It wouldn’t be the Big Apple if New Yorkers weren’t busy and…all tied up. In this spirit, Babeland SoHo is thrilled to welcome globe-trotting sexuality educator and writer, Midori, back for her popular Hands on Rope Bondage Class on Sunday, July 31^st. Originally from Japan, now based in San Francisco, she travels far and wide, teaching passionate bedroom skills, and we are psyched to see her back in NYC.  Between trips (or perhaps from a laptop on the road) she generously agreed to make time for an interview.  Read on to find out what makes Midori tick…

Leah: How did you get your start teaching about sex?

Midori: In the early '90 I started doing grass-roots HIV risk reduction education volunteer work. From there, I trained with San Francisco Sex Information - truly a remarkable organization. Gradually I become involved with the sex positive movement rumbling up from San Francisco. Everyone deserves safe and accurate information about sexuality in order to make the best possible informed choices for themselves and live life fulfilled and happy.

Leah:   That's exactly how we feel here at Babeland. Can you tell us a bit about the first time you taught here?

Midori: I just checked my records. It was November of 1999! I taught the "Art of Feminine Dominance Level 1" at Babeland LES. Did you know that this little class has now grown into the full blown weekend intensive for women called ForteFemme?  I loved that store and the funky neighborhood. I was still not well known in New York and the attendance was small, but the students and staff were so excited and they made me feel totally welcome. It was such a good experience that my relationship with Babeland continues today!

Leah: What is the most common question you get in your Hands on Rope Bondage class?

Midori: “I don’t know complicated knots.” So many people worry that they’re not some expert level Boy Scout knot tier. I quickly alleviate their concerns, as the style of rope play I teach only requires the simplest of skills. If you can tie your shoe laces, I can teach you fabulous rope bondage! Why worry about knots when there’s hot play and sex to focus on, right?

Leah:  Absolutely! You are a travel enthusiast – where would you most like to teach a class?

Midori: Do I have to pick just one? I’d love to return and teach as artist in residence at Das Arts, post-grad performing art institute in Amsterdam again. Of places I’ve not taught in, it would be a thrill to teach in other parts of Asia, such as Singapore and Hong Kong.

Leah: With all of the traveling and teaching that you do, you must be pretty busy! What are your plans for the future?

Midori: I continue to develop my various weekend intensive programs.  Today there are increasing numbers of on-line resources and education for sexuality skills. These are lovely for skill brush ups and foundation education, and I totally support them. I might even give a class or two that way in the near future.  However, when it comes to finding life-long fulfillment, solid confidence building, transformative growth towards a whole person, relationship enrichment and whole sexual satisfaction, we have to roll up our sleeves, dive in to do remarkable work with the support of instructors in a supportive small-group environment – in person.

I founded Rope Bondage Dojo ® back in 2001 and ForteFemme: Women’s Dominance Weekend Intensive shortly after that. They’re both going strong with several scheduled each year.  ForteFemme happens in San Francisco this September and again next spring. Then I’ll bring that back to NYC in the fall of 2012. Rope Bondage Dojo will return to San Francisco in January and NYC in early Spring of 2012.    I’m also in the process of developing a couple’s retreat for extraordinary romance and bedroom skills.

And I’m working on a few secret book projects... But more on that in the future.  In the mean time I keep writing regular columns and incessant tweets.

Leah: In your line of work and play it is important to have a safe word: a previously agreed upon word that signals when one partner needs to slow down or stop. What is the most interesting safe word you’ve ever heard?

Midori: “I love George Bush” was a safeword given to a leftie liberal heavy duty bottom. Now that’s a tough safeword!  

Leah: Too funny.  I hope we hear some more stories like that at your class this Sunday!