Topping to the Next Level: Part 3 - How to Push

In late 2007 Max and Russell found themselves discussing topping models and what it takes to produce a good scene. They jotted down some notes and realized that they'd created the "Topping Skills" workshop they'd been looking for 15 years earlier.

Those notes became the widely acclaimed "Topping to the Next Level" series, presented in the spring of 2008.

Two years later, Max and Russell are pleased to offer a version 2.0 of the content they taught in 2008. These three workshops are a distillation of Max and Russell's experience over the last 18 years. They'll be discussing topping models, offering tools you can use to produce a good scene and sharing tips and tricks you can use to make your scenes more effective, more passionate and more powerful.

Part 3 - How to Push

When is it OK to push your bottom? And how do you push them safely, ethically, and effectively?

If you've got that mastered, try this: how do you push yourself?

Topics we'll be covering include:

• Getting someone outside their comfort zone
• Helping your bottom receive stimulus and process play
• Creating tension in your scenes
• Working with a bottom who asks you to push them harder or says "I'm afraid of this but I want to try it?"
• Encouraging your bottom to try something they're unsure of
• Learning from someone's "never done it" history
• Gracefully managing the intensity of a scene
• Helping bottoms push through barriers
• Renegotiating during a scene
• Recognizing "hard limits" vs. "soft limits"

Workshop Format

Because there's so much information to cover, the workshops will be primarily demo and lecture. There's no need to bring a practice partner, although we think this material is as valuable to bottoms as it is to tops. Bottoms - don't you want to know what your top is up to?

Handouts will be provided to jog your memory and to supply additional references.

While some topping experience will be helpful, the workshops are accessible to all skill levels and are applicable to all orientations / genders.

Workshop attendance does NOT require CSPC membership, and is open to all adults with ID.

Pre-registration is NOT required for this workshop.

To learn more

Complete details about this workshop may be found at www.BondageLessons.com/2010-04-10-tnl-how-to-push.htm

FetLife Event and Discussion Links

There's a FetLife event HERE if you want to watch the event to see who's attending.

You can follow the FetLife Discussion thread about this workshop HERE. This is a great resource if you have questions or you're looking for a practice partner for the event.

About Max

Max has been active in Seattle's BDSM community since 1992 and has been teaching bondage, BDSM and poly workshops since 1999.

He teaches public workshops in Seattle and at leather conventions around the country and has participated in events sponsored by Seattle's the Stranger newspaper, Babeland and Seattle Men in Leather (SML). Max displayed his work at both of James Mogul's ArtBound events and has rigged for a number of photo shoots.

Max offers private instruction for individuals, couples and small groups. Coaching sessions are also available to help sort out BDSM and poly-related issues. Click here for more information about private instruction.

About Russell

Russell has been an active participant in the Seattle BDSM scene since 1993 as both a top and bottom, still doesn't get bondage but somehow manages to have fun anyway. He's taught a wide variety of workshops since 1999.