29 Jun 2020, 06:07
Sleep Yoga
After a long debate with himself about whether or not attending a so-called sleep yoga session, Elias had finally caved to his own whims and decided he would attend. After heading back to his dorm briefly after dinner, the young Ravenclaw wizard had returned to the room that the sleep yoga was being held in wearing a pair of pale blue plaid pyjama bottoms and a plain grey t shirt, unfortunately, these were the closest things the boy had to workout clothes at Hogwarts. He spent most of his time wearing his robes. Ultimately the fact that any sort of exercise would keep him somewhat in shape and perhaps help the boy make his house's quidditch team next year had swayed him in favour of showing his face here, despite what his friends might have said about it.
Keeping almost entirely to himself Elias took a seat on one of the many soft mats that had been spread throughout the room and glanced around himself. At least he wasn’t the only person here… that would have made this really strange, and also immensely uncomfortable for not only the boy, but also for the people who were hosting the event. A rather stoic expression was plastered to the boy's face, but he was truly hoping he did get something out of attending this, pyjama party? Well whatever one could consider this, Elias was hoping to get some sort of benefit from it.
As Hjørdis began to lead the lesson, Elias was fervently paying attention. As she instructed the students to take deep breaths, breathing in and out, he did his best to follow her instructions to the t as the boy had always been somewhat of a perfectionist. It was only when he disagreed with others or thought what they were doing or saying was wrong or pointless that he ignored their instructions.
First up was the sleeping swan pose, what did that even mean? Coming to the conclusion that he would not recognize any of the names of the poses, because he had never been to a single yoga class in his entire 12 year long laugh, the young wizard scooted a tad closer so that he could see exactly what the session leaders were doing and how they were going about achieving the poses. After watching Hjørdis locate herself a pillow, Elias did just the same before preparing himself to attempt the position.
Bringing his foot up to his inner thigh and slowly bending himself forwards, Elias was suddenly very regretful that he had not spent more time stretching in the days that had led up to this yoga session. He was experiencing quite an extreme pull in the calf of the leg he had brought towards his thigh honestly, he wasn’t even sure he could hold it for eight to ten breaths like Hjørdis had suggested. Eventually, after six breaths, he tapped out before deciding to switch to the other side. Just like before, Elias could feel the pose pulling in his calf, however this time it was the right one. This time, he was able to hold it for a full 9 breaths and the second that he accomplished that, the boy popped out of the pose, placing his head on the pillow and letting out a rather deep and pained sigh. This was agony and suddenly he wished he was back in his dorm arguing with Thomas. It would surely be less painful than yoga, or perhaps not… simply being around Thomas Baines was agony. Oh well, that was besides the point. He was here now and he had to stick with his decision.
After allowing himself a few moments rest simply face down in the pillow that he had acquired to do the pose the young wizard raised his head once more and glanced around, inwardly he was hoping that he was not that only person struggling so much with what seemed like such a basic stretch. It seemed like his natural athleticism did not transfer to yoga in the slightest bit. Once again following Hjørdis instructions Elias tried his best to roll back up. Thankfully, that came a tad more naturally to the boy but he still struggled a little. The further into this gathering he got, he simply could not help but think that he would never in his life be attending another yoga session.
As the professor said that this was meant to be a basic stretch to warm their bodies up, Elias became even more disgruntled. He was wishing he had stretched before he had come here to stretch even more? Did that even make sense in the slightest? Letting out a groan that he hoped was not audible to anyone but himself, he prepared himself for the next pose that it appeared Hjørdis was about to begin explaining and demonstrating.
Once again, he struggled with the pose, for certain there was absolutely no chance of Elias somehow getting his head down to the floor. That would take an absolute miracle, or the boy transfiguring himself into a slinky of some sort. Both seemed about as likely to happen as him and Thomas suddenly becoming best friends. And that was to say it would be virtually impossible. As he held the pose, Elias’ eyes drifted to the many cats that seemed to be wandering around the room and suddenly he wished he had one. It would be oh so nice to simply curl up with a nice warm cat at night and fall asleep.
At the thought of sleep, and growing rather tired from the rhythmic breathing and the whopping two yoga poses that he had managed to complete. Trying his best to do so without disturbing anyone, Elias slowly lowered himself to the ground and placed his head upon the pillow he had been using as a yoga aid earlier. It didn’t take long for the boy to drift off and soon enough he was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the remainder of the students doing yoga around him.
Keeping almost entirely to himself Elias took a seat on one of the many soft mats that had been spread throughout the room and glanced around himself. At least he wasn’t the only person here… that would have made this really strange, and also immensely uncomfortable for not only the boy, but also for the people who were hosting the event. A rather stoic expression was plastered to the boy's face, but he was truly hoping he did get something out of attending this, pyjama party? Well whatever one could consider this, Elias was hoping to get some sort of benefit from it.
As Hjørdis began to lead the lesson, Elias was fervently paying attention. As she instructed the students to take deep breaths, breathing in and out, he did his best to follow her instructions to the t as the boy had always been somewhat of a perfectionist. It was only when he disagreed with others or thought what they were doing or saying was wrong or pointless that he ignored their instructions.
First up was the sleeping swan pose, what did that even mean? Coming to the conclusion that he would not recognize any of the names of the poses, because he had never been to a single yoga class in his entire 12 year long laugh, the young wizard scooted a tad closer so that he could see exactly what the session leaders were doing and how they were going about achieving the poses. After watching Hjørdis locate herself a pillow, Elias did just the same before preparing himself to attempt the position.
Bringing his foot up to his inner thigh and slowly bending himself forwards, Elias was suddenly very regretful that he had not spent more time stretching in the days that had led up to this yoga session. He was experiencing quite an extreme pull in the calf of the leg he had brought towards his thigh honestly, he wasn’t even sure he could hold it for eight to ten breaths like Hjørdis had suggested. Eventually, after six breaths, he tapped out before deciding to switch to the other side. Just like before, Elias could feel the pose pulling in his calf, however this time it was the right one. This time, he was able to hold it for a full 9 breaths and the second that he accomplished that, the boy popped out of the pose, placing his head on the pillow and letting out a rather deep and pained sigh. This was agony and suddenly he wished he was back in his dorm arguing with Thomas. It would surely be less painful than yoga, or perhaps not… simply being around Thomas Baines was agony. Oh well, that was besides the point. He was here now and he had to stick with his decision.
After allowing himself a few moments rest simply face down in the pillow that he had acquired to do the pose the young wizard raised his head once more and glanced around, inwardly he was hoping that he was not that only person struggling so much with what seemed like such a basic stretch. It seemed like his natural athleticism did not transfer to yoga in the slightest bit. Once again following Hjørdis instructions Elias tried his best to roll back up. Thankfully, that came a tad more naturally to the boy but he still struggled a little. The further into this gathering he got, he simply could not help but think that he would never in his life be attending another yoga session.
As the professor said that this was meant to be a basic stretch to warm their bodies up, Elias became even more disgruntled. He was wishing he had stretched before he had come here to stretch even more? Did that even make sense in the slightest? Letting out a groan that he hoped was not audible to anyone but himself, he prepared himself for the next pose that it appeared Hjørdis was about to begin explaining and demonstrating.
Once again, he struggled with the pose, for certain there was absolutely no chance of Elias somehow getting his head down to the floor. That would take an absolute miracle, or the boy transfiguring himself into a slinky of some sort. Both seemed about as likely to happen as him and Thomas suddenly becoming best friends. And that was to say it would be virtually impossible. As he held the pose, Elias’ eyes drifted to the many cats that seemed to be wandering around the room and suddenly he wished he had one. It would be oh so nice to simply curl up with a nice warm cat at night and fall asleep.
At the thought of sleep, and growing rather tired from the rhythmic breathing and the whopping two yoga poses that he had managed to complete. Trying his best to do so without disturbing anyone, Elias slowly lowered himself to the ground and placed his head upon the pillow he had been using as a yoga aid earlier. It didn’t take long for the boy to drift off and soon enough he was sleeping soundly, oblivious to the remainder of the students doing yoga around him.
WC: 1008
I sincerely apologize for doing this at absolutely the last possible minute... but hey, errand complete.
STA: 7 || EVA: 3 || STR: 10 || WIS: 6 || ARC: 6 || ACC: 8
Hex: #6d9eeb
Yours Truly, Eli W
29 Jun 2020, 07:41
Sleep Yoga
((Open for Interaction))
Yes. Yes yes yes. Today will be the day the great task. Another class, another chance to prove herself to the masses. Erika was all ready for this. After dinner, which was far far harder than anything else in Hogwarts so far, Erika was charged. She had successfully sat at the Ravenclaw table, and only managed to lose a couple tears this time. After that, this yoga thing should be a cinch. No matter what it was. Erika was on fire today!
After a little while, Erika peaked in to scope out the situation, and after a temporary retreat to gather her flimsy nerves, she darted inside. Having little idea of what yoga was, she, unfortunately, hadn't changed from the simple casual robes she wore. Lot of loose fabric that hung near her ankles. Fancy enough to look at, befitting of a pure blood like herself, if a bit on the impractical side. At least it wasn't escalators, something Erika was fortunate enough to never meet.
