#spread the ql word

[dekaydk]

LGBTQ CONTENT ALERT

Support the folks who make the content we crave

Producer of QL and BL content, Korea's Strongberry is small but scrappy and brought the world a lot more content than you might expect. The CEO had a live session a little while ago, and it was reposted with English subtitles yesterday. Among the takeaways: they have a lot more interest from actors than they used to. Also, some of the content they have distributed was produced by others but needed a distribution outlet, so they are clearly a part of the ecosystem that might not otherwise exist.

It's nice and short, and he says there will be a live session with the actors during March (date TBD). Watch this and drive up the stats! Make their investors realize they have a great audience! 😀

Above all, check out their other content on Gagaoolala and YouTube.

[dribs-and-drabbles]

The Great Thai Communal Wardrobe Advent Giveaway!

I've currently collected/documented 45 items of clothing (and accessories) that have reappeared in various Thai series over the past four years - these are only the ones that have been discovered, I'm sure there are more.

These 45 items are spread over 38 shows and are worn by 78 different characters (mains, sides, and random extras).

At the most, one item has been worn by 8 different people in 6 series, several have been used 3-5 times, but the majority have only appeared in two different shows (so far!).

There has been one recent show which has featured 15 items of clothing which have been worn in other series! The next highest number is 11 in a show which aired last year. And then the 3rd and 4th spot go to a show from two years ago (with 10 items) and one from this year (with 6).

I have currently ordered all the items by the number of times used and then by air date (with the highest and earliest first), but once I start posting them I will add any new discoveries to the end of the list (from 46 onwards).

And I'd like your involvement to post them!

Between now and Nov 15th send me an ask or a DM with one of the following requests to either have the item dedicated to yourself or you can gift it to another blog. (Anon is also fine but I'd suggest using an obscure emoji so you can identify yourself).

You can request:

A random number in the list (1-45)

The name of a particular show

A specific character or actor

Something funny or stylish or that I think you might like

A specific item (if you have a pretty confident idea of one that exists)

And a specific date you would like your post published if you have one (I'm mainly trying to decide what order to publish them all in)

A point to note: I've already published number 3 and number 6 (although the latter is now wrongly-numbered 😥 so I might consider editing the original post...again).

My plan is to post two a day from Dec 1st in the run up to Christmas, like an advent calendar, so I've set the deadline for requests early enough to give me time to organise the posts (since work does get in the way sometimes).

And if you do spot any more shared clothing across series, do let me know!

Tagging some people in case you're interested and to help me spread the word: @grapejuicegay @celestial-sapphicss @twig-tea @rocketturtle4 @waitmyturtles @respectthepetty @chickenstrangers @ranchthoughts @slayerkitty @colourme-feral @blmpff @telomeke @nothingsbetterthancoffee @lurkingshan @ephemeral-hiraeth @thegalwhorants @hughungrybear @i-got-the-feels @icouldhyperfixatehim @dragonsareawesome123 @sparklyeyedhimbo @first-kanaphan @italianpersonwithashippersheart @shouldiusemyname @gabrielokun @ghoststookournightmares @morathicain @nongnaopat @lamonnaie @natalias-pierogi @mysterygrl20 @nahaluk @callipigio @multifanofmultifandom @dramarec @cangse-sanren @williamrikers @justafriend-ql @heretherebedork @forcebook @non-binarypal7 @aprilblossomgirl @morkofday @brazilian-whalien52

[becauseimanicequeen]

In Defense of Ji from To Be Continued

(Or “Let’s Look at Characters From a More Non-Binary Perspective”)

I’ve been thinking about writing a post like this since the 5th episode last week (but haven’t gotten around to it). But after reading a couple of comments with the general consensus that Ji’s actions were at the risk of becoming irredeemable, I felt like there was no time like the present. Better late than never, right? (This is a long one, so I’ll put most of it after a break with a TL;DR at the end.)

