spoiler
I dont like it but you can do some self ties as practice. I LOVE shibari and the nice beautiful complex ties are legitimately hard to practice without someone there. In my experience, and I suspect generally, there are more rope bottoms than rope tops so there are plenty of patient bottoms for it because its not like they have much choice...
But you can learn single column and double column in like half an hour and go from there. I wouldn't like do suspensions with out some practice and experience but the basics of a double column tie holding arms behind the back (maybe in a reverse prayer?) and some safe ties on ankles to posts? You can do learn that pretty quickly. Always have safety shears check in with the bottom, yadda yadda, you know the drill.

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