Erika loitered near the door, her ever present escape route, as well as to keep an eye on those that sauntered in after her. Particularly to keep a look at the other Ravenclaws. She hadn't managed to remember any names from teachers calling on the class, but she would for sure do it today. Starting now, as she attempted a hello to the first that wandered in.
"H-he..." Next one for sure, she would manage to greet. Always the next one. After a couple of her pathetic attempts, Erika was at her wit's end. The shaking she'd avoided during dinner, avoided a tiny little bit at the beginning at least, at dinner took her over. A familiar sight to other first year ravenclaw's that took notice of quiet ones during class. Erika shaking like a little mouse cornered by a cat.
Luckily, shaky Erika was saved from herself when Hjørdis made the call to gather everyone. She was slow on the uptake, and wound up with a seat right near the middle. At least it wasn't at the front, for her own sake. Erika took a seat with her hands folded in her lap, with her ankles politely crossed and knees together. "Good evening." Erika attempted a response, but it was hardly above a quiet whimper.
This had been a bad idea. Is it too late to run? These bunch of weirdies wouldn't need her anyway! Right? Though she thought of a grandiose exit, truth be told, she was frozen to her mat and could move no more than a little mouse in a trap, helplessly watching the thin steel bar barrage forward in that deathly arc. She shut her eyes tight, feeling the sting of tears. This had definitely been a bad idea.
Just as she was about to break, Erika heard the commanding voice of Hjørdis. Inhale. In her state, Erika would have followed the sound of a black dog if it had asked. She drew in a raggedy breath that matched her quivers. 1... 2... How long to inhale? Her lungs were full and she was struggling to draw in more. Relief. Please, please relief! When she was beyond her limits but too scared to disobey in front of everyone she heard the command of exhalation.
"Ha..." a bit exaggerated with a little squeak, but it did its job. Hjørdis' command to focus helped bring her back to reality, and outside of her vivid imagination of everything going horrible in the most unrealistically ways possible. Her cheeks reddened as she did her best to concentrate. When she opened her eyes, the stinging of tears were gone, and her bright blue eyes shined, staring widely at the teacher. What sort of magic was this?
She mimicked the teacher in position, holding the pillow close until she copied the placement, lagging behind others a bit. Wait and observe. This way, she'll do it completely right, and make no mistakes whatsoever! She'd be the best for sure. The others will certainly be begging to be her friend then. Erika thought she just might be merciful enough to grant that request.
The pose, while a beginner pose, was much more difficult than Erika was intending. It seemed simple enough, and then she started her attempt at replication. Almost at once, Erika felt the pain as her body resisted to release the tension. In all fairness, it wasn't just her body resisting, but her clothing too. Robes with fabric that pinched, however comfortable they were, were not made for this awful position. As Erika would learn as the lesson continued, any position!
Erika slipped out of the pose, her bent knee jerking itself straight, and slapping against the mat. "Ah!" More of a complaint than a cry of pain. She rolled over, pulling off the outer layer of her robes, and bundling it, and heaved it next to herself. Free at last, she quickly looked around, her cheeks flushed to an entirely different shade of red, standing out against her pale skin. She quickly folded back into the mirrored swan pose. Easier without the folds of her outer robes getting in the way, but still difficult to manage for her.
It took time, but Erika finally made it to her feet. A triumph. Was that all this class was? This was easy. She could do this in her sleep! Right? As she was self congratulating, Erika stumbled as a knee shook. She took a moment leaning on the one that decided to be kinder.
She spread her feet apart, pointing her eyes to them, instead of around the room, willing herself to forget the crowd for just a moment. Until.
"Mister Sharp-Leaf! About half that"
Erika felt herself flush again snapping straight. If Hjørdis' words weren't the one's grounding her in reality, she might have just darted away the moment she heard her name. Thankfully, it was not so. "I-I-It's m-miss!" She called, her voice a higher octave than even her own normal, shutting her eyes tightly. She tried again without opening her eyes, this time, no complaint. Or maybe Hjørdis was simply having mercy on the seismic girl. Probably the latter, Erika thought. Relaxation was hardly her strong suit.
This one was a bit gentler on herself than the first. The robes didn't get caught up on herself at all. Erika liked it much more. What was it called? Eh, didn't matter, she was going to call it the Good One.
The next one used the blocks. She got through it pretty well. Or at least, Erika thought she was. Until...
"Keep your hips square, Miss Sharp-Leaf." Erika heard the teacher said, and snapped straight again. After a moment, she let her feet part again and tried once more. This was easy, right? Erika thought, though wondered how much her body would complain later. She wasn't used to stretches and pulls. It was different than just running around on her lonesome.
The next one? No way was she going to ask someone! No way, no how! Still, she felt just a little jealous of Caradoc. Erika liked Hjørdis, even if the teacher had to correct her. Good thing too, Erika was small, and hardly a freaky muscle head. Should she have been paired with an older student, then it might have ended far worse. Erika scampered over to a wall, finding a choice patch.
Another reason to pick a wall instead was Erika's choice of dress. The skirts of her robes were what she'd worn all her life, being raised in the magical community. She held the hems up the best she could hoping her bloomers remained unseen. Once done, poor Erika flopped on the ground, lying down at first on her side, then her back as instructed. There was no relaxation in that one, but impressions were important after all. And Erika was determined to impress Hjørdis.
Before Bed Bridge. Maybe? Erika thought the sleeping part had been a joke. She looked around frantically around realizing people were in pajamas. Some strange ones, mud bloods Erika supposed, and others had proper nightgowns like civilized beings. "Ehh...." Erika felt herself panic, and tried the inhalation thing again. She held it as long as she could, not so long given her state, before exhaling once it began to hurt. It helped a little. She could pretend it helped, and if she pretended hard enough, it meant it was real.
This was another one that seemed easier. Like the 'Good One'. A bit more suited to her tastes. From her spot near the wall, afraid to return to her mat, Erika lifted her back up, but felt a strange resistance. It wasn't beyond her stretch limit, she could feel that much, yet it was still there. After relaxing herself a moment, she tried again, and a loud 'pop' like a candy bar breaking in its package sounded. "Mm..." Erika whimpered. It hurt, but it immediately turned to relief, as if a pressure was removed. Surely no one heard that, right?
Erika looked to Hjørdis, locking eyes for a brief moment before looking away just as sudden. Maybe she'd try another time to impress this teacher. She closed her eyes, unwilling to push her luck, and returned to the bridge.
Erika sat up after the brief rest, returning to her first position. Ankles crossed, knees together, and hands neatly folded. Her hair was in disarray this time around, but she concentrated for a moment, and it righted itself back into its normal cut.
This next one, was a stretch her dad had taught her to limber up before a run. For the first time, a little smile was put on her lips. This class was fun! No need to try and answer questions in front of everyone, or work with someone. She held the forward fold for as long as she comfortably could. Not overly flexible, but something her knees were used to at least. Relaxed quite a bit more now, Erika looked up towards Hjørdis with a smile on her lips, ready for more.
[WC = 1678]
Yes. Yes yes yes. Today will be the day the great task. Another class, another chance to prove herself to the masses. Erika was all ready for this. After dinner, which was far far harder than anything else in Hogwarts so far, Erika was charged. She had successfully sat at the Ravenclaw table, and only managed to lose a couple tears this time. After that, this yoga thing should be a cinch. No matter what it was. Erika was on fire today!
After a little while, Erika peaked in to scope out the situation, and after a temporary retreat to gather her flimsy nerves, she darted inside. Having little idea of what yoga was, she, unfortunately, hadn't changed from the simple casual robes she wore. Lot of loose fabric that hung near her ankles. Fancy enough to look at, befitting of a pure blood like herself, if a bit on the impractical side. At least it wasn't escalators, something Erika was fortunate enough to never meet.
Erika loitered near the door, her ever present escape route, as well as to keep an eye on those that sauntered in after her. Particularly to keep a look at the other Ravenclaws. She hadn't managed to remember any names from teachers calling on the class, but she would for sure do it today. Starting now, as she attempted a hello to the first that wandered in.
"H-he..." Next one for sure, she would manage to greet. Always the next one. After a couple of her pathetic attempts, Erika was at her wit's end. The shaking she'd avoided during dinner, avoided a tiny little bit at the beginning at least, at dinner took her over. A familiar sight to other first year ravenclaw's that took notice of quiet ones during class. Erika shaking like a little mouse cornered by a cat.
Luckily, shaky Erika was saved from herself when Hjørdis made the call to gather everyone. She was slow on the uptake, and wound up with a seat right near the middle. At least it wasn't at the front, for her own sake. Erika took a seat with her hands folded in her lap, with her ankles politely crossed and knees together. "Good evening." Erika attempted a response, but it was hardly above a quiet whimper.