(Btw, that purple light between them is so well placed. They're clearly not communicating, symbolized by that line being drawn between them. And the purple, a mix of blue (trust and loyalty) and red (love and fate), symbolizes the mysterious and unresolved feelings they're both having (or are beginning to have) towards each other. )

The response to Ji and Achi that I’ve seen has been interesting. The little response I’ve seen (since I haven’t seen this series being talked about that much, or perhaps I’m just bad at searching for it) was utter annoyance with Achi the first few episodes until we were shown that Ji made Achi cry in the past and (mostly) everyone I’ve seen writing about this turned on Ji all of a sudden.

(It’s hilarious to see how easily viewers change their opinions. I mean that genuinely. Some of that is more entertaining than many QLs I’ve watched.)

My mindset isn’t that binary, though. (I don’t see things in either black or white because that’s too limiting for me.) That means that I’m neither for nor against either Achi or Ji. (I can definitely like one character more than another, but that doesn’t mean that character is “better” than any other. And in this particular case, I like Ji and Achi equally.) It just annoys me a bit when a character gets torn to shreds for an isolated scene or situation (akin to the whole Non vs Jin situation in DFF, which got waaaaay out of hand).

(Obviously, this is by no means a call for deep analysis of characters–essay style–every time anyone wants to say something about a character. But I do feel like taking an isolated situation out of context means that the meaning, however differently all of us interpret that meaning, gets lost.)

Based on what we’ve seen so far in To Be Continued, both Achi and Ji have made mistakes (in the past and present), they are both terrible at communicating, both are clearly confused and/or terrified of their feelings (especially towards each other), and it seems like no one wants to be the first to fess up. That’s the general situation of their relationship in the series so far.

A discussion on who’s at “fault” for Ji and Achi’s current situation based on what I just listed is pretty much unnecessary because they’re both equally responsible. However, since it’s so easy to play the blame game and spread it like wildfire on the internet just because there’s a character one doesn’t like or see eye to eye with, I thought it was a good idea to include it in this post anyway. Especially since my answer is based on my non-binary way of thinking. (Spoiler alert: it’s not either/or, it’s both/and.)

(I’m putting fault between quotation marks because I feel like its connotation is too negative when something like responsible would suit better. But since fault is often thrown around when playing the blame game, I’ll stick to that word.)

If we look at Ji and Achi’s actions (the ones we’ve seen so far), I feel like 3 moments stand out:

Achi pestering Ji in the first few episodes even though Ji said he wanted nothing to do with Achi. (Present)

Ji asked Achi to introduce him to Pear. (Past)

The mixed signals both of them are giving each other. (Past and present)

I’ve previously written a post about Achi choosing not to respect Ji’s boundaries (even when clearly stated), so I won’t go too deep into that. What I will mention here, however, is that it doesn’t matter how desperate Achi is in trying to keep Ji close. Breaking someone else’s boundaries is not okay. Whenever someone needs space, it should (ideally) be respected.

Achi is being way too pushy in the first couple of episodes, and he’s not even communicating why that is. I think he says once (or twice?) that he’s missed Ji all these 10 years they’ve been apart and that he wants to know how Ji's been, but that’s no excuse.

If you doubt that some space would make any difference, look at how Ji reacted during that whole montage of Ji finding those bags with food (or whatever it was) that Achi hung on his door in ep. 5. And those notes they write to each other when exchanging those bags is probably the best line of communication they’ve had since they got to know each other. That’s how much can change if a person’s boundaries are respected.

(Sure, you could argue that it was a result of Ji showing respect first when he thanked Achi for coming over with food in the scene before the montage. Sometimes you need to first give what you want to get, and that “thank you” to Achi might've made Achi realize he could back off without being terrified of losing Ji (or whatever his reason for being so persistent is).)

When it comes to my second point above (Ji asking Achi to introduce him to Pear), it’s very interwoven with the third point (the mixed signals both of them are giving).

