Tension was built around five core values:

Accountability, Communication, Safety, Community, Discipline.

Those values don’t stop at the edge of our matts.
They also shape who gets to be here.

We know this practice attracts the intense, the curious, the nonlinear, the neuro-spicy, the strange and wonderful thinkers. You don’t need permission to belong here — you already speak the language.

But we recognize that structural barriers do still exist:
racism, transphobia, homophobia, colonial histories, class inequity, underrepresentation, and the economic realities that shape the world are still present. Tension itself is run by marginalized, economically struggling and as an organization face them all the time.

This program exists to push back on those barriers —
not by making the work “easier,” but by making the door accessible for the people who need it.
Because rope — real rope — thrives in a community made of many voices, bodies, identities, and histories. Because queer and racialized people deserve accessible paths into kink, rope, and movement arts. Because representation matters not as a slogan, but as lived experience. And because the practice itself becomes stronger when the people inside it are varied, present, and intentional.

Tension is built by a weird, queer, neurodivergent, disciplined bunch.
If this path is calling you, we want to hear from you.

We know that:

  • LGBTQ+ people, especially trans and non-binary folks, face more economic barriers and hostility in gyms, sport, and movement spaces.

  • BIPOC folks in kink and BDSM spaces report much higher rates of discrimination and racial fetishization than white participants, and often feel unwelcome or hyper-visible.

  • Racialized queer people repeatedly describe mainstream fitness and sexuality spaces as unsafe, exclusionary, or simply “not for them.”

So if we were to pretend “everyone has the same access,” we would be lying.
This program exists to push back on that reality that still exists.

This is only one of the ways we work toward a safe(r), more accountable, more representative community at Tension.

SCHOLARSHIPS

For students who feel the pull, but not the privilege.

Scholarships are for people who want to train consistently and seriously, but whose financial reality makes regular attendance difficult.

We prioritize:

  • LGBTQ+ students — especially trans, nonbinary, and gender-expansive people
  • BIPOC students — Black, Indigenous, and people of colour
  • Students dealing with systemic economic, or social barriers
  • Anyone who has been historically excluded from rope, kink, or movement spaces

This is not charity.

It is a correction —
a way to counter disparity and widen access.

Cleaning at Tension

ENERGY EXCHANGE

For those who want to contribute as part of their learning.

Some people prefer to offer time, labour, or presence instead of (or alongside) money.

Energy exchange might include:

  • studio upkeep
  • supporting events or workshops
  • helping with setup or breakdown
  • light administrative work
  • community care tasks
  • presence and reliability during busy nights

We create a mutual agreement together:

  • what you can offer
  • what Tension can offer in return
  • how long the exchange lasts
  • when we check in and reassess

It is fair, honest, and clearly communicated from both sides.

WHO THIS PROGRAM SERVES

  • LGBTQ+

    From questioning to loudly queer

  • Trans & Nonbinary

    who are often priced out or unwelcome in mainstream movement spaces

  • BIPOC

    who face disproportionate barriers in kink, rope, and wellness communities

  • Anyone navigating inequity

    systemic, socioeconomic or otherwise who feels called toward embodied practice

And to be clear:
Neurodivergence is not an access category here.

Tension is already overwhelmingly neurodivergent —
instructors, students, regulars, newcomers, all of us.

This is a place where nonlinear thinking, intensity, curiosity, and “weirdness” are the norm.
You are not an exception in this space.

You’re our people.

WHAT WE ASK IN RETURN

From everyone in this program, we ask:

Accountability
Show up when you say you will; communicate clearly when you can’t.

Communication
Practice consent, presence, clarity — with yourself and others.

Safety
As a safe(r) space engage with our values: no racism, no transphobia, no homophobia, no ableism, no harassment, no oppressive behaviour.
Repair when necessary. Grow continuously.

Community
Participate as part of a larger group — not as a customer, but as a contributor.

Discipline
This is a long-term practice. You move slowly, consistently, with intention.

Perfection is not required; only willingness & humility.

📩 HOW TO BEGIN

Send us a message or visit the studio.
You don’t need to write a formal letter or justify your life story.

Just tell us:

  • who you are
  • what draws you to this practice
  • whether you’re seeking scholarship, exchange, or a mix
  • anything that would help us understand your access needs

We’ll connect, talk, and see if there is space in the program at this time.

If spots are full, we’ll tell you honestly and add you to the next review cycle.

Contact us to schedule a meeting or visit us at the studio.