A form of Edge Play. Is the intentional control, restriction or overload of oxygen intake. When hearing about breath control most people think about erotic asphyxiation but this play exists beyond it. It can also be achieved through means like stepping or sitting on someone's chest [known as compressive asphyxia]. Other ways to impair someone's ability to breathe include breath-holding, nose-pinching, corseting or direct pressure on the larynx or the trachea.

 

Breath play usually goes hand in hand with other types of play, like Bondage, S/m, Discipline, Sensory Play. As with most BDSMK activities, breath play can be as soft or as hard as its players wish. Some mild forms of play involve techniques that are relatively safe and have a lower risk of injury, like; breath control, smothering, kinging or queening. Other forms of play that are considered more advanced are; sensory deprivation [using masks & hoods as a tool for the breath control], choking [which is alarmaly too popular!], strangling, waterboarding.

 

Some practices have their own “sub-categories”.

Breath control: can be done by commanding, holding breath for a period of time [breath-holding], using hand over mouth and pinching the nose, or breath swapping.
Smothering: thighs smothering, tit smothering, ass smothering, pussy smothering; regardless of the body part, it's when the Top covers the bottom’s face with a part of their body, can also be done by using an object [pillow ARE NOT advisable!].
Sensory masks or hoods: latex, PVC or plastic gear can be the ultimate form of sensory play. They aren’t designed just to restrict oxygen supply, but to increase it too.
Choking: it can be done by applying pressure to the neck or inserting -usually phallic shaped things- toys, objets or penises in the mouth.
Strangling: can be as straightforward as using the hands around the neck, or go as far as a stranglehold.

 

Technically speaking, it is supposed that choking it's about impairing air supply to the brain; while strangling is about impairing blood supply to the brain. According to our knowledge both, choking and strangling are based on restricting air or blood flow to the brain temporarily.

Breath Chokes: involves the restriction of oxygen into the lungs. A breath choke is the most advanced and dangerous choke. Passing out during this activity can have serious consequences. It's advisable to start very, very slow using a time on, time off method. 5 seconds on, then off. Is it advised not to engage the neck to restrict the breath, but instead block the air passageways like the nose, mouth, or both.

Blood Chokes: easily confused with breath chokes due to its sensation and way of doing it. Instead of restricting oxygen via the lung, this choke does so by restricting oxygen to the brain via blood flow [aka the carotid arteries]. Blood SHOULD NOT be a goal, but it is helpful to understand how it works. As soon as someone passes out, players should cease play and move into aftercare mode.

 

Even though, when thinking of choking, most people think “hands around the throat”, the best and safer way to do so is by using the fleshier parts of the body, like a thigh or arm. There’s also the safest way of doing a choke, a Fantasy Choke, where the Top doesn’t apply any restriction to breath or blood flow and is more about the sensation around the neck and the feeling of control. 90% of the time, this is what individuals interested in choking are looking for.

 

It’s important to notice that the carotid arteries -which run along the sides of the neck- supply 70 to 80 percent of the blood going into the brain. People need to be able to breathe to stay alive, so restricting air flow automatically jeopardizes someone’s ability to breathe. When pressure is put on the front part of the neck [which shouldn’t be done!], the risk of damaging the larynx or fracturing delicate cartilage in that area are very high.