about

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who we are

The Ontario Suspension Collective (OSC) is a suspension practitioner network in Ontario, Canada. Our membership is predominantly located in communities throughout southern Ontario.

While a relatively new initiative, the OSC is a project launched by members of the former +iWasCured, the first body suspension team in Canada that started in the late 1990s/early 2000s. Many of our members have been actively facilitating suspensions in Toronto and throughout southern Ontario for the past two and a half decades.

As a network of body suspension practitioners, one of the OSC’s primary objectivesis to actively dismantle the barriers people face when learning about and getting involved in the suspension community.

THE BROADER VISION
While it’s true that many of our members often work collaboratively to host public events, such as our Suspension Sunday events, the OSC does not organize as a team in the formal sense. Active practitioners within the OSC are encouraged to work with other members to establish smaller groups in their respective communities.

The OSC, in turn, supports these smaller groups of practitioners by providing learning opportunities — classes, workshops and events — lending equipment, connecting practitioners to potential venues and event spaces, and providing a forum for them to promote their events amongst suspendees and other practitioners should they need additional crew members.

what is “body suspension?”

Body Suspension

Why do People Suspend?

Body suspension is the practice of piercing hooks into the skin and using them to lift the body off the ground, allowing individuals to experience a unique state of being suspended in mid-air.

With roots in spiritual and cultural traditions worldwide, suspension has been used for purposes such as personal growth, community bonding, and ceremonial practices. Today, body suspension has become a profoundly meaningful experience for many people.

People suspend for many different reasons, and often it’s deeply personal.

  • It can be about pushing physical, mental, and emotional boundaries and finding empowerment in the process.

  • It can be part of a journey of self-discovery. Overcoming the fears and anxieties of suspension can lead to a profound sense of accomplishment and inner strength.

  • For some, it is a meditative or spiritual experience that offers clarity, peace, and a deeper connection with themselves.

  • Others see it as a form of artistic expression, a way to challenge societal norms, or simply an opportunity to experience the unique sensations and sense of peace that comes with leaving the ground.

Suspension holds different meanings for everyone who chooses to try it.

At the Ontario Suspension Collective, we provide a safe and supportive space for anyone interested in exploring this practice. We invite you to discover what suspension can mean to you—with the support of our community.

what we do

  • The Ontario Suspension Collective offers the opportunity to explore transformative practices like body suspension and flesh pulls, also known as tension pulls.

    Body Suspension

    Body suspension is a practice where hooks are carefully placed under the skin, allowing the individual to be lifted off the ground and suspended in mid-air. This experience is deeply personal and can evoke a wide range of emotions—joy, fear, empowerment, and calm. Suspension is not just a physical act; it’s a journey that challenges your mental and emotional boundaries while offering a space for reflection, self-discovery, or even spiritual connection.

    Each suspension experience is unique and tailored to your intentions. Whether you are seeking a profound meditative moment, an opportunity to push past personal limits, or simply the chance to explore a unique physical and emotional state, suspension can be transformative. At the Ontario Suspension Collective, we guide you through the process with care and respect, ensuring a safe and meaningful experience.

    Tension Pulls
    A tension pull involves hooks being placed under the skin, allowing participants to pull against another person or a stationary object such as a tree or column. This ritual can be deeply grounding and is often used to foster an energetic connection between participants or with the surrounding environment.

    Whether you are looking to experience the exchange of energy with another person or explore the sensations and emotions of pulling alone, tension pulls can provide a therapeutic and reflective experience. For those curious about suspension, tension pulls are also a wonderful way to explore hook play without the added step of leaving the ground, offering a meaningful entry point into the world of hook rituals. Each experience is tailored to your intentions, ensuring a safe, supportive, and meaningful journey.

  • Suspension and Hook Pull Performances

    The Ontario Suspension Collective facilitates body suspension and hook pull performances for a wide variety of events.

    Whether you’re seeking a striking art installation, an awe-inspiring, high in “shock-factor” performance, or an immersive narrative piece that tells a story through suspension and hook pull, our team is ready to bring your vision to life. We are also able to facilitate performances tailored for kink and fetish events and spaces, ensuring they align with the event's atmosphere and intent.

    Each performance is custom-designed in collaboration with event organizers to suit the unique context and goals of the event. Our experienced suspension practitioners handle all aspects of planning and execution, from technical setup to safety measures, ensuring a seamless and impactful performance. Fees are determined based on factors such as performance complexity, duration, the number of participants, and crew requirements. Let us work with you to create a visually stunning and unforgettable experience for your audience.

  • Education and Support for Practitioners

    The Ontario Suspension Collective (OSC) is dedicated to fostering a strong, skilled, and connected network of body suspension practitioners across Ontario. We provide educational opportunities, including workshops, classes, and mentorship, to ensure that all practitioners—whether new or experienced—have access to the tools, knowledge, and best practices developed within the international suspension community. By emphasizing safety, professionalism, and creativity, we aim to help practitioners create memorable and transformative experiences for their suspendees.

    Our broader vision includes supporting the growth of suspension teams and individual practitioners by offering access to a shared library of equipment, facilitating collaborative learning, and providing ongoing mentorship in a supportive environment. As a collective, we believe in breaking down barriers to participation in the suspension community, ensuring that practitioners at all skill levels can thrive and contribute meaningfully. OSC members become part of a collaborative network that is committed to elevating the art and practice of body suspension across the province.

  • Community

    The Ontario Suspension Collective (OSC) is dedicated to fostering a strong and inclusive community for body suspension practitioners and enthusiasts across Ontario. By hosting events in Toronto, Hamilton, and other communities throughout southern Ontario, we aim to create more accessible opportunities for people to experience and connect with body suspension, hook pulls, and other forms of ritual piercing.

    Our efforts focus on strengthening connections within the local community while contributing to the broader global suspension network. By breaking down barriers to participation and offering spaces where individuals can share knowledge, experiences, and support, we strive to ensure that everyone—whether seasoned practitioners or newcomers—has the chance to connect with others who are passionate about this unique and transformative art form.

    Building community for us is also about creating safe spaces where individuals can explore suspension for the first time. Through our commitment to providing practitioners with access to the skills, knowledge, and resources they need to facilitate suspensions safely, we ensure that those interested in trying suspension can do so in a supportive and professional environment. Through our events and our online presence we’re giving suspendees and enthusiasts the opportunity to connect with other likeminded people in the community. This sense of belonging can be as therapeutic as the act of suspension itself.