What is Shibari? A Guide to our Spring Women’s Retreat

All content in this post has been authored by Shibari Expert and Artist, Kati Bird.

Outdoor Mavens is hosting a new style of annual spring retreat this year; a women’s wellness retreat which merges day hiking with evening Shibari workshops. You may be curious about this offering and yet have no idea where to begin. Kati Bird, our Shibari practitioner who will be leading us during this retreat, has created a guide to answer common questions and provide clarity to this amazing offering.

Shibari Explained

Shibari–the Japanese art of tying the body in ropes, a captivating art form, unveils a realm of empowerment, self-discovery, and profound healing, especially within the circle of women.

At its heart, Shibari presents a sacred stage for those to reclaim their voices, learn to truly surrender, express our emotions, feel our inner and outer body, and develop sovereign agency. Within this mesmerizing practice of tying and untying, we are able to tune inward, gaining access to aspects of ourselves that are interacting with day-to day life through exploring surrender or control.

Communication with each other becomes an eloquent dance and refreshing practice of expressing desires and voicing one's needs which lead the rope experience. Enhanced verbal communication leads to a truly deep and expansive somatic rope experience. The insight and information we gain about ourselves become the catalyst to transforming how we connect to self and others in the everyday life.

Shibari & Wilderness

The connection between the Wilderness and Shibari is the presence of rope. The symbiotic point where the artistry of tying knots in nature, mirrors the intricate binding of ropes on the body in Shibari.

In nature, ropes serve as tools for survival, exploration, and creation. They bind branches to form shelter, secure items in adventure, stitching on clothing, or mark pathways through the wilderness. The process of knotting, weaving, and securing ropes in nature requires an understanding of tension, strength, and the art of intricate bindings to ensure stability and functionality.

Both in nature and in Shibari, ropes embody a transformative power. In nature, they navigate and connect, securing our paths and guiding our journeys. In Shibari, they become conduits for emotional exploration, intimacy, trust, and surrender. The connection lies in their ability to intertwine, create, and hold—whether in the embrace of natural landscapes or in the tender caress of Shibari's ropes, both carry the essence of connection and transformation.

What to Expect at the Retreat

Each day we will set off into the canyons of Escalante Utah, creating meaningful moments to engage in authentic relating conversations with one another guided by our trip leaders. These dialogues offer a space for profound connections, heartfelt sharing, and meaningful exchanges among women. The wilderness becomes the backdrop, enhancing the depth of these conversations, fostering camaraderie, and facilitating introspection in a nurturing environment.

As evening descends, the retreat transitions to the Art of Shibari; the process of tying the body in ropes—a practice that echoes the essence of the wilderness experience. Through Shibari lessons at our airbnb, we will delve into technical skills, conscious communication, and the intricate dance of boundaries, consent, surrender, and control.

It's more than rope tying; it's a journey into somatic experiencing—an exploration of sensations, emotions, and the body's response to intimate connection. Internal self discovery that will bring profound revelations to the surface to be processed together with the group.

A Transformative Journey

This powerful experience becomes a magnet for women seeking more than just a retreat; it beckons those yearning for a transformative journey—a fusion of nature's raw beauty, shared connections, and the intricate tapestry of Shibari, unlocking a realm of self-discovery, empowerment, and profound sisterhood. It's an invitation to step into the wilderness of the self, embracing the unknown, and emerging stronger, more connected, and deeply enriched by the shared experiences with other women on this transformative odyssey.

We feel so excited to offer this sacred women’s retreat in May 2024. It promises to be a time of creativity, connection to self, immersion in natural beauty, and perhaps new things for those who attend. If you are feeling called to join us, please do. This retreat has a limited number of spaces and early bird pricing ends February 3, at midnight. All female identifying humans are welcome and there is no need to attend with a partner :) Visit our dedicated trip page here, for full details and ways to book.

All content in this post has been authored by Shibari Expert and Artist, Kati Bird.