I’ve been sitting on suspension for over 5 years. When I first showed it on a webinar in 2017 the webinar nearly shut down as students said, “I want that! I want that now! Where do I get that thing?”
I knew then as I know now what a challenge it is to release this. It is time and I’m going to lay out the basics for you to get started.
“Everyone wants a lightsaber no one wants to study fencing.” 🙂
I wasn’t even finished with the basics of my workbook and Dvd sets when I strung up suspension in my studio and transformed my practice. In reality it adds about 10% more options but with those options do you ever want less? Do you ever want to work harder when you can just relax? I can do most of the same stuff without it but suspension allows double footed compressions, potentially deep compressions delivered by smaller therapists on larger clients and just makes the work more interesting.
What I realized via webinar is that it was flashy. It was visual in a way that other Thai massage was not.
Pandora’s box is now open for business.
This shows one of the two contact points. One end is completely immobile. It’s just 2″ nylon tubular webbing or slackline screwed into a 2X6 that’s screwed into the studs of my wall. You can see how deeply those deck screws went into the studs and I do that to safely support bodyweight.
Lord forbid anyone set this up poorly then it rips out of the wall mid session. #safetythird
You can use a lighter to singe the tubular webbing or flame it, on the ends as the nylon it’s made of will melt and form an ever stronger bond. You’ll need a loop of it that’s twice as long as the length of your studio where you set it up over the mat. This means that if your room is 10′ long you’ll need 20′ plus some extra for the next piece.
The slackline is just perfect material for this but avoid the 1.5″ or 1″ versions. You need the 2″ width to avoid cutting into your skin and it’s got a higher tensile strength.
Use a stud finder to find the studs in your wall and if you’re on other materials like concrete or metal studs you’ll have to do whatever is best to attach the 2X6 safely to the wall. I crossed 4 studs for this end making this extremely secure with 3 screws into each stud.
Kristen’s setup cost less than $100 total and that’s part of the advantage. It’s very inexpensive to set up and is amazingly diverse in its use while be elegantly simple in design.
With suspension there is potential for great healing. Just like a surgeon with a knife there’s also potential for great harm. This course will cover the basics but nothing will really prepare you to use this. Practice is everything.
The reason I waited was to have 700 pages of sequence manuals 9 Dvds and another 700+ hours in our vault is you’ll likely set this up and have many questions I’m answering in prior materials. You have to use those prior materials first for this to make complete sense. Either or is incomplete.
I do not want you to harm people. Deep compressions can break bones, tear ligaments and leave bruises or at worst case scenario kill people.
Read that again.
I will give you basic contraindications and ongoing support but realize this is the most challenging thing I’ve ever done in releasing this. I waited to be as safe as possible. Our livestream classes go a long way to bridging the gap to in person instruction.
For me to share and really build we’re taking a chance. We’re making it available digitally scaling to a global audience and I get to sit back and find out who really wants this. You can help people effortlessly with bodywork and chronic pain issues and do so while hanging out. That’s what suspension is.
This shows the opposite end. This is also a loop. In this case I could have used the 2X6 but I had 2X6 frames that ran the length of my studio as a support structure for what was a garage. This was plenty strong enough for the other end without me having an issues. You use another 2X6 and a shorter piece of slackline to attach the carabiner.
You’ll see in the video how this goes into more detail.
Each location and setup will be slightly different as as we don’t have a prefabricated or stand alone unit it’s important that you understand each unit will be set up differently depending on your building. I’ll go over the basics for most home based architecture and once you understand the basics it’s fairly simple to set up.
Elegantly simple.
Once you use this you wont want to go back to not using it and though I can do sessions without it’s just “more work” and not as easily accessible.
Everyone’s setup can be a little different and I drew some simple schematics to show you how you might reinforce a 2’x6′ in various situations. If you’re having any challenges let me know and I can take a look at your room and give you a best idea for setup.
All of my current systems have been set up with 2×4 studs in the walls. I mount the 2×6 of any length across 3 to 4 of those studs for support then mount the lag bolts for the slackline/nylon webbing we use. It’s a simple setup and we want you to feel safe and comfortable applying weight to your system without fear.
4 lag bolts
2-2’x6′ boards
Screws to anchor 2×6 into the studs
Sander
Sand Paper
Stain/Gloss/Paintbrush
Tools needed:
Drill
Socket Wrench
Sander/sand paper
You’ll need a good carabiner. This is rock climbing equipment so it’s designed to hold human body weight. I don’t recommend you get anything smaller than this due to size of the nylon webbing and it being able to hold body weight.
Any of the 3 below should work fine.
