We were very happy to be invited back to BeachBind and we were very much looking forward to it. This is really a unique event taking place over a full week at a beautiful inclusive resort in Jamaica (Hedonism II). The atmosphere and the setting are incredible and the pace of the event is just perfect. It’s so relaxed and I’m saying that from the point of view of someone doing 2 shows and teaching for 5 days straight and still this is the most relaxed event I can think of. I think that can only happen because it’s a week long event.
Saturday
So, we travelled to Jamaica via Atlanta again (funny how it’s always via Atlanta going and via JFK coming back). The timing of the flight was just right for us to miss dinner on the day of our arrival but that’s not a problem at Hedonism as the beach bar-b-q fires up at midnight so you can always get a burger and a beer. It’s always great returning to an event like this to meet up with old friends again. Sadly you don’t see some people from one year to the next when you turn up at the same event again so these are always happy times. We spent some of Saturday night when we arrived greeting people and catching up. A great start to the event.
Sunday
Sunday sees the start of the event propper with classes and the opening circle. We started off with a Class by Direwo1f on negotiation. There was a very interesting and open discussion on the subject with plenty of sharing of insights strategies and ideas on ways to negotiate and their pitfalls.
Next we did my method TK class. I like doing this at BeachBind as it’s something that can be revisited during the week. Teaching something in depth really needs repeat information and not just a one shot so an environment where people can keep coming back for a week is ideal and this is why I now teach it as a set of 4 lessons at home.
Finally we chilled out in the BeachBind tent on the beach before it was time to get some rest.
Monday
At the risk of telling you something against most people’s perception of me we began the day with Yoga on the beach (I like yoga ok? I should probably actually do more of it.) with the lovely LadyB. Followed by the strappado variations class. This was I’m happy to say well received and gave people some new ideas to work with.
After some more catching up it was time for the opening circle followed by the first performance of the week (ours). Normally on a Monday the resort move their dining tables to the beach for dinner but due to rain it was kept in the dining room meaning we performed on the stage rather than on the beach as we did the year before. It’s funny but I never seem to remember the elements of many shows (I do remember some.) but I do remember the feeling of shows. This one was good and we enjoyed our rope. We also got some interest from the ‘nillas’. The ‘nillas’ in this case being the swingers who made up the rest of the people occupying Hedonism as after all it is a swingers resort.
Tuesday
We took Miss Doctor’s always excellent upper body nerves class (you can’t reinforce good medical information too much).
Our class was Agura shibari. In this class we had a guest demo bottom in kaijafaerie who was excellent in the demo and the only person I’ve ever seen twerk face down in an agura. This freed Clover up to contribute her take on, and experiences with Agura.
The day’s official activities finished with Clover’s sunset photoshoot on the beach, dinner and a rope show on the main stage this time by Laughing Dragon and Feinix.
Wednesday
Our class this time was Hashira. I’m really pleased not only with the way this went but with the enthusiasm for Hashira it created. We saw multiple Hashira being rigged after the class and many pictures of Hashira from people who attended after we got home. One couple were so enthused that they’d installed their own Hashira in their home within a week of BeachBind. Then it was time for us to attend a class and we enjoyed FredRX’s class on whips and rope. I like whips and frankly should use mine more. Another sunset photoshoot followed to round out the day before dinner and a show by Mynx and LadyB. As usual we carried on the rope and good times at the BeachBind tent on the beach before moving on for a soak in the Huge hot tub at the far end of the nude beach before bed.
Thursday
Feedback Loop was our first class followed by thinking ahead for transitions which I am proud to say was not what people were expecting but went over well. Another sunset photoshoot naturally occurred followed by dinner and a rope show on stage from FredRx and Kaijafaerie. More rope on the beach and hot tub before bed.
Friday
We didn’t have any classes to teach on Friday which left us with a very relaxing day, we got massages in the spa which are great to set you up for a long journey home and squeeze the last drops of relaxation from your time at the resort. The closing circle always leads to strong emotions as this is an event where you really get to know people over a week and are going to be saying goodbye to some very good friends, in some cases for a whole year. This is something of a double bump for us as the emotion of the closing circle is then followed by our final performance and in this case it was a very emotional one. Finally everyone went to the beach to chill and then on to the hot tub for the last time. There were many emotional goodbyes from those having to leave early in the morning.
Saturday
Sadly it’s time to go home. Breakfast, sad goodbyes and the bus to the airport and flights home via JFK and Heathrow and the drive home from London.
We will return to BeachBind in 2019 and we’re already looking forward to it.
Leave A Comment