Bondage

Bondage is a common component in SM play and it can fulfill various different functions.

For people into power exchange the physical restraint of themselves or another enhances the feels of loss of control or power that they have over another. Depending on the nature of the play there may or may not be any sexual contact or relase at the end of the session.

It is often used by couples as a sexual technique to enhance and prolong sex between them. In these cases the session usually ends in some form of sexual release, either from masturbation or sexual intercourse.

Bondage techniques can be divided into six main categories:

• Bondage that pulls parts of the body together (rope, straps, harnesses)
• Bondage that spreads parts of the body apart (spreader bars, x-frames)
• Bondage that ties the body down to another object (such as chairs or stocks)
• Bondage that suspends the body from another object (suspension bondage)
• Bondage that restricts normal movement (hobble skirts, handcuffs, human pony *harness)
• Bondage that wraps the whole body or a part of it in plastic (saran) wrap (cling film) (mummification)