2″ Nylon webbing
You don’t want 1.5″ or 1″ and you don’t want material that isn’t nylon. In my experience the neoprene or polyneoprene and other materials can be scratchy and aren’t as soft as the nylon. The nylon also melts when we flame it in addition to being amazingly strong.
It’s often used by slackliners and climbing enthusiasts and holds body weight well.
You can grab whatever color you wish. 🙂
These are the cabinet screws we decided on. For Kristen’s setup I wanted something that was a little more aesthetically pleasing so I chose these with a rounded head instead of the deck screws I used. They need to be long enough to go through the 2X6 and go into the studs securely. Each building can be wildly different so bear with me.
I use lag screws but technically this could be done many ways. You’ll see these installed and how the straps are fastened to the wall using these and the washers for some additional buffering and spreading of pressure. Plus they just look nice.
Kristen and I had some debate about the 2X6’s and the length necessary. I’m fairly certain that mine is a 2X6X8 and that extra 2 feet means that I secured my suspension across 4 sets of studs on one wall. I’m not an architect but I had the space and presumed that more support was better. My deepest fear other than user error is a suspension system ripping out of a wall.
We settled on a 2X6X16. We had 2 lengths cut into 6′ then the extra 4′ we’ll use for decoration. Kristen decided she’d sand the boards heavily but wasn’t interested in painting it for this trip as she’s getting ready in several months to move into a new home.
We had to use a stud finder to find the wall studs to mount the 2X6 into. This is where the real stability comes from. These attachments across 4 walls bear lots of weight are what mostly secure us safely to the wall for support. The lag bolts we’ll show later are what attach the slack line to the 2X6.
I show here how I had to drill through the 2×6 then use those holes to mark the wall then drill on the wall solo. My drill wasn’t able to drive the screw deeply enough to get the screwhead to be flush with the board. Both for structure and aesthetics you’ll want the screw heads to sink more deeply.
The end of the unit with the carabiner is the most versatile. You can make this longer or shower with very little change but if you leave enough space to tie it off you can make the unit somewhat more adjustable for different clients. A larger client you’d have to lift up etc. I like when the slackline can move and not be stuck or crimp up. That’s mostly aesthetic for me.
I show how we set it up the first time with the long end of the slackline and then mention how we’re going to shorten it to lift it higher for Kristen. Your unit is somewhat adjustable but it’s set to your body height based on averages.
The design is pretty simple and can be tweaked in various ways depending on the physical space that you’re in. You need good solid support. God forbid one would ever rip out of a wall but that’s the greatest danger, equipment failure. The design is simple enough that anyone could make one with local equipment you could find at a convenience store but I think the slackline 3″ is my favorite so far.
Kristen purchased 4″ due to my insistence, it’s what you see in the video here, and we’ll let you know if we think we prefer something else later after we test it. The carabiner is designed for rock climbing and bearing weight but you don’t want to put the line on the gate. The gate is the weakest point and you wouldn’t want that to break. Due to the width of Kristen’s webbing we turned the carabiner backwards so we had a broad smooth surface to work with.
I used a basic stain and polyurethane coat after sanding my boards. They’re smoother and look nicer in a finished building. You can stain and seal yours in any way that looks best for you.
If you use the reinforced angle 2’x6’s to reinforce your walls you can also add shelves above so you have more storage space. A shelf could be placed above your 2×6’s if that’s something you’re interested in. Keep in mind that when you lift your suspension above your head you don’t want it hitting the shelf and knocking anything off.
Feel free to decorate, write, paint and do as you wish with your setup. 🙂 <3
After working with various students and set ups at different heights the easiest solution if you need something adjustable is to make several short loops on the carabiner end of your setup. Each could be an inch or 2″ longer and that was you have a high, middle and low setting. They’re all attached used the same bolts but you could switch between loops to make your setup adjustable.
When Kristen or Danielle use my system it’s a little more challenging as it’s set to my height and my limbs are longer. Someone else using my system can find it a little more challenging.
The fundamental difference I’ve figured out is that at 5′ 10″ tall I can make myself shorter by bending my legs but Kristen or Danielle can’t make themselves taller.
The loops on the carabiner end are the quickest and easiest way to make the setup adjustable to different heights. You can also tie a simple knot in the carabiner end to make a single loop slightly shorter if needed. We’ll work on prefabricated options at a later date.
When Kristen or Danielle use my system it’s a little more challenging as it’s set to my height and my limbs are longer. Someone else using my system can find it a little more challenging.
The fundamental difference I’ve figured out is that at 5′ 10″ tall I can make myself shorter by bending my legs but Kristen or Danielle can’t make themselves taller.
The loops on the carabiner end are the quickest and easiest way to make the setup adjustable to different heights. You can also tie a simple knot in the carabiner end to make a single loop slightly shorter if needed. We’ll work on prefabricated options at a later date.
