A woman has had metal hooks inserted through her knees to take part in the bizarre practice of human suspension.
The unusual hobby involves rigging the body to hang from implements pierced through the skin – something Kaylyn Chiesa describes as “exhilarating”.
The 24-year-old was introduced to the pastime after watching a video of it online. She now has steel hocks placed through her back, arms, and knees so that she can take part herself.
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A video of her having the hooks pierced through the skin above her knees gone viral, garnering 85,000 views.
While painful, Kaylyn claims it releases “feel-good chemicals” and is well worth the discomfort.
“I enjoy the sting of the needles and the gentle tug of the hardware,” she told Need To Know.
“It’s something to focus on and can be very grounding.
“The pain is definitely something you need to be prepared for.
“It’s an inevitable part, and leaning into it will generally make the experience better.
“Before the suspension, there’s a little bit of nervousness but nearly all excitement.
“The needles used are big and can be intimidating, but insertion is over quickly.
“It feels like a poke and then a burn, and it’s usually over after one deep breath.
“That’s about when the feel-good chemicals start dumping – you’ll have adrenaline, dopamine, and other hormones spike.
“We then secure the hardware to a suspension rig and add tension to the hooks.”
Kaylyn recently shared a video online showing the metal hooks through her knees.
One person, Chance, commented: “That’s gotta hurt.”
Another viewer said: “And if it gets ripped out?”
“How do you walk with these on?” questioned another user.
Laura commented: “I should’ve stayed curious.”
“Would this fix my knee pains?” asked someone else.
Kaylyn regularly engages in the practice as part of a group called Ellysium, which contains four other members.
The group is able to place a person weighing 160 lbs on a single hook.
Kaylyn’s favourite move is grounded pulls, which are where the rig pulls skin and hardware.
Grounded pulls maintain the goal of stretching the body and feeling pain, but they don’t lift the subject off the ground entirely.
To prepare, Kaylyn says it is essential to eat a healthy meal, drink lots of water, be well-rested, and prepare mentally.
When the practice is over, the hooks are removed and the skin is cleaned before being covered with a bandage.
Kaylyn added, “You don’t even need to get off the ground to have a great experience.
“It’s fun to pull around and just feel what your body is capable of – it’s exhilarating.
“Your mind can get stuck on the idea that your skin is taking on weight that it’s not used to, but skin is incredibly strong and elastic.
“Our team comfortably puts 160 lbs on one hook, depending on the placement.
“Once you’re done suspending or playing with them, we take the hardware out, clean the skin again and bandage the areas up.
“It’s super important to take care of your body and mind.
“Lots of fluids, no crazy decision making, rest and recovery.
“Throughout it all, it’s an amazing feeling of ‘Wow, I did this’, and afterwards, a distinct sense of pride and accomplishment.”
Kaylyn, from Wyoming, US, added: “It’s not for everyone, but the people who enjoy it hold it dearly.
“There is a lot of learning and knowledge about the body and mind that goes into such an activity.
The group will only try the hooks with sober individuals who have prepared well, in order to have the best outcome and experience.
“We practice risk-aware consent in everything, and there is nothing wrong with stopping the suspension or play at any time for any reason.
“The absolute joy of watching someone do something difficult is amazing.
“I’m so proud of every person who’s done that.”
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