In the whole montage of them going on that day trip and playing games and stuff in the past (ep. 3), you can clearly see that there are feelings involved from both of them (whatever that may be; friendship, fondness, curiosity, love, whatever). But every time Ji looked at Achi (especially when they were at one of those lookout points with a beautiful view), Achi turned away. I mean, if you look at that whole jacket scene, you can see that he literally steps back and avoids Ji’s gaze.

Ji doesn’t seem to mind though, it’s not like he’s surprised or worried about it. But it still doesn’t change the fact that Achi is giving him mixed signals. Achi is both hot (giving Ji his jacket when Ji’s cold) and cold (stepping away and avoiding Ji’s gaze when Ji is looking and smiling at him).

And then there’s the scene on the pier/jetty at the end of episode 4 (which is also from the past). This happens after Ji asked Achi to introduce him to Pear (which I still believe was very innocent at first because Ji seemed genuinely interested in her, and there’s nothing wrong with that).

On that pier/jetty, Ji is tentatively trying to figure out how Achi is feeling because he can sense the tension (at least that’s how I interpret it). Ji does so by first asking Achi if he has feelings for Pear (because that could be a logical explanation for the tension), but Achi says he doesn’t. That’s when Ji has this look on his face:

It’s like he’s trying to think of another reason for the tension, which I think is what leads to the moment when he says that Achi’s got pretty eyes, nose, and lips.

I feel like he’s being genuine here. At the same time as he’s trying to figure out what the tension is all about, he’s also giving Achi an opportunity to clear things up, to be honest with Ji, and for both of them to get closer.

Then Ji lays his head on Achi’s chest as if to listen to his heartbeat (perhaps listening for an answer rather than being told, because we already know that their m.o. isn’t communication).

Achi is swayed for a moment, but he still chooses to change the subject and ends up leaving the pier/jetty (once again giving Ji mixed signals, especially after looking at Ji with heart eyes only moments before).

Achi’s reaction is probably based on a fear of being rejected since he thinks that Ji is interested in Pear, so it makes sense. But, even though his actions make sense, he’s still choosing to participate in giving off mixed signals.

(I mean, if someone looked at me with hearts in their eyes and then avoided me like the plague when I wanted to get closer, I would ditch the bitch. But, this isn’t about me…)

What’s interesting (and something I think some viewers are forgetting) is that this scene from the past is mirrored in the scene in Ji’s bedroom earlier in the same episode (which is in the present). In the present, it’s Achi who says that he thinks Ji’s eyes, nose, and lips are pretty (confessing to Ji only when he thinks Ji is sleeping, which seems to be his m.o., btw).

But then he repeats it when Ji asks him what he said.

I feel like Achi is trying to bring back that moment from the past because he knows he missed an opportunity to be honest about his feelings at that moment on the pier/jetty. The difference is that this time it leads to them kissing (a kiss that should never have happened until they had cleared up their shit, btw, but who can stop these two confused, love-sick, adorable idiots? Well, the screenwriters can, but what would be the fun in that? I digress…).

This time, Ji is the one who breaks the moment. He knows just as well as Achi where those words came from. He remembers that moment on the pier/jetty in the past just as well as Achi. And I swear that he remembers the rejection too.

It’s possible those memories were too much for Ji. It’s also possible that he realized the kiss wasn’t a good idea (he has shown previously that he’s not okay with Achi just kissing him, like in ep. 2). And as we saw with the previous kiss, it takes Ji a moment or two before he realizes what happens an/or realizes the implications of what’s happening (it took him a moment before he pushed Achi away in ep. 2, and the same here in ep. 4 before he pulled back).

So, who’s at “fault” here? Who’s at “fault” for creating more tension (and hurt feelings) between them?

Is Achi at “fault” considering he brought up the past when mirroring that moment on the pier/jetty? Is he at “fault” considering he initiated the kiss in Ji's bedroom (he was the one who leaned forward first and the one who held onto Ji with both hands/arms)?

Is Ji at “fault” considering he rejected Achi? Is he at “fault” considering he told Achi to leave his bedroom after the kiss (clearly needing some space)?

