Agura
Estimated Reading Time: 5 minutes
Definition
An agura is a Japanese word for the 'improper' style of sitting position where the person sitting has their legs crossed. In shibari, when we use the term agura, we can mean any tie that goes on a person's legs while sitting in that position.
Explanation
The agura tie style originated as an Eastern Japanese shibari tie, and it is still very popular in both floor ties and suspension. It is a sturdy, functional, and frequently [but not always] suspendable lower body tie. It can be used for both full and partial suspensions, as well as self-suspending.
Most of these ties wrap around the ankle, the waist, and both legs, but an agura is a general term for the sitting cross-legged position, and there are many tie variations for this sitting pose. Some of those variations are not sturdy enough for suspension. If you are looking to suspend with an agura, make sure that it is intended to be load-bearing. If you do not intend on suspending, then you don't need to worry quite so much about how sturdy it is if you are just sitting in it.
You will almost always want to tie a chest harness first to go with the agura for upright suspensions. The chest harness can help keep you upright so that you don't flip over and hit your head, as well as to help balance you in the air. When you get more experience in the air, you could eventually learn to flip over on purpose.
The chances are high that your toes/feet will go numb a few times while you learn where to and where not to place the rope. If you are unsure, always just untie. You can even usually try to re-tie if you are still up for it.
A sturdy, functional, and suspendable agura is not typically a beginner tie, and it isn't intended to be. Work your way up to suspension. Don't run, crawl. Maybe even an army crawl on the forearms. Hopefully someone's legs will be tied up.
Pro Tip
I am a fairly small individual, and most people are quite a bit larger than myself. I could still suspend most of them on my own [with a spotter watching for safety].
If you have a chair, you can tie your bottom's legs in an agura while they are sitting on the chair [after you have also given them a chest harness first], add your uplines, and remove the chair. Your bottom could also help by lifting themselves up on the upline ropes or ring to help remove the chair, but be careful where they grab on the uplines/ring, and where on the uplines you place your knots, so jams don't happen.
Criss cross apple sauce.