This had been a bad idea. Is it too late to run? These bunch of weirdies wouldn't need her anyway! Right? Though she thought of a grandiose exit, truth be told, she was frozen to her mat and could move no more than a little mouse in a trap, helplessly watching the thin steel bar barrage forward in that deathly arc. She shut her eyes tight, feeling the sting of tears. This had definitely been a bad idea.
Just as she was about to break, Erika heard the commanding voice of Hjørdis. Inhale. In her state, Erika would have followed the sound of a black dog if it had asked. She drew in a raggedy breath that matched her quivers. 1... 2... How long to inhale? Her lungs were full and she was struggling to draw in more. Relief. Please, please relief! When she was beyond her limits but too scared to disobey in front of everyone she heard the command of exhalation.
"Ha..." a bit exaggerated with a little squeak, but it did its job. Hjørdis' command to focus helped bring her back to reality, and outside of her vivid imagination of everything going horrible in the most unrealistically ways possible. Her cheeks reddened as she did her best to concentrate. When she opened her eyes, the stinging of tears were gone, and her bright blue eyes shined, staring widely at the teacher. What sort of magic was this?
She mimicked the teacher in position, holding the pillow close until she copied the placement, lagging behind others a bit. Wait and observe. This way, she'll do it completely right, and make no mistakes whatsoever! She'd be the best for sure. The others will certainly be begging to be her friend then. Erika thought she just might be merciful enough to grant that request.
The pose, while a beginner pose, was much more difficult than Erika was intending. It seemed simple enough, and then she started her attempt at replication. Almost at once, Erika felt the pain as her body resisted to release the tension. In all fairness, it wasn't just her body resisting, but her clothing too. Robes with fabric that pinched, however comfortable they were, were not made for this awful position. As Erika would learn as the lesson continued, any position!
Erika slipped out of the pose, her bent knee jerking itself straight, and slapping against the mat. "Ah!" More of a complaint than a cry of pain. She rolled over, pulling off the outer layer of her robes, and bundling it, and heaved it next to herself. Free at last, she quickly looked around, her cheeks flushed to an entirely different shade of red, standing out against her pale skin. She quickly folded back into the mirrored swan pose. Easier without the folds of her outer robes getting in the way, but still difficult to manage for her.
It took time, but Erika finally made it to her feet. A triumph. Was that all this class was? This was easy. She could do this in her sleep! Right? As she was self congratulating, Erika stumbled as a knee shook. She took a moment leaning on the one that decided to be kinder.
She spread her feet apart, pointing her eyes to them, instead of around the room, willing herself to forget the crowd for just a moment. Until.
"Mister Sharp-Leaf! About half that"
Erika felt herself flush again snapping straight. If Hjørdis' words weren't the one's grounding her in reality, she might have just darted away the moment she heard her name. Thankfully, it was not so. "I-I-It's m-miss!" She called, her voice a higher octave than even her own normal, shutting her eyes tightly. She tried again without opening her eyes, this time, no complaint. Or maybe Hjørdis was simply having mercy on the seismic girl. Probably the latter, Erika thought. Relaxation was hardly her strong suit.
This one was a bit gentler on herself than the first. The robes didn't get caught up on herself at all. Erika liked it much more. What was it called? Eh, didn't matter, she was going to call it the Good One.
The next one used the blocks. She got through it pretty well. Or at least, Erika thought she was. Until...
"Keep your hips square, Miss Sharp-Leaf." Erika heard the teacher said, and snapped straight again. After a moment, she let her feet part again and tried once more. This was easy, right? Erika thought, though wondered how much her body would complain later. She wasn't used to stretches and pulls. It was different than just running around on her lonesome.
The next one? No way was she going to ask someone! No way, no how! Still, she felt just a little jealous of Caradoc. Erika liked Hjørdis, even if the teacher had to correct her. Good thing too, Erika was small, and hardly a freaky muscle head. Should she have been paired with an older student, then it might have ended far worse. Erika scampered over to a wall, finding a choice patch.
Another reason to pick a wall instead was Erika's choice of dress. The skirts of her robes were what she'd worn all her life, being raised in the magical community. She held the hems up the best she could hoping her bloomers remained unseen. Once done, poor Erika flopped on the ground, lying down at first on her side, then her back as instructed. There was no relaxation in that one, but impressions were important after all. And Erika was determined to impress Hjørdis.
Before Bed Bridge. Maybe? Erika thought the sleeping part had been a joke. She looked around frantically around realizing people were in pajamas. Some strange ones, mud bloods Erika supposed, and others had proper nightgowns like civilized beings. "Ehh...." Erika felt herself panic, and tried the inhalation thing again. She held it as long as she could, not so long given her state, before exhaling once it began to hurt. It helped a little. She could pretend it helped, and if she pretended hard enough, it meant it was real.
This was another one that seemed easier. Like the 'Good One'. A bit more suited to her tastes. From her spot near the wall, afraid to return to her mat, Erika lifted her back up, but felt a strange resistance. It wasn't beyond her stretch limit, she could feel that much, yet it was still there. After relaxing herself a moment, she tried again, and a loud 'pop' like a candy bar breaking in its package sounded. "Mm..." Erika whimpered. It hurt, but it immediately turned to relief, as if a pressure was removed. Surely no one heard that, right?
Erika looked to Hjørdis, locking eyes for a brief moment before looking away just as sudden. Maybe she'd try another time to impress this teacher. She closed her eyes, unwilling to push her luck, and returned to the bridge.
Erika sat up after the brief rest, returning to her first position. Ankles crossed, knees together, and hands neatly folded. Her hair was in disarray this time around, but she concentrated for a moment, and it righted itself back into its normal cut.
This next one, was a stretch her dad had taught her to limber up before a run. For the first time, a little smile was put on her lips. This class was fun! No need to try and answer questions in front of everyone, or work with someone. She held the forward fold for as long as she comfortably could. Not overly flexible, but something her knees were used to at least. Relaxed quite a bit more now, Erika looked up towards Hjørdis with a smile on her lips, ready for more.
[WC = 1678]
It's just a class... right? Just how bad can it be. Relax, Erika.
-Famous Last Words
29 Jun 2020, 12:20
Sleep Yoga
Carolyn had trouble sleeping for past few weeks. It also didn’t help that she constantly pushed herself to study until late at night. At first, she tried to ignore those problems but then she realized she was losing focus and it might affect her performance in classes. Unacceptable, she reprimanded herself. Today though, she was quite lucky. Apparently, there was a sleeping yoga class going on to help students relax a little. "No wonder…with all that’s been going on," she muttered under her breath. There was no reason not to join. Would it help? She didn’t know but frankly, she was running out of ideas. And so, she picked up her exercise outfit and marched towards the rehearsal room.
Once again, Carolyn was incredibly grateful for her ballet training. She never really tried yoga but she knew it required a good balance and at times some stretching was also involved. She was absolutely confident that she would have no trouble with those. In fact, her own stretching routine probably involved some yoga positions however; they were always a little bit more intense. Ballet warm-up was not there to make you relax; on the contrary, it was done to prepare your body for all the hard work that would follow and warm up your muscles so you wouldn’t get hurt later. In a way, it was also tough work. This, she assumed, would be a very different experience.
When she entered the rehearsal room, there were already a plenty of students occupying the yoga mats. Thankfully, not all of them were taken. “Good evening,” she greeted everyone shyly. Despite the uncertainty in her voice however, her step was light, her back was straight and head held high. It was not a confidence matter; she was simply trained to always hold a good body position. Without another word, the young Ravenclaw found herself a free mat near the wall. She was a bit nervous but excited at the same time and so when Hjørdis started to talk, she listened carefully in order to not miss any important instructions. It appeared the Head of Slytherin really knew what she was doing. Her explanations were clear and what she didn’t get from the words, Carolyn easily understood after the demonstration.
The first breathing exercise seemed a bit unnatural to Carolyn. She knew how to breathe properly while doing her stretches but she never just stopped and did it to relax. It was nice though. After she got used to the stillness of her body and stopped overthinking everything her muscles finally started to loosen up. This is nice…I should do it more often, she thought to herself. The first position called the sleeping swan wasn’t all that difficult but then she assumed none of them would be. The students were here to unwind not to torture themselves. As instructed, Carolyn counted her breaths to eight before changing her legs. Making sure to remember the position in case she ever wanted to try again in her spare time. After she was done, she stood up slowly rolling herself up vertebra after vertebra. She knew very well what could happen if she was not careful and she did get dizzy sometimes if she stood up too fast. The next position was called Standing Forward Fold. She looked around and noticed some students struggled with laying their palms on the ground but it was not surprising. She used to be like that too in the past. Now? It was incredibly easy but still definitely useful move. This one, she sometimes did as well. The third position was a bit trickier. Not because it was more difficult but because she was still getting used to the gentle nature of the yoga exercise. The Lizard Pose reminded her of somewhat of an incomplete spit and so she had a tendency to put her front leg too far forward. “press your left heel away and keep your hips square...” She heard Hjørdis’ voice, slowly adjusting her position and making sure she wasn’t overdoing it. Breathe..in and out...