And don’t come at me with the whole “but Ji hurt Achi’s feelings by hitting on Pear, not to mention taking her to the same movie that Achi took Ji to.”

First of all, was that a conscious choice of Ji’s? Possibly. Was this the best way to go about it? Debatable. But it should be said that Ji got interested in Pear before he started sensing the tension between him and Achi. It was all good feelings before that (and it could be that Ji didn’t think his relationship with Achi was beyond friendship, because delusion and confusion are every teenager’s middle names).

Secondly, on that same pier/jetty in that same scene in ep. 4, Ji mentions that he doesn’t like romantic movies, whereas Achi says that it might be because he’s never been in love. Is it then so far-fetched that he takes Pear to that same movie (which I assume is a romance) to test out if he sees the movie with new eyes now that he’s with Pear? Not really.

(Could he have chosen another romantic movie? Sure. Was there another romance playing at the time? I have no fucking idea because this is fiction and they didn’t tell us and we’re probably supposed to read between the lines that it was a romance and that Ji was influenced by Achi’s words and I’m totally getting off track here…)

Thirdly, and probably the most important point: Let’s not forget that there’s actually a possibility that Ji is bi (the same goes for Achi who had some sort of relationship with… what’s her name, Mona?).

I know it’s difficult in this generally binary-thinking world to understand there’s a possibility of something in the middle of black or white. You’re either gay or straight, right? Wrong! There’s such a thing as bi- and pansexuality. And since we’re living in such a binary-thinking world, it’s easy to be hella confused as bi- or pansexual.

(I won’t go into the bi-hate that viewers spew out in comments and reactions to QLs, especially when the lead roles are bi (and especially when they are together with or hook up with the opposite sex), but it’s so fucking annoying. I want to write a post about this one day, or reblog someone else's post who might’ve written about it better than I ever will, so if anyone knows a post on this, send it my way.)

If Ji is a bi character, can you blame him for being confused? If he’s not bi but is having his gay awakening, can you blame him for being confused?

Can you blame him for asking Achi to introduce him to Pear, especially since Achi has never expressed his romantic interest in Ji and Ji seems genuinely interested in Pear? Can you really blame Ji for trying to figure out what the fuck is going on with Achi when he notices the tension between them?

Can you really blame Ji for not being able to read between the lines (has anyone forgotten he’s a teenager?)?

And I’m not saying all this to say that it’s Achi’s “fault” either. He’s just as confused as Ji. And none of them are brave enough to take the first step to clear things up either.

Again, it’s both Ji and Achi’s “fault” that things are the way they are. They are both responsible for their situation.

There’s still much to be revealed in this series, so a lot of it is still up for speculation right now. Clearly, however, something happened that made them go their separate ways and be out of contact with each other for 10 years.

If I were to put my money on a bet, it would be that they split because of a misunderstanding on both their parts. What that misunderstanding is, though, remains to be seen.

(If I were to guess I think they hooked up, Ji was confused and needed some space to process, and Achi took it as a rejection and left the country (since we’ve seen that his mother lives in the US). But I'm probably wrong.)

Ji's actions, so far, are not irredeemable (he’s not even on the verge of being irredeemable). And if they were, Achi’s actions would be just as irredeemable.

It’s easy to play the blame game, especially in today’s world. It’s a lot more difficult to be open-minded. But the latter will always be more rewarding.

TL;DR: Both Achi and Ji have made mistakes, they are both terrible at communicating, and both are clearly confused and/or terrified of their feelings. No one is at “fault” for their current situation because they’re both responsible for it.

*stepping down from my soapbox*

[discluded]

I am trying to take P*nd's words with a pinch of salt and you have to leave room for understanding with translations but this whole it's not a Y movie think....is really doing a disservice to not only to his own argument by labeling Y movies/series as limiting/ bad but also seems insensitive towards his own actor's work who worked hard to show a nuanced relationship that had very real emotions for the characters who were as open as the characters felt they could have in that setting. It kinda feels like we are back to square one with everyone fighting about whether this movie will have romance and whether MA will be each other's love interest (which from the way the actors played in seems very much present only for the director to come out and say they are not a couple)

Hi!!!

