A note on format
This article is written as questions and answers, the way a conversation with an experienced practitioner might go. There is no real or invented person speaking here. The answers are general, cautious and drawn from widely known information, and they are not instructions. Suspension is not a project for beginners or for home.
What is body suspension?
Suspension is a practice in which a person is lifted off the ground, fully or partly, by hooks placed through the skin. The hooks are attached to ropes or rigging, and the weight of the body is carried by the skin and the structures around it. Some people hang from the back, others from the chest, knees or other areas, and some pieces involve several people at once.
Is this a new idea?
Forms of hook-based ritual exist in some traditions, such as certain festival and devotional practices in parts of South Asia, though details differ by region and era. In recent decades, a modern suspension community developed in several countries, with its own groups, events and safety norms. The modern version is generally a voluntary personal or group experience rather than a religious obligation, though some participants describe it in spiritual terms. Such descriptions are personal.
Why would anyone do it?
Reasons given are varied. Some describe a feeling of release, calm or intense focus. Others do it as a test of themselves, as part of a ritual or art piece, or for the shared experience with the group. Some participants simply say they like the sensation. Researchers and clinicians do not agree on a single explanation, and it is fair to say that individual experiences range from euphoric to merely uncomfortable. The wider debate about seeking out pain and its place in body modification is covered elsewhere on this site.
What does it feel like?
People report a wide range: sharp pressure at the moment of placement, a stretching or pulling sensation, and sometimes a very different feeling once the body is hanging. Pain tolerance varies a great deal between people and even in one person on different days. How someone feels is no guide to how safe the practice is.
What are the risks?
They are real and should not be minimized.
- Infection. Hooks create open wounds. Poorly sterilized equipment or poor wound care can lead to local or serious infection, and unsterile tools can transmit bloodborne infections.
- Tearing. Skin can tear under load. Much depends on rigging, body weight, placement and the condition of the tissue, none of which a beginner can judge reliably.
- Falls and equipment failure. A rigging failure can lead to a fall from height, with the risk of head, spine or limb injury.
- Fainting. Needle fear is common, and some people faint at needle placement or during the event. Fainting while suspended is a safety problem in itself.
- Scarring. Hook sites heal into small scars, which can be raised or discolored in some people.
- Nerve and tissue damage. Poor placement can injure underlying structures.
For an overview of how this relates to anatomy, there is also a separate look at suspension anatomy. The key point is that the risks come from both the body and the equipment.
Why is it a practice for trained professionals?
Because almost every serious risk depends on skill. Someone qualified is trained in sterilization, in skin and anatomy, in judging whether a person’s body is suitable, in rigging and load calculations, and in responding to emergencies such as fainting or tearing. In many places, piercing-type work is regulated, and what is done outside that framework may be unlawful or uninsured. Watching videos is not training, and the people who appear to make it look simple have typically spent years learning. Anyone considering the suspension community should be wary of unlicensed practitioners and of groups that discourage questions.
Who should not do it?
A doctor’s opinion should come first for anyone with a heart or circulation condition, a bleeding or clotting disorder, diabetes, a skin condition, a history of poor wound healing, an immune condition, or who takes blood-thinning medication. Pregnancy, recent illness, intoxication and certain mental health states also matter. This is not a complete list, which is why a medical conversation is better than a checklist.
Can it be done “safely”?
Nothing involving hooks in skin is risk-free. A well-run event with sterile single-use equipment, trained staff, careful screening and emergency planning can reduce the risks, but not remove them. Ask about all of these in advance, and be ready to walk away if answers are vague.
What should a curious person do?
If it still appeals, the cautious first steps are reading, talking to a doctor, and attending as an observer where that is permitted. Neither enthusiasm nor peer pressure is a good reason to hurry. If what draws you is a need for intense sensation to cope with difficult feelings, a mental health professional is a better first contact than a rigging team.