HMU Academy: Humiliation & Degradation Play

Explore the deliciously dark side of shame, ego, and humiliation, and learn to turn vulnerability into pleasure and power.

This class is open to the public, 21+

About the Class

*How embarrassing... the whole room can see you.*

We all love to make someone blush! But what happens when we venture beyond playful embarrassment and into the deeper, darker corners of our minds? How do we explore shame, vulnerability, and our most secret desires without causing lasting emotional harm?

Humiliation and degradation can be incredibly powerful forms of play, allowing us to explore our relationships with shame, ego, identity, and self-worth. But these vulnerable spaces require more than just consent. They require trust, emotional awareness, and an understanding of the psychological territory we're stepping into.

In this class, we'll unpack the differences between humiliation and degradation, why we're drawn to them, and how to explore the shadow parts of ourselves that we may have been taught to hide or reject. We'll discuss how to acknowledge the trauma, insecurities, and lived experiences that can influence our desires, and how to approach those tender places with curiosity rather than judgment.

We'll also explore the other side of the dynamic: **What does it mean to enjoy humiliating someone?** How do we make peace with the parts of ourselves that find pleasure in playing with another person's shame, vulnerability, or ego? How can we embrace those desires without confusing consensual cruelty with genuine harm?

Together, we'll discuss how to hold space for emotionally vulnerable play, recognize when we're approaching sensitive territory, and use communication, negotiation, and intentional dialogue to create experiences that can be exciting, empowering, cathartic, or even healing.

**In this class, we'll explore:**

• The differences between humiliation, degradation, embarrassment, and shame.
• Why we're drawn to shame-based play and what our desires can teach us about ourselves.
• Exploring our shadows, playing with ego, and embracing the parts of ourselves we don't always understand.
• Navigating the desire to humiliate or be humiliated without judgment or shame.
• Understanding the relationship between trauma, vulnerability, and erotic exploration.
• Creating emotional safety through consent, negotiation, trust, and communication.
• Holding space for difficult emotions, recognizing triggers, and knowing when to pull back.
• Using dialogue and intentional play to transform shame into empowerment, pleasure, or catharsis.

Whether you're curious about making someone squirm, love the thrill of being exposed, or want to better understand the psychology behind these dynamics, this class invites you to explore the deliciously uncomfortable parts of yourself with curiosity, compassion, and care.

FAQs

FAQ: what should I bring?

Nothing required, if there is a toy or object that will contribute to this type of play for you bring it along

FAQ: any skill pre-requisites? (i.e., is this for beginners, advanced, everyone?)

This class is suitable for all levels

FAQ: what should I wear?

Come as you are, outfits that play into this type of play encouraged but not required.

FAQ: can I attend solo, or do I need to come with a partner?

Solo is fine

About Your Instructor

Mx. Fox is a femme domme, kink educator, and relationship & intimacy coach with nearly a decade of experience practicing and teaching in the NYC scene. Their work focuses on helping people of all experience levels build confidence, express themselves shamelessly, and create hotter, safer, and more connected play and relationships.

BIPOC and Equity Ticketing

The full fee reflects the true costs of running the event, including supplies and compensating facilitators for their labor. If you are able to afford a full price ticket without experiencing financial hardship, please choose this option. For those who identify as BIPOC, and/or those who cannot afford a full fee ticket are welcome to use our discount code EQUITY26 at checkout.

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✨Location: 120 Walker St in Lower Manhattan. The space has an elevator. Please email hello@hitmeupnyc.com if you need any accessibility accommodations.

✨Full vaccination is required. While we recommend getting the booster shots, we are not verifying them at this time.

✨Membership: We reserve the right to refuse entry if needed. Hit Me Up also hosts private events which are invite only, and anyone new to Hit Me Up must apply and be approved to attend—no guests or plus ones. Please visit https://joinhitmeup.com/join/ to join. You are welcome to inquire as to your status or that of your friends, but please do not act as if you have an entitlement to access our space or members. Building special spaces is hard, and while we are inclusive and welcoming, we reserve the right to curate our membership as needed to maintain our flourishing community. If you'd like to sponsor a new member please have them apply as soon as possible. If they wait until a few days before the event we cannot guarantee they will be able to be approved in time.

✨Please stay home if you are feeling ill or if you have had recent close contact with someone who tested Covid positive (within the past 5 days). You could be incubating and still test negative. Any requests for refunds for any reason will be honored up to the day of the event. Remember: safe, sane, and sanitary Just email hello@hitmeupnyc.com and we will give you a full refund, no questions asked.

✨Consent Policy: All of our events are ASK FIRST events. The rules of respectful and consensual behavior WILL be enforced. You will be responsible for reading our consent policy and behaving appropriately. Read our consent policy in full: https://joinhitmeup.com/consent/. If you have questions, want to make a report, or need support, please contact our third party consent reporting service, available at consent@hitmeupnyc.com.