Hanging from hooks pierced through their skin

Hliðar Berg, Indíana Ósk and Kormákur Andri practice suspension, the act of suspending a human body from hooks that have been put through body piercings. These piercings are temporary and are performed just prior to the actual suspension.

Suspension has been practiced for over 5,000 years, with the most early suspensions occurring in India as a sort of religious penance. Native American Indians, particularly the Mandan tribe suspended young warriors in an annual rite called The Okipa ceremony.

Suspension is an art that first arrived in Iceland just over a year ago when an expert came to Iceland to teach Berg how to suspend a body, something which requires great expertise and an acute understanding of the human anatomy. Berg explains that the practice is extremely dangerous if the process is not correct.

PEOPLE SHOULD BY NO MEANS RE-ENACT ANYTHING SHOWN IN THIS VIDEO. THE PRACTICE CAN BE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS.

Indíana Ósk is probably the Icelander who has most frequently practiced suspension and the longest that she‘s been suspended for is two hours. She explains that no sexual gratification is involved in suspension, and that she simply enjoys being swung in different directions, as if on a swing. According to Berg, many people are simply seeking the thrill of the new while others get a spiritual experience out of the process.

Indíana admits that the process of piercing the body to hold the hooks is painful.  The process of hoisting the body up however is not painful according to Indíana although she has to „warm up a bit“ before she is lifted from the ground. She explains that many are curious and positive toward suspension in Iceland but most people don‘t understand the practice and are quick to judge.

Until now, the group has mostly practiced suspension outdoors, from bridges and trees. They are now looking for a place to suspend indoors over the winter months because cold is a difficult factor when it comes to this unusual hobby.

WARNING: THIS MBL.IS FOOTAGE IS NOT FOR CHILDREN AND SENSITIVE PEOPLE AND UNDER NO CIRCUMSTANCES SHOULD PEOPLE TRY TO IMITATE IT IN ANY WAY