As a subculture of BDSM, bondage involves people being bound, tied up, or restrained for pleasure. More often than not, bondage is performed as a sexual practice. The derivation of pleasure or sexual gratification by bondage is also known as vincilagnia, from the root words ?vincio-? meaning to bind or fetter with chains, and ?-lagneia? which means lust.

Recent studies show that approximately three-quarters of all men in the United states think of the idea of bondage as erotic, and so do other women. This only goes to show that the sexual appeal of bondage appeals to both sexes regardless of sexual orientation.

In terms of fashion, leather has been a staple piece for most people in the BDSM culture. This not only serves as their a statement, most accessories and equipments used for BDSM activities like whips, belts, cuffs, and restraints are often made of leather.

Even though most bondage games end up in sexual activities, not all bondage role plays turn out that way. On the contrary, role plays between casually acquainted partners may just end up in masturbation, or, believe it or not, no sexual release at all.

Safety is always a key issue when performing bondage as this usually requires the aid of different devices or mechanisms used to bound or suspend victims. A recent study showed that bondage is the safest fetish to engage in. But this is provided that the role play is acted out with sober, trusted individuals and with the use of sterile equipments.

Being bound or tied up for a long time may cause friction on the submissive partner's skin. This, in turn, may lead to bruising and open scrape wounds on the area where the restraints were put. Using unsterilized equipment may put you at risk of incurring infection from those open scrape wounds. In cases where the restraints are placed on the partner's genital area, one's sexual health may be put to risk if you take a chance on using unhygienic equipments.

There are currently six major categories to which bondage can be divided into, these are:

lBondage that pulls parts of the bodies together. The use of rope, straps, and harnesses are required to bound the hands or feet together.

lBondage that spreads parts of the body apart. This requires the use of spreader bars and x-frames, this time, to spread the hands or the feet apart.

lBondage that ties the body down to another object. This type of bondage requires the use of chairs, beds, or stocks.

lBondage that suspends the body from another object. This is also called suspension bondage. This requires the aide of an elevated device to which suspension cables, or chains are connected to to have the bound partner hanging fully or partially in mid-air.

lBondage that restricts normal movement. The use of hobble skirts, handcuffs, or pony harnesses are used to stop a person from being able to move naturally.

lBondage that wraps the whole body, or part of it, in bindings such as cloth or plastic. Materials such as saran wrap or cling film may be used for mummification of the bound partner. A sleepsack, a type of sleeping bag, is also used for this type of bondage.

Role players often set a fantasy setting in which they can play bondage. These settings include:

lRape fantasy. In this setting, the dominant partner supposedly abducts the consenting victim and has total control to do whatever he pleases with the victim.

lDomination and slavery. The victim supposedly attends a training session in which he is rewarded for his obedience, and punished for any form of defiance against his master. Humiliation is sometimes involved in this setting.

Bondage is not only helpful to a couple's sexual health, it transcends beyond the act's sexual connotation. The bondage roleplay's need for openness, trust, and full understanding of each partner's difference brings about a new bonding experienced to a couple, holding them closer together.