Suspension (body modification)

[3] The Charak Puja, a Hindu folk festival in honour of the god Shiva or Dharmathakur, also features body suspension.

[4] In North America, the Okipa ceremony - which includes piercing and suspension - has been a major part of Mandan religious life.

This complex ceremony about the creation of the earth was glimpsed, and then aspects of it depicted for a non-Native public, by painter George Catlin.

[7] The process is very delicate and is typically done carefully by an experienced individual or professional of the field in order to avoid serious injury.

The suspendee's body is studied to decide the proper placement, number, and size of metal hooks which are pierced into the skin to lift the person off the ground.

Depending on the position in which the body is to be suspended, multiple hooks are sometimes located around the shoulders, upper arm, back, and the knees.

Finding the proper hook placement and number involves basic geometry and an acute understanding of human anatomy and physiology, as well as the durability of the individual's skin.

If the number of hooks are too few, the suspended individual's skin will be unable to withstand the body's weight and will rip.

A block and tackle intended for rock climbing and rope that attaches to the hooks is used to slowly and carefully lift an individual a foot or two off the ground — where they may remain relatively motionless for a predetermined period of time.

Another factor of this suspension is the increased blood pressure to the brain due to the inverted position, which can lead to disorientation and cause headaches.