Shibari / Kinbaku emotinally connected tying as it is done in Japan. Experience the sweet surrender while allowing the rope to awaken the energies of your body.
The techniques used are often dynamic, letting you flow from the one pose to the other. Your body will be moderately challenged to open and to let your energies flow, while feeling emotionally held safe throughout the process. Experience expansion of your energy through restriction.
A meditative and deeply grounding journey inwards to your own body. Feel a deep experience of being held and safe and allow your mind to be fully present in the moment.
Stable and firmly holding tying techniques are used to create an experience where you can let all your muscles to relax and feel your body fully supported by the rope. Your energy body is activated just as in Shibari Expansion, but the energy is then guided inwards. Elements from yoga and/or tantra are often present in Shibari relax experiences.
Experience the healing powers of the rope in this unique session that combines Japanese shibari with tantric body work and dearmouring techniques from India.
This session is performed in ancient ritual fashion with as goal to remove energetic blockades from the body. The rope is used both to support the body for the relaxing and safety effect as experienced in a Shibari Relax session, as well as to reconnect parts of the body that have energetically disconnected due to energetic blockades.
The goal of this session is not to dive into the full shibari experience, but to create art from the rope on the body and immortalize this in sensual and tasteful photographs. We will guide you, no modelling experience required.
Bring in the inspiration of your own, or just let us to use our imagination and surprise you. Possible at the studio, or in warm seasons outdoors.
If you are in normal mental and physical health and not currently in rehabilitation from injury or surgery, you can try shibari.
Each shibari session will be personally tailored for you according to your specific needs. However, it is interesting to mention healed past injuries in the discussion before the session so they can be taken into account.
Shibari suspension (partially or fully suspending the body and floating it in the air using rope harnesses) is not recommended for safety reasons for people who suffer from high blood pressure or weigh over 120kg. However, this restriction only applies to suspension, which is not a mandatory part of the Shibari experience and is never done in the very first session.
Although shibari originated in Japan in a sexual fetish context, a whole philosophy comes along with it as is typical of all body arts originating from the Far East.
Western bondage focuses mainly on the end result: restriction of movement of the bound person for sexual purposes, often combined with power play.
Shibari emphasises that the rigger - the person who practices and has studied shibari - practices shibari to be of service to the model and not for his or her own pleasure. The purpose of each shibari session is specifically decided by the model in advance and the rigger is responsible for creating an experience according to the model's wishes.
Shibari is also a complete process where every part is of equal importance, not just the result. The ropes are applied in a deliberate manner with special focus on aesthetics and sensation. After the desired result is achieved, the ropes are taken off in as slow and deliberate a manner as they were applied.
Your each shibari experience at Studio ES starts by sitting down with the rigger at the reception room to discuss your wishes, expectations and your boundaries for the session. After all your questions have been are answered and the safety procedures have been explained to you, you will be asked for your consent to undergo the session. If you decide to give your consent, you're then invited to ascend to the studio that has been prepared for your session and warmed up for your comfort.
It is very important for your well-being during the session, that you feel comfortable, present and safe before you enter the ropes. To this end, every session starts with a guided mindfulness exercise, which the rigger will do together with you. This is regardless of if this is your first or tenth time, which length of session you booked and whether photos are included in your booking.
Once you indicate, you're ready to enter the ropes, the first tie starts. The rigger keeps communicating with you throughout the session and checking in with you, asking you about your feeling as the tie progresses. The rigger will also stay all the time physically and mentally present with you in the studio.
If this is your first session ever, the rigger will pay extra attention to how you react to the rope and will make sure that you never stay longer than 30 minutes in the ropes at one time. The first time you're also taken fully out of the ropes after the first tie. The rigger will then check in with you about how you feel, if you still wish to continue to the second tie, and if you have any wishes for your second tie, now that you have experienced your first tie.
At the end of the session, you're softly brought back out of the ropes to the real world. You will have some time after the session to rest and integrate your experience and the rigger will make sure you're feeling well in every way before escorting you out.
A shibari rigger - the person who practices and has studied shibari - is always responsible for the safety of the sessions he gives from start to finish.
There is no universally recognised international certificate but normally rigger training courses include studies on human anatomy, the nervous system and where it is safe to apply ropes and where not.