"You are all doing wonderfully. Especially if this is your first times." Carolyn didn’t allow herself to accept that particular praise. She knew very well that she had plenty of experience to help her with the exercise. She did however admire all the students that did try for the first time. She wasn’t sure if she would come here without any kind of exercise experience herself. She always strived for perfection and was unreasonably scared to fail...especially in front of others. It was an unhealthy mindset to have but she simply couldn't help it. Her parents were not strict with her but they were her role models and they always pushed themselves to do the best job possible. Especially her Korean father, who was basically raised to be perfect. No mistakes allowed. He did not require his daughter to be the same but the young witch unconsciously tried anyway. She did want to be like him and make her parents proud. After few seconds Carolyn finally realized she wasn't fully present. This was not the time to her lost in her thoughts. Quickly she shook her head, fully focusing on the class again.
Following the first three positions, were another two that seemed easier than the Lizard one. Up Against the Wall and Before Bed Bridge. Some students paired up for the first of the two but Carolyn was too shy to ask for help. She didn’t bring a friend with her and she was not comfortable with asking a stranger. The wall would have to do…The last position they practiced was actually very familiar to Carolyn. Except she was not used to flexing her feet. Usually, she would point her toes instead and stretch her arms to hold the end of her feet, basically folding herself in half. She could do the alternative though. It wouldn’t come as natural but she could do it. “Umm…I will put my head on my knees if you don’t mind. I do ballet and it actually feels more natural that way to me,” she informed @ Hjørdis quietly in order not to disturb others before laying her head on her knees. She didn’t want to do so before warning her since she obviously worried about students getting hurt. This way she would know there was no reason to worry about her specifically.
Once again, Carolyn was incredibly grateful for her ballet training. She never really tried yoga but she knew it required a good balance and at times some stretching was also involved. She was absolutely confident that she would have no trouble with those. In fact, her own stretching routine probably involved some yoga positions however; they were always a little bit more intense. Ballet warm-up was not there to make you relax; on the contrary, it was done to prepare your body for all the hard work that would follow and warm up your muscles so you wouldn’t get hurt later. In a way, it was also tough work. This, she assumed, would be a very different experience.
When she entered the rehearsal room, there were already a plenty of students occupying the yoga mats. Thankfully, not all of them were taken. “Good evening,” she greeted everyone shyly. Despite the uncertainty in her voice however, her step was light, her back was straight and head held high. It was not a confidence matter; she was simply trained to always hold a good body position. Without another word, the young Ravenclaw found herself a free mat near the wall. She was a bit nervous but excited at the same time and so when Hjørdis started to talk, she listened carefully in order to not miss any important instructions. It appeared the Head of Slytherin really knew what she was doing. Her explanations were clear and what she didn’t get from the words, Carolyn easily understood after the demonstration.
The first breathing exercise seemed a bit unnatural to Carolyn. She knew how to breathe properly while doing her stretches but she never just stopped and did it to relax. It was nice though. After she got used to the stillness of her body and stopped overthinking everything her muscles finally started to loosen up. This is nice…I should do it more often, she thought to herself. The first position called the sleeping swan wasn’t all that difficult but then she assumed none of them would be. The students were here to unwind not to torture themselves. As instructed, Carolyn counted her breaths to eight before changing her legs. Making sure to remember the position in case she ever wanted to try again in her spare time. After she was done, she stood up slowly rolling herself up vertebra after vertebra. She knew very well what could happen if she was not careful and she did get dizzy sometimes if she stood up too fast. The next position was called Standing Forward Fold. She looked around and noticed some students struggled with laying their palms on the ground but it was not surprising. She used to be like that too in the past. Now? It was incredibly easy but still definitely useful move. This one, she sometimes did as well. The third position was a bit trickier. Not because it was more difficult but because she was still getting used to the gentle nature of the yoga exercise. The Lizard Pose reminded her of somewhat of an incomplete spit and so she had a tendency to put her front leg too far forward. “press your left heel away and keep your hips square...” She heard Hjørdis’ voice, slowly adjusting her position and making sure she wasn’t overdoing it. Breathe..in and out...
"You are all doing wonderfully. Especially if this is your first times." Carolyn didn’t allow herself to accept that particular praise. She knew very well that she had plenty of experience to help her with the exercise. She did however admire all the students that did try for the first time. She wasn’t sure if she would come here without any kind of exercise experience herself. She always strived for perfection and was unreasonably scared to fail...especially in front of others. It was an unhealthy mindset to have but she simply couldn't help it. Her parents were not strict with her but they were her role models and they always pushed themselves to do the best job possible. Especially her Korean father, who was basically raised to be perfect. No mistakes allowed. He did not require his daughter to be the same but the young witch unconsciously tried anyway. She did want to be like him and make her parents proud. After few seconds Carolyn finally realized she wasn't fully present. This was not the time to her lost in her thoughts. Quickly she shook her head, fully focusing on the class again.
Following the first three positions, were another two that seemed easier than the Lizard one. Up Against the Wall and Before Bed Bridge. Some students paired up for the first of the two but Carolyn was too shy to ask for help. She didn’t bring a friend with her and she was not comfortable with asking a stranger. The wall would have to do…The last position they practiced was actually very familiar to Carolyn. Except she was not used to flexing her feet. Usually, she would point her toes instead and stretch her arms to hold the end of her feet, basically folding herself in half. She could do the alternative though. It wouldn’t come as natural but she could do it. “Umm…I will put my head on my knees if you don’t mind. I do ballet and it actually feels more natural that way to me,” she informed @ Hjørdis quietly in order not to disturb others before laying her head on her knees. She didn’t want to do so before warning her since she obviously worried about students getting hurt. This way she would know there was no reason to worry about her specifically.
WC: 1065
“There is no evil in sorcery, only in the hearts of men. My request is that you remember this” -Merlin
iNPC: Ye-jun Lee
29 Jun 2020, 13:25
Sleep Yoga
INTERACTIONS @Hjørdis Jensen
There were some things that you could be good at and still hate. Ivy decided that yoga fell straight under this category for her - she found the stretches easy enough, but it was so boring, not to mention awkward, too. What was with all the weird breathing techniques and everything? And why was it so goddamn slow? In fact, it was probably the slow nature of yoga that made the young Gryffindor so uneasy. She couldn't relax no matter how hard she tried, despite following Professor Jensen's instructions for breathing and completing the poses. Ivy sighed again and tugged at her braids, regretting her decision to come here tonight.
Ivy folded herself into each position Professor Jensen demonstrated dutifully, not having the courage to walk out in front of so many of her classmates. While she honestly doubted that any of them would care, it was also her own pride that she had to consider as well. Ivy had never quit anything or left it half done before, no matter how much she wanted to. It just wasn't how she did things - you either completed it perfectly, or you didn't do it at all. Even though she was bored out of her mind, she knew she would stay and finish the errand. It was a little annoying how predictable she was sometimes.
She kept her eyes down when the Professor Jensen mentioned partnerwork, hoping that no one would want to work with her. Bleh. Ivy hated partnerwork - most of the time, she had to slow down for the other person and explain everything she was doing, which was beyond annoying for someone who preferred to work ahead, like her. It also required actually talking to other people in a polite way, which was far too much effort. She was rather relieved when she was left alone and nobody approached her, and proceeded to prop her legs up against the wall.
At some point during the errand, she looked up and was startled to discover that some of the other attendees were, well... asleep. What the hell? Yes, the name of the errand was "Sleep Yoga", but Ivy hadn't expected people to actually sleep here! How could they have relaxed this much? Was she really the only person who couldn't follow the instructions properly? Ivy blinked at her classmates and prodded a nearby Ravenclaw tentatively, wondering if she should wake them. Nope. She was out cold. Wait, were they supposed to go to sleep? You know what, I don't even know anymore, Ivy thought to herself with an exasperated sigh. She put up her hand, trying to catch the attention of the Head of Slytherin. "Err... Professor Jensen? Are they... supposed to be asleep?"
ERRAND PROGRESS︱621 + 456 = 1,077
Complete!
october 2007 - august 2023.
i know the end
i know the end
29 Jun 2020, 14:42
Sleep Yoga
Interacting With:@ Griseldis Edelhardt | @ Opeila Seilun
Mentioning: @Hjørdis Jensen
Alan found himself growing increasingly comfortable. The young lad admittedly pondered before coming to Sleep Yoga whether this was going to work or whether Professor Jensen was making things up when the session had posted in the bulletin board. Proven wrong of course as most of the frustration was slowly lifting off his conscience not wholly, though temporarily it was a moment of bliss for Alan.
Like Alan's best friend Gris, the Ravenclaw had come to terms that they were nigh inseparable from each other. Seeing Gris made Alan immediately forget that the room had other students in it, recognising a Slytherin Girl on the other side he offered the first year a gentle wave with a warm smile to compliment. As the Slytherin was already doing her poses, it was somewhat challenging to communicate as he whispered to Gris mid pose "Of course, I mean why not right no Mosps or Giants whatsoever could ruin this right Gris?" The boy grinned as he slowly readjusted himself into the second pose letting out a soft sigh of relief.
