Now before I go too far I agree there is a risk involved. Can you name something in this Lifestyle that isn't risk related? It is the level of risk involved that is the concern. I won't argue bentwench's statistics because it makes sense. Most of the deaths I have heard about are from autoasphyxiation where something goes wrong and there is no one around to help.

If you want to look at actual breath play there is a broad spectrum to view.

Putting a bag over the head is one: don't care for it. Bags are not always that easy to get off if tied on, secondly can be sucked down into the throat further complicating the matter.

Tape: doesn't sound too bad. Tape is easy enough to rip off if need be. However I don't care for it as it isn't worth the time to put the tape on just to rip it off so quickly. This assumes the nose has been closed off. Tape works if you leave the nose open. You can pinch the nose off for a few seconds or so at a time. The drawback here is that it may be difficult for the subject to "catch their breath" back which may require the ripping off of the tape. Hoses and other such can utilized similarly in conjunction with the tape or use of a gag. Simply pinching off or closing off the tube is similar to the nose method but with similar or a bit more risk if you have to try to undo a gag quickly. Overall possibly lower in risk than the bag on the head method.

Hand over mouth/nose. This is getting close to one of My favorites. Simply pinching the nose and putting your hand over the mouth works and works very well in My opinion. You have complete control this way. Simply letting go allows the subject to breath. Pretty safe as far as breath play goes so long as you watch for the obvious bulging eyes and blue tint to the skin.

Now comes My all time favorite way to do it. I prefer to call it breath control. I enjoy taking control of My subjects every breath. I utilize a hand to the throat for start. I love the feel of the flesh, the trachea, the major arteries, the gasping that will follow, feeling the vibrations from any whimpers you cause or allow.

I gently (at first) massage or start to rub the neck area (warm up) and gradually start to squeeze. Now squeezing is where I am most concerned. Squeezing applies more pressure to the trachea as it has no where to go but squeezed together or crushed. Also I ensure that My finger tips are not directly on on the trachea causing a pinching between them. I also like to get My whole hand on the neck.I would say the "key" here is smooth even easy pressure. Beleive Me it does not take much to get a wonderful effect.

Next I prefer to "push" against the throat. Instead of alot of squeezing simply applying pressure to the throat works well. With My whole hand on the troat I simply push in slightly and back, sometimes a bit of an upward angle for head control. This gives the parts inside a place to go and be cushioned from the effects I mentioned up above. This is definately best done with something behind the subjects head like a pillow. This allows a measure of "give" as well letting the neck sink into something and keep things safer. Along those lines I will sometimes put My other hand or arm around the neck. This works similar to the pillow and allows give Me a further guage into how much pressure I am really using.

By controlling the pressure applied you can limit the amount of breath allowed in. You won't totally block it which it good but reduction of the air will provide a wonderful result just as well. If you wish to further block the air simply kiss your subject. Your breath becomes theirs and you further control the air intake of the bottom.

Now with most of that said I must say that when I do this I am very careful. I alway retain a sense of where My subject is in the play. I have learned just when to let them breath and when they can hold it just a bit longer. I go slow and work up to it. This method allows you to control beath from full breathing to near complete choke/gagging. It can be dangerous. The cartilidge and such in the neck can be damaged and possibly easy depending on the subject. You have to be able to judge just how much pressure you are applying not just in terms of restricting breath but to what effect it may have on what's in the neck. I know that I have a strong enough grip to crush a throat (sure someone in the medical field may have the exact # of pounds of pressure required to crush the throat, if so please post it). I am sure that many of you do as well it does not take much.

So I advise that if you wish to pursue this type of play, or any other type of more edge play, that you go slow, do it on someone who is ready for it, or learn from someone who does it now safely. All the usual precautions.

Prophett,
Lord, The House of Darkwatch