Aphilia Studio
Small East London studio dedicated to Japanese-style rope, run by teacher Conor Aphilia. Besides private tuition it lists a Wednesday rope jam, a beginners’ rope class and an aibunawa (tender rope) study group.
Aphilia Studio is a small, cosy space in Limehouse, East London, which introduces itself as “London’s newest rope studio” and is devoted to Japanese-style rope. It belongs to the London teacher and artist Conor Aphilia, who describes his practice as a physical enquiry into sensations and emotions that become clearer when the mind is still, using rope, breath, movement and a deliberate exchange of power. The studio frames its ethos as “radical tenderness and fierce compassion”, with an emphasis on vulnerability, empathy and safety.
Private tuition. Private classes are the core of Conor’s teaching: he states that he has given more than 200 private classes over four years as a full-time educator. Sessions usually last three to four hours and open with a period of observation of the student’s rope handling, body management and technique; ties are then chosen to suit the student and their partner, with attention to mood, headspace, breathing, quality of touch and movement efficiency. His suggested progression runs from beginner restriction work over structured harnesses to semi-suspension and, after six to twelve months, preparation for full suspension, combining private classes with weekend workshops. On 9 November 2026 the studio’s private-classes page listed a three-hour class at £240, or £210 per class when booking more than two; Conor’s own site, London Shibari, still gave £200 for a class of at least three hours.
Group events. The studio’s ticket page lists a Wednesday rope jam, a beginners’ rope class, an aibunawa study group and a kinbaku study group, with occasional one-day workshops. The studio website also links to an online shop.