Alan couldn't fathom just how flexible he was, reminiscing back to the times in muggle school where his small size made it easier to maneuver through crowds or squeeze into tight spaces. After a couple of tries and hearing a few cracks of his bones which weren't too worrisome the young lad managed to achieve the second pose; growing increasingly tired from the experience Alan yawned. "Thanks, Grissy it's my favourite and I only really wear it in the dorms, but today I just didn't care I want to be me you know?" the Ravenclaw said without a hint of a stutter yet sleepily showing how relaxed and comfortable he was in his friends' presence. "I do like your PJs, they look cool like a martial arts master from those kung fu movies" he whispered remembering that Gris mentioned doing Tai Chi in her spare time. "Perhaps you can show me...w-what was the word Tai Chi was it?" He muttered "That's right maybe you can show me how to do Tai Chi at the usual spot perhaps? just me and you?" Alan had always been curious about Gris background finding her heritage quite interesting to learn so much, so he wanted to learn Chinese as a second language.
Finally shifting to the final pose, it took a few tries as the comfortable embrace of sleep was fast approaching, struggling to keep his eyes open. Alan's eyes droop, in his mind, he thought about performing these poses in the dorms before bed from now on as it seemed to take the edge off for a good nights sleep. During the Final pose, all Alan could think about was his happy place, daydreaming of all the good things he liked, from Ninja Turtles to Drawing, to his Nan and Gris all that tension drifting away finally. Attempting to avoid passing out and embarrassment Alan had decided this was an excellent time to head off to bed, standing up and giving himself a good stretch Alan looked over to Gris as she was doing her poses. "Hey, I'm going to try and sleep, it's been a rough week I'll see you tomorrow Gris? Thanks for keeping me company as always" Alan knelt beside his fellow second-year smiling. Collecting his things the young lad left the Rehearsal Room and moved towards the dormitories where his soft bed awaited for yours truly to grace it with the young lad's presence.
Word Count 583 + 574 = 1157/1000 - ERRAND COMPLETE!
Stamina: 7 | Evasion: 10 | Strength: 6 | Wisdom: 8 | Arcane Power: 8 | Accuracy: 6
29 Jun 2020, 16:56
Sleep Yoga
Interacting With: @Persephone Barret
Though Jack hadn't the slightest clue what 'sleep yoga' was, he had been interested in a lot of his House Head's errands as of late and this one had been no exception. It didn't sound difficult; simply stress-relieving and relaxing. Of course, its name could have been deceiving, but the boy figured he wouldn't know unless he at least tried it once.
Thinking of stress-relieving, Jack could think of someone else he thought who might have benefited from such an experience. Thus, wearing his black long-sleeved breathable top and pants that he had used to practice fire-dancing with Ruka, he put his robes over them and went down to eat dinner at the Slytherin table. He went down the aisle until he spotted a familiar head of blonde hair so he could keep an eye on her and make sure she didn't leave the table before he did.
Once the Welsh boy was finished with his meal, he quickly got up slipped her a note as he passed. It read:
Hoping that would be enough to at least peak his housemate's interest enough to show up, the redhead hurried on to the room, hoping to get a good spot and save one for his fellow Slytherin as he'd said he would.Hey, Bringer of Destruction,
If you've been needing an outlet for your pent-up emotions - or at least something to distract your over-thinking mind - try dressing in something comfortable to move in and meet me in the Rehearsal Room after dinner for Professor Jensen's and Professor Browne's Sleep Yoga session. I'll keep a spot next to me open for you.
- Jack Burnett
He was both surprised and amused to see his House Head in such casual, muggle clothing, but only smiled without a word as he went to sit on one of the soft mats laid out for students. Idly, Jack wondered if sleep yoga was meant to put them to sleep, but he didn't bother asking, supposing he would find out in a few minutes.
When they were first instructed to breathe in deeply, Jack did so, fairly familiar with the exercise as his father had suggested he do whenever he feared his emotions might overtake him and cause him to do something stupid. Inhaling deeply for five seconds before exhaling for six was what he'd been told was the typical way to breathe for meditation. Not that he himself practiced such a thing, but he supposed the knowledge was something to keep in mind for any deep-breathing exercise.
Once they had practiced the cycle five times over, Jack opened his eyes again. Closing his eyes was the hardest part for him because he felt vaguely paranoid and self-conscious about being watched and what else might have been going on around him while he couldn't see. However, now that that part was finished, he quickly glanced over to the mat he had saved for Persephone to see if she had decided to show up after all.
Whether she had or not, Jack barely had time to think on it before their professor was telling them the first position they would be moving into. Its name sounded just as interesting as other names for yoga positions Jack had heard in the past. It involved an animal taking an action like a dog facing downward. Apparently this time they were going to mimic a sleeping swan.
Curious, the redhead picked up a pillow next to him that he only just noticed, resisting the urge to start a pillow fight of sorts with it, and placed it in front of him as they had been instructed to do. He bent his left knee, folding his left leg under him before realizing that was slightly different from what they were supposed to do; it was just difficult to tell by what he could see of their instructor alone.
The first year corrected his pose, turning his leg so that the bottom of his left foot rested against the inner portion of his right thigh. That was simple enough to fix, but the next part he had a little trouble understanding by voiced instruction alone and had to crane his neck to try to see what the professor was doing again.
Pushing up off the ground enough to extend his right leg out from under him, he tried to make sure he wasn't in anyone's way before attempting to center his balance and...'hold his hips forward slightly', though in all honesty, he wasn't exactly sure what that was supposed to mean. He thought it seemed like he was doing it right.
Deciding that would have to be good enough, he pressed his head against the pillow while stretching his arms forward. He wondered why they were supposed to bend their elbows, even a little, while stretching their arms before deciding it was to make sure they didn't lock their joints and block the blood flow into their arms.
More breathing followed; the main thing Jack was fairly confident with by that point. Though their professor told them to try to hold the pose for anywhere between eight and ten breaths, he made an effort to go all the way with ten before finally sitting back up, moving slowly so that his spine could gradually curve and straighten as he imagined it 'unrolling'. After that, it seemed, the only thing left to do was the same steps on the opposite side, alternating the position of each leg.
What swan slept like this? Jack wasn't sure, but he supposed it didn't really matter. The position was relaxing enough, but he wondered what made it different as a sleep yoga position in comparison to regular yoga positions. Perhaps those were...less relaxing. Or maybe they weren't meant to do just after eating, as these poses might have been. Unable to stifle a yawn, the boy concealed the action as best he could while facing down, his arms once again stretched ahead of him as he counted for another ten breaths.
Word Count: 1005/1000
Last edited by Jack Burnett on 29 Jun 2020, 22:07, edited 1 time in total.
PC: Jack Burnett | iNPC: Ginyami Midorimori
29 Jun 2020, 17:46
Sleep Yoga
Interacting (only to say goodbye and to thank you both so much) With: @Hjørdis Jensen @Caradoc Browne
Hexcode= #3c78d8
The distressed pre-teen pulled at the edges of his robe to avoid tripping while he picked up his already hurried pace. Sylvain had missed dinner due to his impromptu lesson with Ruka, but he wasn't going to miss his chance to explore thoughtful meditation. What was it called again? Oh, Sleep Yoga. Rarely the type to set his worries aside for fear of misplacing and forgetting them, Sylvain had decided to try the most peaceful errand he'd ever been invited to. An evening of contemplation, relaxation, and meditation sounded like the perfect activity for a day like today. It had sounded great when it was announced, now he relished the opportunity and was worried he'd be late. Luckily he wasn't.
Arriving in time to pick one of the few mats unused, Sylvain silently and calmly gathered his possessions and set them off to the side, while removing his robe to better match some of the students who had chosen to participate. Among them he spotted several familiar faces, but the focused mage was dead-set on performing at least one errand on his own. It wasn't that he disliked the company of the others, but that he missed the solitude of his own thoughts, and the last couple weeks had been really draining for him. The mat he chose was soft, and gave much needed padding to make the floor exceedingly more comfortable. His clothes were as comfy as they could be, and in rare form, Sylvain untucked his uniform shirt, and loosened his tie so that it dangled around his neck. He had slipped off his preferred pair of loafers, but his holey socks gave away that he'd been without parental guidance for some time now. Standing in place on the mat, Sylvain stretched his arms and legs behind his back pulling at his ankles to lift his knees, and at his elbows to stretch his shoulders. The last bit of torque giving his tendons a warm up before the big cool down started.
"Good evening. Take a seat on any free mat and make yourself comfortable,"
Ah, it was starting. Sylvain sat down on his mat awaiting Miss Jensen's instructions. He was anxious to get to relaxing. On second thought, that was probably the reason why the scholar needed this exercise to begin with. First, Sylvain closed his eyes to focus on breathing. A long pull of air was piped into his lungs, and with increasing pressure on his chest, he slowly let the wind push itself out of him as if the burden of his mind was lightened by the simple act of breathing. Watching Nora, Sylvain followed her every move, trying his best to emulate her posture and stance. Pulling his knee to his chest released a lot of pressure in his back, and bracing his thigh with the opposite foot gave his posture balance. As he centered himself, maintaining his core, he bent forward placing his head on the pillow Caradoc had so thoughtfully plopped down for each of the students. Folding his arms into the correct position, Sylvain felt the power of yoga. Not only was it peaceful exercise, it was restful reflection as well. A sort of physical-mental harmony achieved by thoughtful movement. He repeated these maneuvers on the opposite side, to maintain respect with balance and the process.