For most clients who are robustly healthy all that I’m teaching is fine. A core piece is that you must communicate with clients verbally. Anyone who has a history of the following is a possible contraindication though this list is not comprehensive:
r most clients who are robustly healthy all that we’re teaching is fine. A core piece is that you must communicate with clients verbally. Anyone who has a history of the following is a possible contraindication though this list is not comprehensive:
- history of stroke
- heart disease
- unmedicated blood pressure
- deep vein thrombosis
- vericose veins (pressure to legs)
As with all things be cautious but have no fear. Do your research and if you’re having issues feel free to reach out to me. Our work is safe just as most massage is for most conditions but we’ll always run into things that will require research.
Oh boy this is a fun one. I think you can do Most of this stuff without suspension but here’s what I find in my practice that deeper compressions can help with:
- Back pain
- Neck pain
- Carpal tunnel syndrome
- Plantar fasciitis
- Hip pain
- Hamstring or Quadricep pain
You could say it’s some of the same stuff as a massage may help or Thai bodywork in various forms but I’ll use carpal tunnel and plantar fasciitis to be specific. Much of what we do is help people with musculoskeletal pain. It’s not even Really about deep compressions. It’s about stretching skin, making contact with the clients nervous system via nerves and hanging out while possibly adding nuance like shear which stretches those nerves.
When the client goes, “ohhhhhh rightttt thereeeeeeee” you’re in. Don’t leave. Hang out and let them have their experience. It works because of things we can study research and ferret out through meticulous detail and double blind studies.
What I don’t know is why “deeper compressions” or to be more clear why stretching skin across such a broad area would have a different effect than a pointy elbow that covers less surface area? Many in the pain science community may scoff, but however this works it does so for reasons that can be studied and eventually explained.
For now it’s easier on my body and clients. Clients love this stuff. They tell me regularly that they feel they wasted money on massage.
I recommend you start here though you can skip around anywhere in this course. Legs and feet are larger structures and it’s easier to work on the area while learning to feel out suspension physics while not injuring someone. Generally speaking the things you need to look out for are the joints. The ankle and knee in particular you could easily injure someone by applying massive amounts of pressure while not stacking the joint in a way that allows the receiver to relax into what you’re doing.
Everyone has different ankle mobility so feel free to put down a bolster when someone is prone or if you’re dealing with the knee in supine it’s a good idea to have a pillow or blanket to bolster. The client’s size shape and body mobility will all make slight differences and remember we’re working on soft tissue. You don’t want to injure tendon or ligaments and being careless and not communicating is how that happens. Avoid showing off, particularly at first.
I’m a big fan of yoga blankets as props due to the fact that by folding them I can make them fit the clients body. A pillow can’t as easily be shaped into whatever you need at a given point but blankets are excellent props. If I ever do outcalls and standing work I often grab pillows from the receiver’s couch and like that we make use of what’s available as it is.
On the feet we’re pretty easy going. We already walk on feet pretty easily without suspension so the plantar surfaces of the foot are fair game.
When we get to the lower leg is where things get interesting. On any given client you likely can do double foot compression and cover 1/2-2/3 of anyone’s tibialis anterior or gastrocnemius and soleus in the posterior. You simply can’t do this as easily or as broadly with other structures. It’s hard to explain how “deep” it feels compared to deep tissue on a table but this is far far less pokey and people’s nervous system seems to sense safety even with very deep compressions.
In my case I weigh 200lbs and I just don’t mind using all of that weight through my feet. It’s so easy it feels weird to be teaching something that’s so amazingly effective and easy to deliver while therapists seem to push back against it.
When using your feet understand that the ball pad, ball, heel and instep or outstep are all amazingly different feeling. Just like a forearm isn’t a pointy elbow you gotta feel out with clients what works best and allows them to release. It’s never a judgement on what they can receive but what makes them relax and ease into what we’re doing with the least resistance.
The gastrocs get all the buzz but in my experience soleus is the larger issue in the ankle and feet. Many cases of “plantar fasciitis” seem to come from this area and I don’t think the gastrocs are the key issue just a superficial challenge compared to the deeper soleus and tibialis posterior. Client’s rotation and mobility on the legs can be different and when they’re prone make sure their kneecaps don’t feel uncomfortable. You wouldn’t want to place pressure there.
The rotation of the leg can be shifted internally or externally depending on what you’re trying to access and soon enough you’ll feel tension is certain areas and be drawn to it just like you are when using your hands on a table. Much of the work is practice and when working feel free to play and experiment. Consider the anatomy and physiology you’re working with and always when you explore ask the client for more verbal feedback about an area. If you can do that you’re well on your way to improvising using suspension.
