(no subject)

[fox_confessor]

Last night at yoga there a was a woman next to me who was there for the first time. She was young (probably 18ish), very thin, and incredibly flexible, which generally is a combination that makes me feel really sorry for myself (being not young, not thin, and while vastly more flexible than I was a year ago, I still can't bend in half or "thread your left arm through your right arm then reach around and grasp your left foot now breath and smile"). This is why I keep my eyes closed during class--not to experience my inner peace but to keep from comparing myself to people made of rubber--I never come out on top. Anyway, the lovely woman next to me kept bending in ways that were quite impossible for most humans (I peek. I'm weak, particularly when they're quite attractive.) but I noticed to my delight that while I couldn't bend backwards flat on the ground whilst sitting on my heels, my arms don't shake (like hers did) at the end of class no matter how many down dogs we do or how long we hold them. I don't have to have my hands on the floor during lunges to keep my balance but can lift them up to the sky without feeling like I'll topple (in fact, next to happy baby, it's my favorite thing to do). I have strength rather than great flexibility--I want both but I'm pretty happy to be strong. I also have good balance and can hold tree pose for ages, though I tend to think that's my low center of gravity at work (i.e., short and fat).

I'm wearing one of my new dresses today. I noticed as I was trying to decide which pair of sandals to wear that my legs look rather lovely. My ankles are quite slender, which made me laugh because on occasion I read books where the heroines are quite vain about their ankles, and now I've joined their number.

The other day I was handwriting the next chapter of a Suits fic during my lunch and discovered much to my horror that I was could be writing an alpha/omega fic. Don't take that as judgement for those who like a/o fics, because I read them and sometimes enjoy (and sometimes boggle--definitely depends on the writer and how far they stretch their knowledge of human anatomy--I know the point is that a/o are different but *hands* I was a biology major! I have hang-ups!) and besides your kink may not be my kink and that's perfectly all right (though I'm pretty easy going with my kinks so likely we share more than a few). I just never considered writing one, particularly not in Suits, which is flooded with a/o stories (where are they all in Remus/Sirius? You would think that would lend itself to it, you know? Are they on ff.net?). Moreover, I don't want to write one (though now that the thought has planted itself, I can't help but to wonder at the challenge I see in it) so I had to dial it back and decide how to tweak my plot.

Okay, I have no point to this post except a) I'm strong! b) I have lovely ankles! c) why can't I just write fic all day long! and finally d) I'm procrastinating because I don't want to work. I want to sit outside in the sunshine in my pretty dress and finish reading my book.

Comments

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

I have the flexibility, but not the core strength. Not a great combo I tell you since everything just goes out of whack from being flexible and there's no strength to hold things back from being *over* stretched if you know what I mean. I've been forbidden by my chiro from doing yoga "Don't want you to get any *more* flexible," he said, not that I was doing any yoga. "Do pilate instead." Yeah... not doing ANYTHING right now....

[juke-box-dive.livejournal.com]

I can see where it would be equally problematic to be too flexible as well. I worry about pushing too hard and straining my back again and understand where one could push too far in the other direction as well (not pushing too hard but have it be too easy). Pilates never appealed, though it's a moot point now as the only pilates studio in town closed shop.

[in-the-bottle.livejournal.com]

I have a slight problem with hypermobility, which is where all the problems with my hips and lower back comes in. *sigh*

Definitely looking at signing up for pilates at the university gym come summer. Was thinking of doing it in Feb, but you had to book in 10 weeks all in one go, and since I already had plans to go away for 1-2 weeks in the last month of when the classes run, I was going to end up missing classes and losing money. :(

[kiltsandlollies.livejournal.com]

This is a good post and I love everything about it. :D (says she of shaky arms but LOTS OF FLEXIBILITY OKAY) :D

[juke-box-dive.livejournal.com]

I had no core strength when I started for sure and hadn't really been convinced I'd gained any either, until I compared myself to someone just starting out. It generally ends very badly for me when I do that, as I am a harsh critic to myself, but in this instance I could temper my envy with being proud at how far I had come.

[desecrets.livejournal.com]

Ahaha, kudos on the strength thing. I don't want to think about what would happen if I tried to do yoga.

I get the feeling that the vast influx of a/o fics right now is a sliiightly recent thing? And HP fandom has kind of died down in the past few years... (Though it could just be that I've somehow managed to avoid that particular kink until recently.)

I have definitely seen fic with subservient Padfoot, but I'm sorta glad that most of the R/S around doesn't take it further than that, tbh.

[juke-box-dive.livejournal.com]

I was definitely nervous my first go in a yoga studio. I couldn't bend and touch the floor with my hands (or come close) or hold myself up in down dog and everything hurt, particularly my hips, but mentally I loved it, which is I kept going back, and then adding on classes to where I now go four days a week to five classes. I'm officially addicted, especially to classes like last night's, which leave me sweating a bit (they don't all).

I think a/o is relatively recent. I started my fandom journey over 10 years ago in Lotrips and there was definitely no such thing there, and that really saw everything. I can see where Mike and Harvey's dynamics rather lend itself to a/o. I don't hate that sort of fic but it's like wing fic--a little goes a long way before it starts to be repetitive. As for R/S, I don't mind if Sirius is submissive or bottoms on occasion but the thought of a/o fic in that beloved pairing really does nothing for me. Oddly, most of the a/o fic I've read has been in SPN, a show I've never even watched.

[desecrets.livejournal.com]

It sounds interesting but so, so demanding, really. xD But god, I'm lousy at the whole workout thing just in general. I really should do something about it but I just keep feeling like there are so many other things that are more interesting, and thus more worth the time and effort.

Ahaha, yeah, for me, those different-biology-tropes are a question of plausibility. It has to fit the premises of the 'verse. Like, wing fic is fine in Good Omens fandom where there are actual angels, or maybe as a Charms accident in HP, but not in every fandom.
And no, I agree about a/o in R/S fic. A bit of that dynamic is fine, I like an eager bottom!Sirius and I think that's probably very good for Remus' sense of self worth, as well; having someone with whom he doesn't constantly need to hold back. (And Sirius is stupidly fond of a hint of danger...) But taking away the equality in any relationship kind of spoils it for me.

[juke-box-dive.livejournal.com]

The first class I went to (and still go to on occasion) was a Gentle Flow, emphasis on "gentle". I think, like all things, it really depends on having an excellent teacher and I've really made a connection with two of mine. The studio I go to is small and friendly and truly embraces all shapes and sizes, which is important for me.

there are so many other things that are more interesting, and thus more worth the time and effort This is me about almost any other form of exercise. I keep trying to convince myself to walk at lunch but why? when I can sit quietly with a book and a cup of coffee instead? Yoga is different for me. I have an anxiety disorder and really suffered from panic attacks and such for years. Meditation and yoga has really given me so much peace of mind that the flexibility and strength is just bonus at this point.

I shall stop proselytizing :D ahaha I have absolutely become one of those people over it.

[msilverstar]

I'm usually a bit squicked by a/o in general, but a good writer can sell me completely.

Just that most of them are writing Torrid Romance of Destiny (Male Flavor). IMNSHO, a/o gets a ton of fic that just puts the omega in the girl role (mpreg too), and never goes beyond the most trite cliches. But the same goes for most stuff, 90% of everything is crap...

[juke-box-dive.livejournal.com]

I mostly agree--a lot of the writers do put the omega in the female role. I think that every time I read the more submissive characters lying back and spreading their legs. I'm thinking...I'm sure there are men who fuck like that but it's seems like such a feminine thing.