Slowly and steadily rolling his spine into place, Sylvain found that his mind no longer wandered. It was focused on himself for once, and he was thankful that its base desire was the next pose. Despite all of the strange things people had brought with them, the reserved lad managed to shut it all out quietly. His own peace had extended around him. Sylvain looked serene, and graceful. Grounding himself, and maintaining positive posture, the student spread his legs apart to the specified distance. Again, his body felt the strength this stance brought his mind. Achieving his goal of folding his chest with palms outstretched, Sylvain nearly touched the ground with the flats of his hands. Instead, the boy touched it with his finger tips. With a little more practice Syl was certain he would reach the floor in no time. Gently swaying from side to side, Sylvain yet again found power in the posturing of Sleep Yoga. A relaxing and soft swinging motion helped rock out his anxieties completely. For once he felt emboldened by his focus rather than frustrated with it. Releasing another breath, the tension released sent a shiver down his spine. His jaw unclenched, his shoulders rotated forward, and his forehead relented its constant furrowing. The wizard had managed to be relaxed.
Reluctant to partner up, Sylvain did his best to complete the pose unaided. He had come this far with his own mind and body, he was going to continue the journey that way. Managing to roll his legs up, a shift was felt in his lower back, the sort of clicking and rumbling associated with spinal decompression. A wave of comfort rolled over his back as the stress in his rear end released itself, the muscles that lifted his legs were tight but knowing that meant he could work on it. Feet planted on the floor, the novice yogi then lifted with his stomach using the pressure on his heels to maintain the pose. Arms braced out to the sides, the boy found patience as he slowly allowed the tension of his abs to be released by his now rhythmic breathing. Inwards, tension, outwards, release. He learned to let go of his stress. Lying down, Sylvain let off another series of pops and crackles. He was much to young to have all of this stress.
Folding forward from his flatness, Sylvain then stretched out towards his upright toes. From his shoulders, flowing down his back, through his legs and to his tiniest toes, Sylvain felt a constant strain, a sort of pull back from the push he gave himself. Flexing, and extending his toes, he felt the strain as though he had been running and finally decided to come to a stop. The strain diminished. Glancing at the other students from his backside, some of whom had managed to drift to sleep, Sylvain determined his best course of action to be retreating back to Ravenclaw Dorms for the night. Calmly, he stood from his pose and retrieved his belongings.
"Thank you Professors." He said with a courteous bow, gesturing thankfully with hands in a sort of prayer. "I found what I was looking for thanks to you." With that, the boy calmly strolled back to the tower, and experienced the most peaceful rest he'd ever had. He dreamt of a castle in the sky, where he battled dragons and saved his friends all from atop his flying broom.
1116/1000 Words I'm not including Nora's quote above in my own word count.
"Things are never so bad they can't be made worse." -Elim Garak
29 Jun 2020, 19:03
Sleep Yoga
When Jake had first heard about sleep yoga, his first thought had been 'no no definitely no'. He hadn't really known what it was then. He had thought it meant something about sleeping. The last thing Jake wanted was to go to sleep in front of a bunch of other people. Ever since the blossom ball, his nightmares had grown worse than they'd ever been before. And it wasn't the kind of thing he could really hide. His dorm-mates knew, there was no getting around that, but there was no way he was going to risk falling asleep in front of the entire school.
But then he'd found out it wasn't sleeping...it was just exercising. And it was going to get points for Hufflepuff if he went. He did want to help his house... He didn't really care about winning very much, but a lot of the other kids did, and the Hufflepuffs had done something that he had never thought anybody would. They had made him feel loved and safe to be himself at a school where he'd thought he was going to meet nothing but bullies. He loved his house-mates, and if winning the house cup would help the Hufflepuffs, Jake would go to the event, and just be really careful not to fall asleep no matter what happened. That was the least he could do.
Jake had never done yoga before, though he'd heard about it. It was when you all lay down and said "Ohm" or something and then it made you relaxed. It probably wasn't going to work on him though. He didn't think he was going to ever feel relaxed again.
The time for the class arrived, and Jake arrived as well, right on time at the Rehearsal Room. He brought his pjs even though he was determined not to sleep because it sounded like they were supposed to. Freddie was in his arms as he often was lately. The stuffed dog was harder to put down than ever. He hadn't gotten bullied about it yet. He thought maybe that was because of his Hufflepuff friends like Jack, who was a lot bigger than he was and wouldn't let anybody pick on him. He still didn't really like when people outside of his house saw him holding him, but the shame of needing to carry a stuffed animal had become dwarfed by the feeling of comfort he needed, and so he did it even though he knew it was a little bit of a baby thing to do. Some people had told him he should bring Freddie wherever he wanted and not be ashamed. He still maybe was a little, but either way he had begun to take that advice.
Jake looked for an empty mat, not really feeling like talking. He saw some of his friends were there, like Alan and Jack Burnett. He wanted to be next to them, but saw that they were already surrounded, so he found his own spot out of the way. He would go say hi to them after, and Tiger too. The mat they were given was soft and comfortable and the boy lay Freddie down beside him as he took a seat. He skeptically did what Professor Jensen said, and breathed in, then out, in then out, in then out, with his eyes closed. He still didn't know how this was supposed to be relaxing. How could he be relaxed with so much on his mind, and with so many other kids around? Luckily nobody paid him too much attention.
The first pose was a little bit hard, and Jake didn't know what made it look like a swan. It didn't really look like a swan to him, but he pretended to be a sleeping swan like Professor Jensen said (or something close), feeling his body get twisty. In and out he breathed, feeling his muscles stretch, building up tension, and then releasing when they were finally able to switch to the other side. He didn't know what stretching was really supposed to do, but he followed the instructions anyway, continuing to take slow breaths.
In...and out...
In...and out...
He made his way through the poses, one by one, trying his best to keep his balance, and keeping his breathing at the pace they'd been shown. It was quiet deliberate work, sort of like drawing, even if it wasn't as fun. Over time though, his worries did seem a little more distant. Calm wasn't something Jake felt anymore, but by the third or fourth pose he did have to admit maybe there was something about this after all. He didn't think it was the stretching...how could something like that calm him down? He liked hearing their voices though...Professor Jensen, and Professor Browne. Even if he didn't really like yoga very much, he liked the gentle way their voices lilted - up and down - like the breaths in his chest. He liked hearing them because it meant somebody was there. Somebody was watching over them. It was nice and well-lit, and they weren't alone.
Jake yawned a little, but stifled it. He was NOT going to fall asleep. That was the one thing he was sure about. Not in a million years.
They were up to the before-bed pose now, and this one was hard. Jake's feet slid on the mat, as he tried to keep his back arched and his bottom up. He didn't do very good at it. Only for a second at a time did he manage to keep the arch like Professor Jensen had it. It was a relief when they were allowed to stop trying on that one. The Slytherin head of house said when you finished you could stay laying down, and Jake did, closing his eyes for a little while. That one had been hard...and he felt exhausted.
He breathed in and out slowly, flat on his back on the mat. His breathing seemed to have gotten used to the slow and deliberate pace. In, and out...In, and out...In, and out....It had been so long since he had slept more than a few hours...so restless he had been each night even when he did. He didn't know what it was like anymore to lie down and just feel relaxed and calm...to have his mind not firing. He sighed and let the relaxed feeling wash over him, sprawled on the yoga mat and staring up at the ceiling. The eleven-year-old yawned once more, unable to stop it this time, then felt a brief moment of panic which woke him up. That had been a close one.
Jake rolled to his side and lumbered up to his knees, trying to get up so he could get ready for the next pose. The next one you had to sit on the mat and lower your head. He would get to that in just a minute...He just listened for a while to what the Professor was telling him, following the sound of her voice. After a few sentences he realized that he couldn't remember what she had even said. His head bobbed perilously, as he tried to focus.
But the little Hufflepuff's world was growing hazy...the lady's voice fading into a soothing blur. His eyes felt heavy...his head felt droopy....It bobbed a couple more times as the boy struggled to keep his eyes open and look alert. Maybe he had stretched too much...maybe he had used up everything he had. He let his head hang a little because it was too heavy to try and lift it all the way. He wasn't gonna go to sleep or anything...he would just sit and listen for a little. She'd said they were doing a wonderful job...maybe that meant he could take a little break. Maybe it was nice to feel relaxed for just a little while. To take a break from worry while he could. He wasn't giving up yet. He really was going to get to that next pose...any minute now.
A minute later, any onlooker would notice that the small boy had fallen fast asleep on the mat. He had, it turned out, stumbled upon a new Yoga pose.