The hamstrings, semimembranosus semitendinosus and biceps femoris get huge access here. This isn’t a forearm. I didn’t even feel anything At All in my hamstrings and when Kristen first worked on me I couldn’t believe how deep that ache went into my ischial tuberosities. These large muscle groups are more easily worked by Large Feet and Large Structures like our lower body instead of an elbow. Even people who think they don’t have issues here will feel different due to the size of our tools and how deep the work feels.
It’s really nice to start high on the hamstrings at first then work your way down. Up near the hip is where the muscles are large and it’s easier to start here them work your way down to where the muscles taper near the knee. The ischial tuberosities and their attachments there are really nice to sink into with heels or the outer edges of your foot for a deep compression.
The quads are really tight on many people and they don’t really realize they’re holding any tension there. Runners cyclists and others can have amazing use of those areas and stretch regularly but you can’t deliver this sort of pressure doing self work with a foam roller. This is really amazing Rolls Royce level bodywork for the area. Just remember to go slow.
You can work the quads from straight above and also come in from a more lateral position to hit a portion of the the tensor fascia latae and IT band. You’ll get some of vastus lateralis as well. Big broad arches are the best thing when you first get started. If your feet feel too sharp to the client don’t feel that putting down a towel or doubling it over their thigh lessens the effect we’re having. I find the towel dampens pointy edges and makes it far easier to receive particularly on someone like me who have a vastus lateralis issue.
Gluteals and hips?
Nothing beats this work. Nothing. The combination of what’s essentially mat based Thai massage with deep compressions using your feet does things to lower back pain that are hard to describe. We’re talking single session “how the hell did you get rid of all my pain in one session” comments. It’s not magic. Just easy to use bodywork and broader structures.
One of the things I find interesting is that if you look at my first Intro to Thai massage workbook I include the move where you slide between someone’s legs to work on them using your forearm and elbow. I still use that regularly but that’s After I do this stuff with my feet and eventually knees. In the workbook I mention that the work is superficial to deep general to specific. The difference is that we now have huge much larger more general tools called double footed compressions. The stuff you can do to gluteus medius and piriformis can change people’s lives.
Also one of the things we’ll likely contend with is the version from the Intro to Thai massage workbook isn’t liked because it’s too intimate. The version we do here isn’t like cause well, “it’s not safe.” You’re sort of damned if you do and damned if you don’t. From an outside visual perspective I like suspension because it’s flashy new and hyper visual. It’s also “less sexual” looking due to using your legs and feet. For an industry that struggles with that I think it’s a win once you hook into the right clients.
I’m a male in an industry as an educator when #metoo hit and it’s amazing to me the misconceptions the public has of our work. Either way just show what You do and draw the people who want that. When making photos or videos for marketing purposes realize that you’ll want to portray yourself differently depending on who you’re trying to draw into your practice.
I had a well developed mat based practice before I started using suspension. I knew the work deeply and I just went, “oh this is completely and logically the next level.” You added 10-20% more options, double footed compressions and more capacity for shear due to leaning into a support structure.
It’s not ashiatsu.
It’s Thai manual therapy on steroids.
Mat based. Clothes on. Little glide.
Deep effective kick ass bodywork. Nothing compares to this.
Clients would get a session and completely spazz out. They’d tell me, “this is the best shit ever. Why isn’t this everywhere? This makes the massage I normally get feel like a waste of money.” I’d usually take a deep breath and say, “massage therapists keep telling me it’s not massage.”
Inevitably there would be some back and forth with the client. They felt like they found a “secret” no one else knew about.
Clients aren’t the issue.
By the time this course releases I’ll likely be putting suspension back into my social media and instagram will take to it just fine. It’s flashy. It’s awesome looking and it’s very effective. The problem? Lmt are resistant to change and frankly there aren’t enough givers for people to experience the work.
The public loves this stuff.
It’s completely normal to have people lash out against things that are new or frankly scare them due to lack of knowledge. I wouldn’t offer this course if I thought people would be injured or it would be detrimental in some way. The most detrimental thing in life is humanities unwillingness to be inquisitive and frankly to engage in the long process of science. Keeping things they way they are dooms man to never improve.
This is a better model than “massage” for chronic pain management. It’s better for therapists better for the public and better for our communities.
The videos shown here are shot with my phone, accessible on tiktok and released many moons ago.
If I recommend anything it’s make regular consistent video and educate the public. Show them what you do. Keep showing them.
If Lmt contact you and want to learn just send them to the subscription and me so I can onboard them and keep training.
There is no competition.
No one is doing this work and it’s So unavailable that no facility in America offers it.