By Molly Maria
A first private Shibari session begins before the rope. It begins with understanding what you are booking, what you would like to explore and what you do not want. I want you to have enough information to decide, without feeling that asking a question commits you to attending.
There are two useful distinctions to make early: being guided in rope is different from a lesson in tying, and curiosity is different from consent to a particular activity.
Being guided or learning a skill
If you want to experience being tied, we can discuss a guided session. Your role is not to endure, impress me or produce an emotional response. You remain part of the conversation throughout.
If you want to learn to tie, private tuition gives us time to focus on technique and your questions. You may be learning for yourself or with a partner. The purpose, practical arrangements and preparation depend on the format, so I will help you identify which one you mean.
What to tell me beforehand
A few lines about your interest and previous experience are useful. Perhaps you are completely new, returning after a difficult experience, or unsure whether you want to tie or receive. You do not need to turn that into a polished account of yourself.
If there are access needs, injuries or health-related concerns that could affect participation, ask how we should discuss them before booking. Please do not feel obliged to send a detailed medical or personal history through an initial website enquiry. A clinician, rather than a rope teacher, should advise on medical questions.
How boundaries enter the conversation
We discuss what we are considering, where touch is welcome, what remains outside the agreement and how to pause or stop. A boundary does not need an impressive reason. ‘I do not want that today’ is enough information to work with.
Consent is not a test you pass once at the beginning. If something changes, the practice needs to change with it. Being still, being polite or having agreed to a previous session does not replace your present choice.
What should I wear or bring?
Ask for the preparation details for the session you are booking. Clothing, equipment and whether another person attends should be clear before you arrive. You do not need to buy a wardrobe or a set of ropes to make an initial enquiry.
If a practical detail affects your comfort, mention it. Questions about changing clothes, breaks, access or privacy are part of arranging the session, not an interruption to it.
What this work is, and is not
My sessions are educational or experiential. I am studying psychology, but I do not offer these sessions as psychotherapy, diagnosis or trauma treatment. An experience can matter to you without needing to be described as a treatment.
Before paying, check the duration, price and cancellation terms attached to the actual offer. If anything is missing or unclear, ask me to explain it in writing. I want the practical agreement to be as clear as the personal one.
