties and am looking to deepen my 101-level knowledge”.
Progressions
PROGRESSIONS takes place monthly on fourth Thursdays. The ties and exercises in these classes are for partnered rope; sign up with a friend (each class ticket is for a tying pair)!
PROGRESSIONS students should first complete the four-class FUNDAMENTALS series.
This advanced beginner series is for students who are interested in continuing the CORE CURRICULUM program; this is your 201-level deep dive!
Students should attend all four classes in the PROGRESSIONS series before moving onto ASCENT. PROGRESSIONS cycles through FOUR months of different content, and then repeats. Content in PROGRESSIONS classes is not progressive from month to month and classes need not be taken in order. Jump in at any point!
Remember that rope is a partnered practice, and be sure that both the person tying AND the person being tied are progressing through these classes (ie: if you are the person tying, please don’t bring a partner to these upper level classes who has never been in rope!)
PROGRESSIONS experience level: “ I have solid 101-level experience with rope/its fundamentals and want to progress into patterns and full body ties. I want to depend my knowledge base with floor ties before progressing into suspension”.
Ascent
ASCENT takes place monthly on second Thursdays. Attendees should sign up as a tying pair (each ticket is for a tying pair).
This 5-6 class CORE CURRICULUM series is for students ready to learn suspension. Please see the calendar and read the event page for class dates and details. Students should have completed the PROGRESSIONS series / or have comparable 201-level rope bondage knowledge/experience before attending this series (this is applicable to both the person tying and being tied).
We expect that attending partners have previous tying experience together. The ASCENT series is progressive; students need to attend the entire series in order. We offer this series twice a year.
ASCENT experience level: “I’ve spent a good amount of time doing rope/floor ties. As the person tying, I feel proficient in basic patterns and techniques, handling rope tension, and creating frictions and lock-offs. As the person being tied, I have a good sense of my body in rope, can distinguish between ‘good’ and ‘bad’ pain in rope, and keep an eye on my body for circulation or nerve issues. We are ready to learn suspension together.”
Onward
ONWARD takes place monthly on first Thursdays. Attendees should sign up as a tying pair (each class ticket is for a tying pair).
These classes are for students who have experienced their first suspension and are excited to keep learning! We expect that attending partners have previous tying experience together, and that both partners have experience in suspension.
Content in ONWARD classes is not progressive from month to month and classes need not be taken in order. Content varies month to month; we have approximately 12 different classes we rotate through. Email us to inquire about any upcoming month’s topic.
ONWARD experience level: “We have completed our first suspensions and want to continue to expand our suspension repertoire.”
Core Curriculum Values
We seek to create a learning environment for both the person tying AND the person being tied. Rope is a partnered modality; it is not something you do to a person, it is something you do with a person.
We take our time! The series was intentionally developed to last 14 months so students take their time learning, reflecting, and accumulating invaluable experiences as they progress. Studying rope bondage is: learning about rope, learning about your body, and learning about your body in rope. This takes time, especially when considering moving into suspension where risks are heightened. We have seen over and over again that people with established experience in rope bondage on the floor can move into suspension with a more nuanced understanding of their bodies, the risks involved, and how to troubleshoot and respond accordingly.
We believe that rope bondage is about more than the knots. Learning rope involves inquiry and study in: technique, anatomy, body manipulation and movement, communication and consent practices, cultural and historical contexts, boundaries and self-advocacy, and energetics. We strive to create space for learning in each of these directions. We dedicate time in each class to technique as well as exploring energetics between partners, rope management, communication prompts and reflections. We work to give students exercises for play, “scening,” or creating connected moments from our very first beginner classes.
We are not an official “ryu” or specific lineage and style of rope bondage. There are so many ways one can “do” rope bondage and we strive to assist you in the journey of figuring out your path. We do not believe that rope needs to look a certain way, rather that the two partners are communicating and exploring their wants, needs, desires and boundaries. This being said, we also recognize that we are teaching and sharing through our own particular lenses, and the subjectivity of doing rope the way we love to do. We have created our content asking ourselves the question, “what do we wish we were taught when we were getting started?” We will teach you rope in the ways we know and love best, with the goal in mind of you finding your own unique path!
Rope bondage is for every BODY. A person does not need to be a specific age, size or sexual and gender identity to do rope. One does not need to be flexible to do rope. Rope can be experienced in endless variations. We strive to present our curriculum with the belief that any tie or technique can be modified and utilized to work on each specific body, and with that person’s wants, needs, desires and boundaries in mind.
If finances are a barrier for you attending our Core Curriculum classes, VoxBody offers a scholarship spot at each series level. Email voxbody@gmail.com and let us know which class(es) you are looking to attend.
Please be specific in your message with class name and date. If the class shows as sold out online, you should still email us to inquire; we hold onto the scholarship spot until it is allotted, even if tickets are sold out otherwise.
Please note: the scholarship spot for ASCENT classes are only available to someone who can commit to all dates in the series, and has the appropriate experience level. Be sure to read through the Ascent event link and assure this will work for you before emailing.
About the Core Curriculum Teachers:
Blue (she/her): Blue has been teaching & performing rope bondage since 2012. In June 2017, she opened VoxBody Studio, the Bay Area's first rope-dedicated venue. Blue has presented at RopeCraft, Bondage Expo Dallas, Desert Bound and Karada House’s Queerope event and performed at events such as Folsom Street Fair, Twisted Windows and Vau de Vire Society productions. Blue is an enthusiastic sWitch, believes bondage education should address both sides of the rope, and is so proud of the Vox-community. Find her on IG @miss_true_blue.
Ivy (she/they): Ivy Limieux is a sWitchy Sadistic VoxFox, joining the rope community in 2016. She believes that rope is as fluid and adaptable as the people who choose to participate, and that every desire to learn should be met with the opportunity to do so. She has taught/performed for organizations such as Dark Odyssey, Obsidian_LA, Black Rose Education, and Kink.com. Ivy is the host of Kinky, Colorful, Conscious, a kinky POC roundtable, and co-host’s Oakland’s bi-monthly POC play party, SOUL. Find her on IG and FL @ivylimieux.
Moxie (she/her): Moxie has been rope bottoming since 2015, and started tying a few years into her rope journey. She’s passionate about restraint, aesthetics, body awareness, and rope that requires process. She enjoys exploring ties that can be challenging and vulnerable, as well as repeating familiar shapes that bring new knowledge and experience over time. Moxie has performed at events such as Twisted Windows, Folsom Street Fair, and Nuit des Cordes, attended NARIX, and has bottomed for Kazami Ranki and Mistress Chiaki. Find her on IG and FL and X @boundmoxie.