An adept rigger never does anything to a model that he has not practised on himself first. A rigger should also be mentally fully present during the session and monitor the condition of the model at all times.
Safety scissors must be present in every session as one can always buy new ropes but not new lives. Do not hesitate to ask the rigger questions about safety.
You will choose how you want to experience shibari separately for each session. With clothes on, in underwear or completely naked. The sensation of the rope is strongest on bare skin. You will decide how you feel and what you want to experience.
You will also be asked about your boundaries before each session, which will be explicitly respected during the session.
If you did not book a shibari photo shoot, or a photo extra for your session, then no photos are going to be taken. The session will be solely about you and your experience. Stuio ES is also a professional photo studio and we offer photographic services. You decide always upon booking what you want to book. When booking photos, feel free to also share with us any wishes about the style of the to be taken photos.
It is your experience, where you decide what you want to feel. Wanting a harder and more restrictive experience is an equally valid desire than a softer experience or experience with only non-restrictive rope art.
Feel free to make it known in the conversation before the session that you only want to do restrictive ties and these may also be made tight.
Yes, but full-body suspension is not done on the very first session. The suspension carries much more risks than floorwork and requires building up a good amount of two-sided trust between the rigger and the model to mitigate these risks and keep the session safe.
If you have no prior experience on suspension, the key is to understand that it is a process that needs to be built up, and cannot be rushed. If you want to build up to suspension, then during the first session you'll explore the feeling of being carried by the ropes, while staying on the ground. If that feels good for you, on the second session, you can experience full-body suspension in upright/sitting position. In further sessions, it's possible to increase the intensity by first evolving to a horizontal position and then to an upside-down position, if it still feels good for you.
Yes, but this doesn't belong to the standard offering and it's never done on the first session with a new model.
Semenawa is a style of shibari that focuses on searching the limits of what the body can take, by using the ropes to force the body to extreme positions and stretches, sometimes for extended periods of time. As semenawa includes more risks than other forms of shibari, and potentially pain that can last long after the session, it's not recommended for beginning models. Building up a strong two-way trust between the rigger and the model is essential for the safety.
Ask a link for the full portfolio.
Sam is the founder of Studio ES and a photographer since 2018. He specialises in artistic portraits, boudoir shoots and street photography. Sam studied shibari with Anastasia at Voudou Ropes and then continued his studies further at the school of grand master Osada. Sam is also a trained tantra masseur and trauma-aware body worker.
The new price list is applicable to all new bookings as of 1 October 2023. First-time discount only applicable once per person regardless of chosen service. All photos are delivered digitally in high-quality JPEG-format only. On paid shoots, rights to reproduce photos are transferred to the client. Studio ES retains the right to be recognized as the sole author and copyright holder of the photos (Belgian law of 30 June 1994 on author's rights).
-Britt, Schoten
-Kelly, Landen
-Kerttu, Vantaa, Finland
-Hanne, Rijmenam
-Axelle, Bonheiden
-Sabine, Landen
-Lieve, Sint-Truiden
-Martina, Málaga, Spain
-Filippa, Málaga, Spain
-Inge, Lokeren
I already was familiar with Shibari from seeing it. My husband had shown me pictures and videos of "how do I do this?". I was thus quite curious. I'm so glad I bumped into Sam to experience this for myself. He received me warmly, and after a calm conversation we got down to business. I found it a sensation, intense, relaxed, I was like a different person. I did have my uncomfortable moments with the lens, but Sam quickly put me at ease again. After the session with Sam, I was really relaxed. It was a very pleasant experience, definitely to be repeated! You will see me again soon!
-Kelly, Landen
(translated from Dutch)
I had (very) little experience with shibari beforehand and didn't really know what to expect with a professional experience! However, all the tension was gone as soon as I met with Sam and we started chatting. The shibari itself was beautiful, calming and I felt truly safe and supported. I can say that Sam left me with greater desire to continue with shibari!
-Kerttu, Vantaa, Finland
When I contacted Sam for my first session of Shibari, I had already done some research as per good practice. I was looking for a way to relax mind and body and had always been curious about different forms of non-erotic bondage.
