Me... Hooks... Dangling...

[Strider]

I suppose I should start this by saying that the photos I'm about to post are not for everybody. If you believe the sight of an individual (me, as it happens) having hooks put in their skin and then dangled from said hooks is likely to disturb you, then don't look any further. If you weren't actually aware such a thing was possible, well... this may or may not be for you; trust your judgment.

A few of you already knew this, but I suspended for the first time yesterday. I'm a member of an experimental performance art troupe, who base most of their stage shows around body suspension, and, when you join, being suspended is basically the equivalent of being jumped in. I'd been wanting to do it for awhile before I joined, and, after being with them for a couple months and observing the process up close several times, I decided I was ready.

I'm still processing a lot of it, but, just to answer the obvious question, being taken off the ground didn't exactly hurt so much as I felt extreme tension on my back. I sort of freaked when my feet cleared the ground, because I initially felt like all my weight was compressed into the area between my chest and waist, and breathing was difficult. It was rough for a minute or so, but my troupe-mates got me through it, and I ended up settling into a vague floating sensation. Apparently I was up there for close to an hour, though it felt closer to 10 minutes.

Allright, allright. Let's get to the fun shit. This'll go in phases.

Part the first: Prep

Not sure what the hell I'm smirking about here

Yep

The waiting is the hardest part

And away we go

 

[BrightEyes1082]

...

Umm...

Moar pls?

 

[Adam]

Ah, suspension. I know a girl who's into it. Not my cup of tea, but more power to you for sharing. 🙂

 

[-Hari-]

ah, this is right up my street, not something i would put myself thru but it's defo something that interests me, seen it a few times at tattoo conventions. Awesome dude!

 

[Tiger.Lily]

Srsly?

More!

 

[Cappy_1]

Dayum! The only hooks I am familiar with is those I use for fishin purposes.

Those things look a might painful.

 

[Strider]

Part the second: Hooks get thrown

Ain't nothing like your first time

I could do it in my sleep by this point

And they're in like flynn

This is my serious face

 

[Bizkit]

That looks uncomfortable. 🙂

 

[Strider]

Part the third: How I learned to stop worrying and love the suspension rig (visible blood in a few of these)

Our fearless leader helps me get acquainted with the concept of tension on the skin

I didn't realize how much I was actually enjoying this until I saw my face in the photos several hours later

Ditto

 

[drew70]

I can't decide which is more disturbing. That somebody would actually do this, or that they would be so proud of it to post pictures on their favorite internet forum.
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[Strider]

I can't decide which is more disturbing. That somebody would actually do this, or that they would be so proud of it to post pictures on their favorite internet forum.

Then I suppose we're roughly in the same boat. I can't decide whether or not I'm annoyed that you just had to make your opinion known, or whether annoyance isn't worth the effort.

Either way, I suppose it's fortunate for me that your opinions aren't particularly relevant to me

(don't go away though, the best part's coming up!)

And really Drew, what the hell do you care? It's not like this a woman getting it done to her or anything.

 

[milagros317]

That is not one of my interests, but it looks fascinating. Thanks for posting the sequence of photos. 😀

 

[goddess_nemesis]

Every time I see someone suspended like that, I automatically wince because it looks like it has to be quite painful. I've always wondered, does it hurt at all to be suspended like that? And how painful is it when they put the hooks in?

 

[Strider]

Part the fourth: Houston, we have lift off

I suppose it's too late to back out now

I have a newfound respect for what skin is capable of

The brains of our operation helps me through the rough part

Just like playing on the swings when you were little... sort of

Spacewalking

I love this job

 

[Strider]

Every time I see someone suspended like that, I automatically wince because it looks like it has to be quite painful. I've always wondered, does it hurt at all to be suspended like that? And how painful is it when they put the hooks in?

The hooks themselves are actually not that bad, there's a moment of pretty intense pain when they go in, but you're over it pretty quickly.

The really rough part for me was clearing the ground. It wasn't so much pain as it was very intense pulling on my back. When my feet left the ground, I seriously freaked for a moment, because I think I was having conflicting signals, with my body going with it brain telling me such a thing wasn't possible. After I got through that first initial panic though, I was basically in my zone. For the majority of it, I had a floating sensation spiked with some mild pain every now and then. Coming back down actually hurt more than anything, when my feet touched the ground, it was all of the sudden like I felt everything all at once and my legs were about to give out (possibly because I hadn't been using them at all for close to an hour).

 

[CrystalLight]

Holy shit.

You did it! And it looks fucking aces!

How'd you get into a headspace to take that task on?

And what did it feel like coming out of it?

Actually, what did it feel like during?

Congratulations, hon.

 

[Cy/MiG]

Wow.

Not my thing, but badass nonetheless.

Props.

 

[falcon]

GGGGOOOODDDD DDDAAAAMMMMNNN!!!!!!!! very cool though, dude. i like the questions that jo asked regarding the mental aspects of this, meaning getting psychologically ready and how to keep yourself focused through the process. can you let us know? that's a hell of a task to accomplish, bro! my hat's off to ya!!

 

[bellystrokes]

Hey my rock star,


You know I love you and support you. But I could not look too closely to those pictures---but then that is not a surprise to you. But I am thrilled for you. Call me conservative but old-fashion knife play and fire play works for me. heheehehe

Congrats honey.

 

[Skipadeedoodah]

holy shits - that's pretty intense - i dont think i've ever have the balls to try something like that, let alone allow a whole nother person to add their weight on

Awesome though - I'm glad you liked it!

 

[slacker2114]

You're a braver man than me, Strider. While I have a high tolerance for pain, I could never willingly subject myself to something like that. Though I will admit, I find it quite fascinating. I hear doing that is almost like a religious experience. I'm very curious as to what you were thinking/feeling while hanging there. Well, beside the pain and such.

Congrats on your lift-off.

 

[Bugman]

Like i told ya man that is not for me,and like strokes i didn't care to take a close look at the pictures.

Having said that you are an adult and you knew what you were getting into.What consenting adults chose to do behind closed doors is no ones business as long as permanent harm does not result.

If some people have a problem with what you did i would say MYOB,go on your way and have a nice day.

 

[cloudgazer2k]

is it just me, or did anyone else feel bad for Superman getting speared?

lol. awesome shots, my man. looked like you found your zone once you got yourself strung up.

 

[Dave2112]

Congrats on your first, dude. It's almost like a zen-ish 'tude you took to it.

Not my particular cup of tea, for myself anyway, but the psychology of it is fascinating.

 

[Strider]

is it just me, or did anyone else feel bad for Superman getting speared?

Not just that, he took it right through the balls.