Meet Shibari & Tantra coach: Bina Taverna

‘I had the pleasure to be introduced to Shibari by a Tantric lover in India. It was a very romantic setting, where he blindfolded me and tied me up before we had a wonderful slow love making. I was fascinated about this art and not only wanted to be tied, but also wanted to learn how to facilitate such experiences for others.’

Eight years down the line, this is Bina Taverna. She is a Zurich-based coach, celebrated for her retreats and workshops that often blend the sacred arts of Shibari and Tantra. She also offers private coaching, VIP 1-1 retreats and Tantric bodywork. We caught up to hear her journey into the world of holistic sensuality.

Could you introduce yourself and what you do?

My name is Bina Taverna, and I specialize in creating safe and intimate spaces where individuals and couples can explore the depths of their sensuality, connection, and self-awareness in the realms of Tantra and Shibari. My work includes hosting retreats, workshops, and offering private Shibari and Tantra sessions, massages and intimacy coaching. My goal is to help people cultivate deeper connections with themselves and others through the powerful combination of conscious touch, breath, and emotional presence.

What services do you provide on Sensuali?

On Sensuali, I offer a blend of services that integrate the ancient practices of Shibari (Japanese rope bondage) and Tantra. My offerings include Tantra and Shibari workshops and retreats, where participants can explore the interplay of power, trust, and vulnerability through conscious rope work.

I also provide private Shibari and Tantric massage sessions tailored to individual needs, creating a personalized experience that helps clients release blockages, explore their desires, and reconnect with their bodies. Additionally, I offer intimacy coaching, where I guide clients in deepening their connections with themselves and their partners and bring them to a more authentic and fulfilling sexuality.

What was your journey into this world?

My journey into the world of Tantra began with only 19 years old, when I joined a Tantra massage workshop in Italy, without even knowing what I was getting myself into and was completely mind-blown. By that time, I didn’t know my own physical and energetical body very well and I still had to learn a lot about how to express my boundaries and desires. But as I started diving deeper and deeper into Tantra, I got to know a lot of tools that empowered me immensely in my communication and embodiment around sexuality.

A few years later in 2017, I had the pleasure to be introduced to Shibari by a Tantric lover in India. It was a very romantic setting, where he blindfolded me and tied me up before we had a wonderful slow love making. I was fascinated about this art and not only wanted to be tied, but also wanted to learn how to facilitate such experiences for others. On my travels around the globe, I studied Shibari in Koh Phangan, Bali, Israel, Germany, Switzerland, Bulgaria, Turkey and India from many different teachers.

I started exploring Tantra and Shibari as a way to deepen my own self-awareness and spiritual practice, and soon discovered the healing potential it held for others. I quickly realized its power as a tool for trust-building, emotional release, and deep connection. Combining these two practices felt natural, as they both emphasize presence, intention, and a deep respect for oneself and others.

Do you have a mission?

Yes, my mission is to help people discover and embrace their true authentic selves. I believe that through conscious touch, open communication, and mindful presence, we can unlock new levels of intimacy and connection—both with ourselves and with others. My aim is to create spaces where people feel safe to explore their desires, confront their fears, and ultimately find healing. A lot of people come to me with a lot of trauma and stuck patterns. My mission is to set them free and enable them an empowered life (not only in the bedroom).

How would you describe your approach to what you do?

My approach is deeply intuitive, raw, and trauma-sensitive.

I combine the structured, ritualistic elements of Shibari with the fluid, energy-based practices of Tantra to create experiences that are both grounding and transformative.

I emphasize safety, consent, and open communication, ensuring that every session or retreat is tailored to the unique needs and boundaries of the participants. Ultimately, my style is about creating a sacred space where people can explore their sensuality and connection with complete authenticity and presence. And it’s not only about pleasure and sexuality. I also do deep shadow work where we dive into deeper layers of the self.

Can you talk us through one of your Tantric Shibari retreats?

A Tantric Shibari retreat with me is an immersive experience that invites participants to journey deep into the realms of trust, vulnerability, and connection. The retreat usually begins with grounding practices to activate the breath, movement and sound to help everyone get into their embodiment. There will be Shibari tying techniques as well as Tantric exercises and massages.

We then move into exploring the principles of Tantra and Shibari, focusing on the interplay of energy, intention, and touch. Throughout the retreat, participants engage in guided exercises that encourage them to explore their boundaries, communicate their desires, and connect with their partners or themselves on a deeper level. We also dive deeper and uncover our patterns in relationships and look at power dynamics and consciously embody them with the ropes.

What sets these retreats apart is the combination of Shibari with Tantra, creating a unique blend of physical and energetic practices. The use of ropes adds a layer of physicality and artistry to the experience, allowing participants to explore power dynamics, surrender, conscious leadership and trust in a safe, supportive environment. Tantra enables authentic connection and sensitivity on the subtle energy layers. It’s about allowing vulnerability and intimacy.

Why do you like being a coach?

I love being a coach because it allows me to witness and support incredible transformations in my clients.

There’s something deeply fulfilling about helping someone unlock a part of themselves that they may have been afraid to explore or didn’t even know existed.