At the start of my first session, I was nervous. I was warmly and heartfelt welcomed by Sam, who communicated very clearly the purpose of this session. He also asked me questions to be was sure I understood everything, and also calmly explained the safety procedures to me. The session itself exceeded all my expectations. The tension on my skin combined with meditating gave me wonderful sense of calm.
Besides his knowledge of knotting, Sam is a photographer. He made me some beautifully elegant images. Will I go back again? Absolutely. My next session is already booked. Sam has my full trust both for photography and Shibari. He takes into account my insecurities and feels me incredibly well. Shibari represents an enormous added value in the search for my just 'being'.
-Hanne, Rijmenam
(translated from
Dutch)
It was through a photo shoot that I got to know Sam. I came to know that apart from his passion for photography, he has another passion called 'Shibari'. I had never heard of Shibari before. He immediately had my attention. The way he explains everything, with care and respect, makes you trust him very quickly. I know few people who are as caring as him. He is very professional and considers it important that you feel good about everything.
Each knot is so careful, with attention to detail that I feel very safe and can surrender completely. This is directly why Shibari is so enriching for me. Being able/needing to let go of control during a session is something that gives me a lot of peace and allows me to relax completely.
Shibari is highly recommended if you are looking for ways to let go of everything, to come to yourself. Because Sam is a professional photographer, he also provided me with fantastically beautiful photos, giving me a lovely lasting memory.
-Britt, Schoten
(translated from
Dutch)
My experience with Sam was deep and magical. He was very professional and created a beautiful safe space to experience the practice. I felt held and secure. In less than 30 min I fully trusted him and let go. After the session, I felt very calm, relaxed and in a "high" meditative state. I can highly recommend it.
-Martina, Málaga, Spain
For a first meeting it was a nice and relaxing experience, like a wellness moment. Fine smooth communication with Sam. This also inspires mutual trust.
-Axelle, Bonheiden
(translated from Dutch)
Sam was able to create an experience where I felt safe throughout the entire session, even though it was the first time I tried Shibari.
I felt I needed to be held and go inwards to begin with, as I was mentally processing some personal things. Sam intuitively felt that and responded with doing the first tie very gently and comforting. I cried and opened up.
After that I felt I could expand and relax more into the experience and allowed Sam to follow his intuition to guide the second tie. He did a tie that activated and turned on my whole body. I was shaking and could feel the energy shifting with the rope touching my skin. It was a beautiful experience.
Sam is very skilled with both energy, holding space, communicating and with Shibari Art.
-Filippa, Málaga, Spain
It really was a lovely experience. Sam provides a warm welcome that makes you feel at home very quickly. At the start of the session, we calmed down together more so that I was more in the 'now'.
During and after tying, I was always reassured in the fact that Sam knew what he was doing. It felt very natural how he proceeded. He had a good sense of where I wanted to go.
I also went back again. And intend to do so even more. Shibari helps me reduce stress and clear my mind completely. Sam makes it extra easy because of his professional attitude.
-Sabine, Landen
(translated from
Dutch)
A girlfriend had told me about this, and we had the idea of doing it together. This was no problem at all for Sam. Together, we were welcomed warmly and given the necessary explanations and questions to make this experience the best it could be. Sam had arranged the sessions in taking turns, and we could see each other's sessions.
I experienced already watching a session as very relaxing! For me, the first tie was a bit uncomfortable, I didn't know what to expect... but the 2nd tie was FANTASTIC! What an intense experience! Pure pleasure and relaxation. Too bad it had to come to an end!
I can only recommend Sam! A very nice person who knows what he is doing, but above all instinctively knows what to do to make a session intense! They will definitely see me again!
-Lieve, Sint-Truiden
(translated from
Dutch)
Grateful for the lovely relaxing and safe professional session with Sam. The safety Sam provides and his calm energy are very relaxing. Beautiful to feel his energy when he was busy with his passion. Sam comes completely in his element and I felt that as a receiver which also made it easier for me to surrender.
The focus on my body and feeling the ropes carrying me is soo relaxing. The untying was also extraordinary and released something in my body that I find difficult to describe. A kind of liberation. I felt at the end much more gentleness towards myself, inner peace and was very relaxed. Highly recommended.
-Inge, Lokeren
(translated from Dutch)