Suspension bondage

The classic partial suspension position is to have the person balancing on one foot with part of their weight supported through a chest harness and the other leg pulled up in some direction.

The main effect of suspension bondage is to create a heightened sense of vulnerability and inescapability, so that the subject is made to feel that by attempting to free themselves, they may fall and hurt themselves.

Suspension can alternatively create a sense of liberation in that one can glide around the room, and some styles of rigging are optimal for the suspendee to have control over their spin rate, body position, and general activities.

Trance-like states are also common, resulting alternatively or simultaneously from the sensations of anti-gravity, the heightened awareness of one's body, and the sacrifice of one's natural physical strengths.

The clamps may alternatively be secured to a point on the floor, limiting the subject's ability to struggle or move at all without causing pain.

With the legs held in this position, the subject may have an increased sense of vulnerability as their genital region would be easily accessible.

Less obvious dangers include nerve compression and resulting damage, circulation problems and fainting, and the recently recognized harness hang syndrome.

Extracting a person safely out of suspension bondage can be difficult if they are unconscious, or if a winch or hoist jams.

While many famous riggers regularly perform suspensions, they have expressed hesitation in committing such knowledge for dissemination, due to the increased risk of injury to amateurs attempting to imitate without enough prior research or practice.

This bondage demonstration during Folsom Street Fair 2005 is a shibari style partial suspension.
Horizontal suspension, face up.
A man in bondage hanging horizontally at the Folsom Street Fair in 2006.
A woman in horizontal suspension using rope bondage at BoundCon 2013. Since the submissive's arms are tied here, it is important for safety that the rope is strong and does not break.
A man hanging in inverted suspension using ropes.