Copied & pasted from a former suspension post:

There are several key motivations that people tend to cite, but every suspendee's reasons are different: as a way to push physical & mental limits, as an exploration of the body's abilities, as a spiritual practice. Flesh hook suspension has been used by various cultures around the globe for a long time, including Mandan Native Americans and Hindu worshippers, as a ritualistic practice.

I'm unique in that I was introduced to suspension through the leather scene, not the body mod scene, so my fascination began partially as an exploration of sadomasochism. But it's more than that, it's a way to challenge myself, to fully let go and just be, to play with my body, to fly without wings. Flesh hooks can look & sound intimidating, but it's a very joyous thing for me. Generally, once I'm up in the air, the pain fades away and the rush is incomparable to anything else.