Introduction To Spread Eagle Bondage

Sit back, relax and now think of bondage. What comes to mind? For many people who do not have any experience in erotic bondage play, bondage evokes the thought of tying up someone stretched out in a "spread-eagle" position: face-up with their arms and legs stretched out and bound to the four posts of the bed. If you are familiar with bondage techniques, you are probably smiling right now thinking of all the wonderful little erotic things you can do (or have done to you) with your partner in bondage. Due to the unique nature of spread eagle bondage, and the sheer number of variations to the basic spread eagle bondage position that exist, we feel that this bondage staple deserves a little time under the spotlight.

A word of caution before engaging in "spread-eagle" bondage—trust when being placed in this bondage position is essential, especially if you are the one being bound as it is very difficult to free oneself from single-limb bondage techniques. Jay Wiseman expands on this subject, writing: "The spread-eagle position, because it involves single-limb bondage techniques, can be very secure. As a general rule, it is much easier to apply bondage that is essentially inescapable if you bind only a single limb out by itself than if you bind two limbs together. This is especially true of wrists. Thus, even an inexperienced bondage top may find it relatively easy to bind someone (such as you) in this way so as to make getting free essentially impossible. The spread-eagle position involves a very high degree of immobility. If you are tied to a fixed object, especially something as heavy as a bed, your degree of immobility is very high. If things start to get crazy or abusive, your ability to do anything effective to protect yourself is basically nonexistent. Obviously, you want to think twice, and then think again, before you make yourself this vulnerable to someone" (193).

Strangely enough, conventional wisdom is applicable in this case—take your time to know a prospective bondage partner before you engage in any BDSM play. If possible, get references from previous BDSM play partners. Err on the side of caution, make sure that a third person knows where you are, who you're with, what you're doing, and when you're expected back once you have confirmed all of the details with your bondage partner before the BDSM play starts. BDSM play revolves around trust, so don't be afraid to slowly build up your trust in a new bondage partner—do not engage in any intense bondage or very restrictive bondage from which you cannot easily free yourself on the first few BDSM play dates. Another option is to install a silent alarm, of which you inform your bondage partner. Once you have laid a base of trust with your new SM partner, proceed with caution and respect, carefully discussing the framework of your BDSM play scenes so that you and your partner remain within comfortable limits of safety.

Before engaging in any type of bondage play, one should realize that bondage equipment is not foolproof. In specific relation to spread-eagle bondage, knots may be pulled too tightly to be loosened or handcuffs may fail to open. Prepare accordingly and have a set of EMT scissors on hand to cut through stubborn ropes or leather ties, and for handcuffs an extra set of keys or bolt cutters are a good precaution. However, if nylon stockings are your bondage material of choice, be aware that nylon stockings can be pulled so tightly that it will be impossible for them to be untied especially if your submissive struggles during bondage.