But then he'd found out it wasn't sleeping...it was just exercising. And it was going to get points for Hufflepuff if he went. He did want to help his house... He didn't really care about winning very much, but a lot of the other kids did, and the Hufflepuffs had done something that he had never thought anybody would. They had made him feel loved and safe to be himself at a school where he'd thought he was going to meet nothing but bullies. He loved his house-mates, and if winning the house cup would help the Hufflepuffs, Jake would go to the event, and just be really careful not to fall asleep no matter what happened. That was the least he could do.
Jake had never done yoga before, though he'd heard about it. It was when you all lay down and said "Ohm" or something and then it made you relaxed. It probably wasn't going to work on him though. He didn't think he was going to ever feel relaxed again.
The time for the class arrived, and Jake arrived as well, right on time at the Rehearsal Room. He brought his pjs even though he was determined not to sleep because it sounded like they were supposed to. Freddie was in his arms as he often was lately. The stuffed dog was harder to put down than ever. He hadn't gotten bullied about it yet. He thought maybe that was because of his Hufflepuff friends like Jack, who was a lot bigger than he was and wouldn't let anybody pick on him. He still didn't really like when people outside of his house saw him holding him, but the shame of needing to carry a stuffed animal had become dwarfed by the feeling of comfort he needed, and so he did it even though he knew it was a little bit of a baby thing to do. Some people had told him he should bring Freddie wherever he wanted and not be ashamed. He still maybe was a little, but either way he had begun to take that advice.
Jake looked for an empty mat, not really feeling like talking. He saw some of his friends were there, like Alan and Jack Burnett. He wanted to be next to them, but saw that they were already surrounded, so he found his own spot out of the way. He would go say hi to them after, and Tiger too. The mat they were given was soft and comfortable and the boy lay Freddie down beside him as he took a seat. He skeptically did what Professor Jensen said, and breathed in, then out, in then out, in then out, with his eyes closed. He still didn't know how this was supposed to be relaxing. How could he be relaxed with so much on his mind, and with so many other kids around? Luckily nobody paid him too much attention.
The first pose was a little bit hard, and Jake didn't know what made it look like a swan. It didn't really look like a swan to him, but he pretended to be a sleeping swan like Professor Jensen said (or something close), feeling his body get twisty. In and out he breathed, feeling his muscles stretch, building up tension, and then releasing when they were finally able to switch to the other side. He didn't know what stretching was really supposed to do, but he followed the instructions anyway, continuing to take slow breaths.
In...and out...
In...and out...
He made his way through the poses, one by one, trying his best to keep his balance, and keeping his breathing at the pace they'd been shown. It was quiet deliberate work, sort of like drawing, even if it wasn't as fun. Over time though, his worries did seem a little more distant. Calm wasn't something Jake felt anymore, but by the third or fourth pose he did have to admit maybe there was something about this after all. He didn't think it was the stretching...how could something like that calm him down? He liked hearing their voices though...Professor Jensen, and Professor Browne. Even if he didn't really like yoga very much, he liked the gentle way their voices lilted - up and down - like the breaths in his chest. He liked hearing them because it meant somebody was there. Somebody was watching over them. It was nice and well-lit, and they weren't alone.
Jake yawned a little, but stifled it. He was NOT going to fall asleep. That was the one thing he was sure about. Not in a million years.
They were up to the before-bed pose now, and this one was hard. Jake's feet slid on the mat, as he tried to keep his back arched and his bottom up. He didn't do very good at it. Only for a second at a time did he manage to keep the arch like Professor Jensen had it. It was a relief when they were allowed to stop trying on that one. The Slytherin head of house said when you finished you could stay laying down, and Jake did, closing his eyes for a little while. That one had been hard...and he felt exhausted.
He breathed in and out slowly, flat on his back on the mat. His breathing seemed to have gotten used to the slow and deliberate pace. In, and out...In, and out...In, and out....It had been so long since he had slept more than a few hours...so restless he had been each night even when he did. He didn't know what it was like anymore to lie down and just feel relaxed and calm...to have his mind not firing. He sighed and let the relaxed feeling wash over him, sprawled on the yoga mat and staring up at the ceiling. The eleven-year-old yawned once more, unable to stop it this time, then felt a brief moment of panic which woke him up. That had been a close one.
Jake rolled to his side and lumbered up to his knees, trying to get up so he could get ready for the next pose. The next one you had to sit on the mat and lower your head. He would get to that in just a minute...He just listened for a while to what the Professor was telling him, following the sound of her voice. After a few sentences he realized that he couldn't remember what she had even said. His head bobbed perilously, as he tried to focus.
But the little Hufflepuff's world was growing hazy...the lady's voice fading into a soothing blur. His eyes felt heavy...his head felt droopy....It bobbed a couple more times as the boy struggled to keep his eyes open and look alert. Maybe he had stretched too much...maybe he had used up everything he had. He let his head hang a little because it was too heavy to try and lift it all the way. He wasn't gonna go to sleep or anything...he would just sit and listen for a little. She'd said they were doing a wonderful job...maybe that meant he could take a little break. Maybe it was nice to feel relaxed for just a little while. To take a break from worry while he could. He wasn't giving up yet. He really was going to get to that next pose...any minute now.
A minute later, any onlooker would notice that the small boy had fallen fast asleep on the mat. He had, it turned out, stumbled upon a new Yoga pose.
Reducio
Word Count: 1366/1000
29 Jun 2020, 22:14
Sleep Yoga
Tallis had heard of the Sleep Yoga Event that the Head of Slytherin and Hufflepuff had planned for the students and really wasn't sure why she should go. A bunch of people in one room that she barely knew doing Yoga, that sounded like one of her nightmares. She knew how to do yoga and was naturally flexible, like her dad who would do yoga with her every morning before heading to work.
After dinner she had gone back to her dorm and changed. She found herself walking towards the room where the event was being held and really, really wasn't sure why on earth she was going to enter. She was wearing a simple long sleeved dark purple t - shirt and long black leggings. She opened the door and saw that there were all ready mats in the room and quickly hurried to one in the fathest corner, in the back, far away from the others in the room. Sitting down on her knees, she watched as other students entered the room and settled in, getting comfortable. Once everyone had entered and had sat down in an upright position, the head of Slytherin house lead them through a breathing exercise. In and out, in, and out, in and out she breathed, staying calm even though she wasn't comfortable around all the people in the room.
She continued to follow the head of Slytherin and placed the pillow that was on her mat in front of her following the instructions given. She bent her left knee, carefully bringing the sole of her left foot to her right inner thigh. Lifting off the floor a little, she extended her right leg behind herself. Holding herself and trying to stay centered and balanced, she pushed her hips forward slightly. She carefully and gently placed her head on her pillow and extended her arms out in front of her. She bended them slightly and held herself in that position. Just like the Head of Slytherin said, she breathed in and out slowly through her nose. Breathing in and out, ten times as told, making sure to hold the position. After she had done that she switched to the other side. She bent her right knee, carefully bringing the sole of her right foot to her left inner thigh. Lifting off the floor a little, she extended her left leg behind herself. Holding herself and trying to stay centered and balanced, she pushed her hips forward slightly. She carefully and gently placed her head on her pillow and extended her arms out in front of her. She bended them slightly and held herself in that position. Basically, just repeating the whole process over again.
After rolling back up, it was time to do a few stretches. She kept her feet a few inches apart, keeping them straight to the wall in front of her. Starting from her hips, she folded her torso over and reached towards the ground. She put her finger tips onto the ground, then just putting her palms on to the ground with ease, stretching well but making sure not to hurt herself. Breathing in and out slowly, she stayed in that position for some time. Now it was time to go into the Lizard Pose.She made sure her right foot was parallel to her right hand, on the outside with her knee bent, her thigh was parallel to the floor as well. She made sure to keep her neck and spine in line, pressing her left heel away and keeping her hips square and held that position, making sure to breath. Now it was time to switch sides. She made sure her left foot this time was parallel to her left hand, on the outside with her knee bent, her thigh was parallel to the floor as well. She made sure to keep her neck and spine in line, pressing her right heel away and keeping her hips square and held that position, making sure to breath. That was the end of that yoga pose.
Now she was suppose to get up against the wall or find a partner and she decided to go with the wall as her partner. She laid back on her back and slowly lifted her legs up, making sure to keep them upright and perpendicular to the floor. She put her arms to the side and made her palms face upward towards the ceiling. She held this position for fifteen seconds, making sure to breath in and out slowly, making sure to control her breathing so she didn't pass out. After she was done she let down her legs slowly and watched as the others who had partners switched and then did the stretch. After everyone was done, they were instructed to lay back on their backs. She bent her knees, her feet flat on the floor with her arms extended to her sides. Pressing her heels down in to the ground she lifted up her hips and back holding it for ten breaths and then lowering herself back down to the ground.
She then sat back up when everyone was told to, now it was time to do a seated forward fold. She carefully stretched her legs out in front of her and put them together. She flexed her feet, pointing them and then flexing them back up. Starting from her hips she bent forward and touched her toes. Her nose touched her knees and felt her back, legs, and feet stretch out. SHe listened as the Head of Slytherin told everyone not to force themselves and to be careful or else they might hurt themselves. She stayed in that position for some time and made sure to breath in and out, controlling her breaths. She released and relaxed sitting back up straight.
