This workshop at no time endorses or advocates breaking the law or risking your health. It is for information ONLY. This information is about love, life, exploration, and consensual breath control in which everyone intends to remain healthy. This is NOT about a flippant temptation of death.

Many people are afraid that by giving information they will encourage someone to play this way and if that person ends up dead they will feel responsible. This strikes me a lot like the argument of those that say if teenagers are kept in the dark about sex they won't do it. The documentation of erotic asphyxiation goes back to the 1600's at the very least. It was used back then as a form of therapy for those suffering from impotence.

In BDSM, breathplay refers to the practice of restricting or controlling the flow of air and thus oxygen into the body of one or more participants also known as asphyxiation. The rush that is a result of the lack of oxygen in the brain is the kick that people into this kind of edge play are after. The myth that a hanged man is coming at the moment of his death is common. The adrenalin rush from the experience of real life danger and the dramatic notion of dying in someone's hands adds to this. The techniques used to achieve this vary from scene to scene and thus the level of risk involved also varies. However most acknowledge that under most circumstances this practice is firmly within the definition of edge play. Asphyxiation can occur as a result of restricting ones airflow by a rubber mask, a plastic bag, or by choking.

Especially autoerotic breathplay can be considered as very dangerous and every year people die because of it. The often-underestimated risk of temporary paralysis as a result of lack of oxygen in the brain is sadly a reason why people can't get up and die of asphyxiation. Another risk is fractures in the trachea because of the applied pressure. If one is careful that is actually the least risk. But alas too frequently people accidentally die from the fact that our body tries to compensate for the lack of oxygen in the brain and this can cause the heart to flutter or because of the direct pressure on the nerves in the carotids that can cause the heart to stop. Apparently it is not easy to resuscitate these arrhythmias. This can occur as quickly as 10 seconds. (Above from: www.dictionaryofeverything.com)

LET'S DISCUSS Strangling This usually involves compression of the carotid arteries to prevent blood from reaching the brain. Suffocation This involves somehow reducing the level of oxygen in the air available to breathe (usually gradually). Breath play The process of making someone more conscious of, directing, or using breath in play. Role-playing/Psychological The safest way (Making your partner aware of their breathing), verbal domination of breathing Practical Gas Mask, Scuba, straw or snorkel etc

WHY Bondage, oxygen deprivation effects (a lower amount of oxygen available [hypoxia] or no oxygen [anoxia] you start to feel a little dream like and light headed), fear & risk, submission, masochism, trust, dominance, sadism.

RISKS Physiological, emotional, legal, possible long term health risks, common Injuries (Statistically, those that die of this play are usually playing alone and using a mechanism that doesn't protect them in case of fainting.)

FURTHER RESOURCES

1. www.mybdsm.com/pages/breathplay (excellent resource on the subject, by Vamp Ire)
2. Jay Wiseman essays on breath control "The Medical Realities of Breath Control Play" "Breath Control: Is Epinephrine The "Smoking Gun"?" "More On The "Smoking Gun"" "Where's My "Precaution B"?" "Cumulative Brain Damage From Breath Control?" members.aol.com/OldRope/breamain.htm
3. What is it about breath control? Is it safe to make someone pass out? The Soc.subculture.bondage-bdsm FAQ list Rob Jellinghaus