Body Suspension

Vertical Chest suspension ("O-Kee-Pa")

This suspension takes place hooked from the front of the body and hung vertically. Many people refer (quite possibly offensively) to this as an "O-Kee-Pa" suspension because it looks similar to a Native American rite of the same name. The vertical chest suspension is considered to be the most difficult and painful suspension. Problems reported include difficulty breathing coupled with intense pain in the sternum and armpit areas.
It should be noted that many people strongly object to the use of the term "O-Kee-Pa" to refer to a vertical chest suspension, as "O-Kee-Pa" in actuality refers to a complex and deeply meaningful cultural ritual that very few modern people understand. A two point vertical chest suspension is no more an "O-Kee-Pa" than drinking a glass of wine at dinner is taking communion.

Vertical Back suspension ("Suicide")

This suspension takes place hooked from the back of the body and hung vertically. Most people refer to this as a "suicide" suspension because the body appears to be hanging by a noose. This is one of the easier, less confining suspensions and one that many people choose to start with -- vertical back suspensions generally allow greater freedom of movement while suspended (the arms and legs not usually being pierced and thus free to move). This can be a pro or a con depending on the person.
Suicide suspension is definitely the favorite style to date, although, this suspension can often be too difficult for first time suspendees because there is more weight per hook than with horizontal suspensions, making the initial lift more painful. Other than this normal pain from suspending, the most common complaint is lower back pain.

Vertical Back suspension with arm hooks ("Scarecrow" or "Crucifix")


This suspension takes place hooked from the upper back and hung vertically, with hooks also placed in the arms to force them to be held horizontally.

Horizontal Face Down ("Superman")


This suspension takes place hooked from the back of the body and hung horizontally. Most people refer to this as a "superman" suspension since the position resembles Superman flying. Due to the fact that the hooks can be distributed to a larger area of the body, this style is considered to be the easiest of the suspensions. Most novices find this to be a good first suspension. It seems the biggest complaint about this suspension is that back of the legs can be a very sensitive and piercing them is a somewhat upsetting thought to many.

Horizontal Face Up ("Coma")

 This suspension takes place hooked from the front of the body and hung horizontally. Most people refer to this as a "coma" suspension after the movie "Coma". Not only is this style one of the more painful suspensions, it can be mentally difficult due to the fact that the individual can easily see the hooks and the skin stretching upward.

Inverted Knee ("Falkner")

This suspension takes place hooked from the knees and hung vertically with the head closest to the ground and the knees at the top. Many people refer to this as a "Falkner" suspension since Allen Falkner is the first known person to ever attempt this particular configuration. This style is relatively new, but is quickly growing in popularity. It is not considered to be an extremely painful suspension, but the drawbacks include lower back pain and ripping of skin in the areas around the knees. 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.

Resurrection Suspension


This suspension first done by Life Suspended is a suspension in which the person is held up by hooks, usually in two rows on the abdomen. The name comes from the visual impression that person is rising from dead. Generally this suspension is seen using 6 hooks. However, variations from 8 to 2 points can be done.

Lotus Suspension


This suspension features the person hanging in a lotus sitting position. Hooks are often placed in the upper back, chest, thighs and calves, but other variation are common such as hooks placed in the knees and sometimes none in the chest. In some cases the lower leg hangs free and this sometimes called a seated suspension.

Tandem Suspension

 Tandem suspension is hanging one person from hooks in another person that is already suspended. Sometimes this is referred to as a stacked suspension.