STEP 1: METHODS OF BREATH PLAY
Breath play can be engaged with using only body parts, or fetish equipment, such as hoods and gags. There are 3 main common methods of breath play - Choking, Smothering and Strangling.
The definition of choking and what many people call choking are actually two different things - technically speaking choking refers to the internal obstruction of an airway. Most commonly this would be due to food but in the instance of breath play this would refer to having submissive choke on a penis, dildo or sometimes other phallic object.
Smothering is the act of cutting off a person’s air supply, similar to choking, only externally, often by means of a hand over the nose and mouth, or often through the practice of facesitting, where a dominant (more often a woman) sits on the face of the submissive to restrict their airflow using their buttocks and genitals.
Strangling refers to what most people would call choking, which is the constriction of blood flow to the brain, via pressure on the carotid arteries. These arteries run along each side of the neck, and pressure upon them can reduce blood supply to the brain by as much as 70-80%. This pressure and lack of blood gives the lightheaded feeling which many people enjoy.
STEP 2: TECHNIQUES TO REDUCE RISKS
Breath play can be very dangerous as it restricts the flow of oxygen to the brain and lungs, which can lead to unconsciousness or even death if not addressed quickly. It's important to note that when engaging in any activities that involve choking, proper safety precautions should be taken, and both partners should have a clear understanding of the risks and how to safely stop the activity if necessary. Additionally, never apply pressure to the front of someone's neck, which can cause serious injury. Clear communication, consent and proper knowledge of first aid is crucial.
The safest way to engage in any form of breath play is to use body parts (often the hands, arms and buttocks) as they are easy to remove and can almost never get stuck on the submissive. If you wish to use more hardcore equipment such as gas masks, breath play hoods, full latex catsuits and hoods, or any other specialized fetish equipment, first aid knowledge is vital. You should always have a phone for emergency services nearby, round ended safety scissors and a basic knowledge of CPR should the worst happen.
Safe words are commonplace in many fetishes, however in the instance of breath play many submissives will not be able to utter the necessary words to cease play, so instead you should have some kind of safe word or gesture (e.g 3 taps of the thigh) to indicate when it needs to stop. The better you know your partner’s body, the safer you will be, as you will be able to tell when they need to stop before they tell you.