Whether it’s guiding someone through a breakthrough in their relationship or helping them embrace their own body and desires, the work is incredibly rewarding.

Are there any challenges in your work?

Of course, there are challenges. One of the biggest is navigating the vulnerability that comes with this work. It requires a lot of emotional presence and care to create a space where people feel truly safe to open up. There can also be resistance or fear that comes up for clients, which we work through together.

But these challenges are also what make the work so powerful. It can also be challenging if a client mistakes the genuine attention and love they receive from me that they are falling in love with me in a romantic way. It’s important to be in transparent communication if this comes up and set the expectations right.

Who is your typical client?

People often come to me when they feel stuck in their intimacy or when they’re looking to explore new dimensions of pleasure and connection. They might be individuals who feel disconnected from their sensuality or couples who want to reignite the spark in their relationship.  Many of my clients are also on a journey of self-discovery and are drawn to the healing aspects of Tantra and Shibari.

I also work with wealthy business people who have a high level of responsibility and seek to let go of control and fully surrender. Consciously working with power dynamics can also be beneficial at work to learn how to consciously lead without dominating.

I work with all genders, colours and I have worked with people from their early twenties up to people that are in their sixties.

I have worked with therapists, digital nomads, house wives, spiritual seekers, coaches, free spirited hippies, IT nerds, yogis, doctors, politicians and completely ordinary people. It’s been incredibly rewarding to have such diversity. 

Is there a very interesting client journey that you can share?

One of the most memorable journeys was with a client who suffered from several sexual abuse cases. She was struggling with feelings of unworthiness and was disconnected from her body and desires. Also, at the start, physical contact was very difficult, but through a series of Shibari and Tantric sessions, we reestablished her trust to be touched in a consensual way.

We worked on rebuilding their sense of self-worth and trust in their own body. Over time, I witnessed them transform from someone who was closed off and guarded to someone who was open, confident, and deeply in tune with their own needs and desires. She went from pain to pleasure. It was a beautiful reminder of the healing power of this work.

What should more people know about what you do?

I think more people should know that what I do is not just about the physical and sexual aspects of Tantra or Shibari – It goes a lot deeper. Some people come to me with big traumas and Shibari and Tantra can have therapeutic aspects that help resolve these blockages in a trauma-sensitive way.

These practices can be incredibly powerful tools for personal growth, self-awareness, and connection. It’s not just about pleasure. Shadow work and looking at uncomfortable blind spots is part of it. It’s about learning to be present with yourself and others, to communicate openly, and to embrace all parts of your being, including those that you may have kept hidden or suppressed. It is a path of liberation and inner freedom.

What is a small and unexpected pleasure in what you do?

I love these moments, when people have a spark when something clicks and they drop to a deeper layer within themselves. I love to see the tears, either, because they finally are brave enough to feel their pain or tears of joy, when they have an experience of complete liberation.

It also gives me extreme joy to see how couples look at each other with eyes full of love when their spark is lit again after a period of disconnection. 

In private sessions, I love to see the trembling bodies when the kundalini energy awakens and rushes with ecstasy through the body. And of course I love to see the blissful and glowing faces in the aftercare. Sometimes it’s a moment of eye contact that speaks volumes, or simply the quiet satisfaction of knowing that someone feels more at peace or more connected to themselves after our time together—these moments remind me why I do what I do.

How has your relationship with what you do evolved over time?

Over time, my relationship with this work has deepened. What started as a personal exploration of Tantra and Shibari has evolved into a mission to help others heal and connect. What started with the focus on pleasure only has become a tool to do deep healing work. I’ve become more attuned to the emotional and energetic dimensions of the work, and I’ve learned to trust my intuition more fully.

I’ve also developed a greater appreciation for the vulnerability that this work requires—not just from my clients, but from myself as well. This has made me more compassionate and patient, both with others and with myself.

What do you think about the future of sex and sensuality?

There are still many taboos around this topic in society. Many of us have never properly been educated by our parents or at school. Many have had their “education” only through porn as teens and now we have to re-learn sexuality as adults in a conscious way. I believe the future of sex and sensuality is moving towards greater openness, inclusivity, and mindfulness.

As more people seek out practices like Tantra and Shibari, I think we’ll see a shift away from purely physical, goal-oriented sex towards a more holistic approach that values emotional connection, communication, and presence.

People are beginning to recognize the importance of authentic and raw intimacy as a path to self-discovery and healing, and I believe this will continue to grow.

Anything final thoughts?

Some people are scared of Shibari, because people think it’s all about hardcore BDSM. This is only one possible side of the spectrum. A Shibari session can be soft, playful, nurturing, therapeutic, fun, kinky, sensual, platonic, artistic, deep, rough, raw, tender, intimate and innocent. There are so many energies you can bring, it’s all about setting a clear intention for your session.

It’s the same for Tantra, where most people share the belief that it’s only about sex. Traditionally, in Tantra only a very small aspect of it has to do with explicit sexuality. It’s about liberation, expansion and freeing yourself from your karmic imprints. It’s about reclaiming your orgasmic being again in every day life.

Discover more about Bina Taverna.