The yoga event had ended finally and Tallis got up to go back to her dorm, ready to sleep. She was glad she decided to come and stretch even if she could have done it on her own. Stretching her back out, she was now relaxed and ready for bed.
After dinner she had gone back to her dorm and changed. She found herself walking towards the room where the event was being held and really, really wasn't sure why on earth she was going to enter. She was wearing a simple long sleeved dark purple t - shirt and long black leggings. She opened the door and saw that there were all ready mats in the room and quickly hurried to one in the fathest corner, in the back, far away from the others in the room. Sitting down on her knees, she watched as other students entered the room and settled in, getting comfortable. Once everyone had entered and had sat down in an upright position, the head of Slytherin house lead them through a breathing exercise. In and out, in, and out, in and out she breathed, staying calm even though she wasn't comfortable around all the people in the room.
She continued to follow the head of Slytherin and placed the pillow that was on her mat in front of her following the instructions given. She bent her left knee, carefully bringing the sole of her left foot to her right inner thigh. Lifting off the floor a little, she extended her right leg behind herself. Holding herself and trying to stay centered and balanced, she pushed her hips forward slightly. She carefully and gently placed her head on her pillow and extended her arms out in front of her. She bended them slightly and held herself in that position. Just like the Head of Slytherin said, she breathed in and out slowly through her nose. Breathing in and out, ten times as told, making sure to hold the position. After she had done that she switched to the other side. She bent her right knee, carefully bringing the sole of her right foot to her left inner thigh. Lifting off the floor a little, she extended her left leg behind herself. Holding herself and trying to stay centered and balanced, she pushed her hips forward slightly. She carefully and gently placed her head on her pillow and extended her arms out in front of her. She bended them slightly and held herself in that position. Basically, just repeating the whole process over again.
After rolling back up, it was time to do a few stretches. She kept her feet a few inches apart, keeping them straight to the wall in front of her. Starting from her hips, she folded her torso over and reached towards the ground. She put her finger tips onto the ground, then just putting her palms on to the ground with ease, stretching well but making sure not to hurt herself. Breathing in and out slowly, she stayed in that position for some time. Now it was time to go into the Lizard Pose.She made sure her right foot was parallel to her right hand, on the outside with her knee bent, her thigh was parallel to the floor as well. She made sure to keep her neck and spine in line, pressing her left heel away and keeping her hips square and held that position, making sure to breath. Now it was time to switch sides. She made sure her left foot this time was parallel to her left hand, on the outside with her knee bent, her thigh was parallel to the floor as well. She made sure to keep her neck and spine in line, pressing her right heel away and keeping her hips square and held that position, making sure to breath. That was the end of that yoga pose.
Now she was suppose to get up against the wall or find a partner and she decided to go with the wall as her partner. She laid back on her back and slowly lifted her legs up, making sure to keep them upright and perpendicular to the floor. She put her arms to the side and made her palms face upward towards the ceiling. She held this position for fifteen seconds, making sure to breath in and out slowly, making sure to control her breathing so she didn't pass out. After she was done she let down her legs slowly and watched as the others who had partners switched and then did the stretch. After everyone was done, they were instructed to lay back on their backs. She bent her knees, her feet flat on the floor with her arms extended to her sides. Pressing her heels down in to the ground she lifted up her hips and back holding it for ten breaths and then lowering herself back down to the ground.
She then sat back up when everyone was told to, now it was time to do a seated forward fold. She carefully stretched her legs out in front of her and put them together. She flexed her feet, pointing them and then flexing them back up. Starting from her hips she bent forward and touched her toes. Her nose touched her knees and felt her back, legs, and feet stretch out. SHe listened as the Head of Slytherin told everyone not to force themselves and to be careful or else they might hurt themselves. She stayed in that position for some time and made sure to breath in and out, controlling her breaths. She released and relaxed sitting back up straight.
The yoga event had ended finally and Tallis got up to go back to her dorm, ready to sleep. She was glad she decided to come and stretch even if she could have done it on her own. Stretching her back out, she was now relaxed and ready for bed.
There's nothing wrong with you.
There's a lot wrong with
the world you live in.
29 Jun 2020, 22:48
Sleep Yoga
Outfit: [x]Sleep yoga didn’t exactly seem interesting to Thea. Yoga in general never seemed interesting. I mean, it was just stretching, right? Her sister did that for her dance classes and whatnot. But alas, it seemed like attending it could earn her house some points. She wasn’t really competitive, but she took pride in being a Hufflepuff and decided she might as well help out. It couldn’t be that hard, could it?
Turns out two equally as inexperienced girls had a similar idea. Thea asked them and soon they all coordinated they’d go together. It made the witch feel a little bit safer. I mean, they were all kinda newbies at this, right? Worst case scenario, they’ll be able to laugh about it later. Best case, they were amazing and wow the whole class.
Hell, they even had matching onesies.
When the day finally came, Thea suited up in the bee kigurumi she put on over her usual shorts and tank top, and finally realised a heavy onesie might not be the best choice for exercise. She look down at her and promptly decided she could not be bothered. The girl than proceeded to walk with the two other girls, Annie and Mildred, towards the class. It was surprisingly fun, certainly a lighter house bonding experience than the recent events at the common room. One that hopefully didn’t involve falling through the floor for any of them.
When the three onesie clad girls made it to the room, the Head of Slytherin instructed them to choose a mat and just focus on their breathing for now. Not really knowing many people there, she followed as Annie, dressed in a fluffy duck onesie gestured. She was relieved to see her and the other girls weren’t the only badgers there; even their head of house made an appearance, which made Thea chuckle a bit.
The witch calmed down and closed her eyes, breathing deeply, trying to relax, focusing on her breath. They had repeated the exercise for a minute or so, and right as Thea was getting bored, Nora (as Thea and some other students she knew were used to calling her) was speaking again. She slowly opened her eyes and proceeded to watch as the woman in front of her do steps she was now supposed to repeat.
Sighing mentally, she grabbed a nearby pillow and tried to recount the steps in her head. Before she even got to get herself adjusted, she heard an… alarming crack coming from Annie and looked at her with mild terror before quickly being reassured by the girl’s laughter. She giggled herself and got to attempting the “sleeping swan” position herself. It was… surprisingly easy after Thea realized she had more bones inside of her tiny 12 year old body than she could’ve thought to watch out for. Before switching to her other leg, the girl took a look around the room. Everyone was focused, even her onesie wearing companions.
So far, sleep yoga wasn’t as bad as she expected. The professor was going around the room, correcting positions and answering questions before going back to her mat and starting to explain the next pose. Thea paid attention, trying to roll back up instead of just standing. It was harder than she expected but she managed to stand up properly, not before losing her balance a bit before regaining it. The next one seemed fairly easy – her class had done something similar for some PE tests at muggle school, with different degrees of how your hands touched the floor. It was a weird exercise but apparently it paid off as she was able to quickly bend over and put her palms on the mat.
She was able to hold it for a couple of seconds at a time before her knees refused to cooperate anymore. She then just stood there awkwardly, hoping to not have to explain why to the Slytherin professor. Fortunately enough for Thea, “the lizard pose” was next and she got back to paying attention to the professor as the woman explained it both verbally and physically. And as the Hufflepuff looked on she realized that this was going to… cause problems, to say the least. She could not figure out how to stretch herself. The Slytherin’s head knee was… and then her arms- and Thea did not understand for the life of her how a human could do any of that without spraining, breaking, or at least fracturing something. Fortunately it seemed she wasn’t the only one who was having this problem.
Equally fortunately, there was an alternative that seemed to help at least somewhat. The woman instructed the students to grab some bricks and use them to help with the arm situation. It didn’t fix the fact Thea felt like she was going to pop off her whole right leg if she as much as attempted the pose but hey, it didn’t hurt to try, did it? That was the whole point of this after all.
She got up and brought over 4 bricks, two for herself, and two if any of the other girls she was with needed them as well. It was hilarious to see both a chicken and a yellow unicorn struggle with stretching, but it didn’t look comfortable, especially because of the heavy onesies. After struggling with the position for a couple of seconds, she decided she couldn’t hold it for much longer. Not wanting the professor that was walking around the class to catch her slacking off, she’d attempt it a couple more times but always give up after a couple of seconds.
The next pose was easy: “up against a wall”. Nothing she didn’t see her sister do as a warm up before. They were a nice change of pace from whatever Thea’s lizard pose attempt was. By the time they got to the seated forward fold, Thea, and it seems a lot of other students, were getting sleepy, if not passing out on their mats by that point. After getting done with the final pose, Thea sat up in the bee onesie she was wearing and yawned. It was nice.wc: 1029
Last edited by Thea Knott on 30 Jun 2020, 09:23, edited 2 times in total.
Stamina: 8 Evasion: 8 Strength: 6 Wisdom: 6 Arcane Power: 6 Accuracy: 6