There’s been a wave of interest recently about the sharper pleasures in life. Giving credit where credit is due, this possibly issues from a more open mindedness in society, an availability of (very well written) romances involving said pleasures, and a general wave of acceptability for those of us who sit outside the norm.
Not a certain book and film series which will not be named…
That said, even fun, exciting past times need their limits – and this is a good thing! Boundaries give us a field to play upon, as well as keeping our partner(s) safe and happy. Healthy Kink can be summed up in a tried and true mantra: Safe, Sane, and Consensual.
To the outsider looking in, certain aspects of BDSM (bondage, discipline, sadism, and masochism) just don’t seem all that safe or sane. Bondage restricts movement, sometimes even inhibiting speech, so how can that be safe? Disciple – the stereotypical whips and chains – couldn’t possibly be safe, could they? It’s not so hard 
really, but it relies on honest communication between the parties involved. Lay out which activities which are a definite “yes,” which are “maybes,” and which are very hard line “no.”
So what about the sane part? To be blunt, being sane means keeping the scene (the place and actions which participants are playing) well within the previously agreed limits. Do not surprise a partner with a new toy, binding, or punishment if the idea happens to pop into your head half way through a scene. It’s not sexy to rush someone into a scene without fully explaining what might occur and obtaining their consent ahead of time. Bank that idea, describe it later and, if all are in agreement, go with it next time and have fun!
Finally: consent. The practice of healthy kink is 100% dependent on the concept of consent. Healthy, pleasurable, exciting scenes all depend on what the dominant and submissive find enjoyable and to which they both consent. Consent can be a discussion over coffee, on the phone, in a club geared toward the lifestyle, or in the privacy of the bedroom. Pushing one’s boundaries can be fun, but make sure there is a Safe Word or Signal that is memorable and well known to your partner(s). If the Safe Word or Signal is given, the scene stops, no questions asked. The Safe Word/Signal is sacrosanct in the practice of healthy kink.
Again, unlike a nameless book/film franchise.
Kink should be fun for all involved. Consent is not a chore, but it is a requirement. Planning scenes with your partner(s) can be an enlightening experience, a way of getting to know someone and their desires better.
Following these basic concepts can lead to a a lot of fun, so make some notes and give it a try the next time you’re feeling sexy.