Okay, your skepticism and criticism is valid, but I think there is a little more context as well. Let's take a look at Mile's speech from yesterday at SF Cinema.

I’m going to make a speech*… that actually, to be straightforward, Thai films have lots of potential, but it’s a shame that the proportion of Thai films that people should come see is only about 10% of all** (the films being shown)… 10 in 100 is very little na krub. I want to increase the proportion to like 50%, 70%, 80% if it’s possible… right? And most importantly, Man Suang is a film that I believe everyone can watch. When everyone can watch it, some might be curious as to… take it this way, the comments from the behind (the scene) to me said that ‘It’s at least worth watching it’ and they feel that ,hey, they profit from the happiness of some moment in the film and that’s all, krub. So I want people to spread (the news) word of mouth. If you want someone to be happy while watching a movie, show lots of love to Man Suang, and most importantly, I thank everyone who came by and I feel like they are the voice (of promoting this film). I’m making a speech very seriously na… many voices that help talk, help present in social media, really thank you, and please show lots of love to Man Suang na krub, thank you krub. [translation] *Mile making a joke about how he's always talking like a politician, and also referencing the current political climate in Thailand **Mile referring to the issue of the major cinemas in Thailand not showing local films but only blockbuster films causing Thai films to not make money and subsequently lose their funding

A little more context: the two major distributors of films in Thailand are SF Cinema and Major Group, along with a smaller group of independent Thai cinemas. Usually one of SF Cinema and Major Group will show Thai films, but not both. In terms of Man Suang promo, the Thai fans themselves said it was rare and good work that the team got both film distributors to show Man Suang while still being a smaller/new company, and that the independent theatres also agreed to show it. I believe that's partly what the Man Suang Roadshow is meant to do, because they know that their own presence will draw fans to theatres.

Remember, one facet of soft power includes making domestic products more appealing to citizens compared to imports, which sounds like a major issue for Thai cinema right now. If Man Suang can revitalize interest in Thai cinema beyond just their film too, I think MileApo will have achieved some of their goal with this project.

But back to your overall comment, one of the challenges of BL/Y series is that it's still stigmatized as a genre.

I'm wondering now if people thought Mile's acting was bad because they primed themselves to think that actors doing BL/QL series were bad at acting :/ And oftentimes, the skills to get into one of these positions isn't very high, which is why some actors will use it as stepping stone in their career in Thailand, and why so many solo fans expected Mile and Apo to part ways as an acting pair after the success of their first project because they feel like MA "relegated" themselves to doing a BL series. There is still a lot of stigma against LGBTQ people in Thailand, even though it's one of the more progressive Asian countries.

So Pond, as the Exec Producer, Director, and owner of BOC is between a rock and a hard place. They both want to reduce stigma of queer storytelling but also promote Thai cinema. Also, calling back again to this:

I don't think most people think of CMBYN as a BL. In fact, it, alongside Carol, are considered one of the best romantic dramas* of all time. (*mostly western/english films) And that's without the qualification of queer romantic drama, etc. etc.

So I'm going to give Pond a little bit of a break here. Also, this user also reminded me Man Suang was supposed to be three hours long? I thought I hallucinated Apo said that, so we gotta wonder what happened to 1/3rd of the film. I hope the director's cut makes it to streaming like the way La Forte did

[thatgirl4815]

BL/QL Ask Game : The Ugly, the Bad and the Worst

I was tagged by the lovely @waitmyturtles for this game! Thank you! It was fun! Admittedly though, it has been very difficult for me to pin down some of my answers. I know that there are definitely more bad BLs/QLs that I've managed to forget about (thankfully), so this is what I managed to come up with off the top of my head.

I'm learning as I'm doing this that I am much more equipped to talk about what I like compared to what I don't like, so apologies for unintentionally side-stepping some of these questions, haha.

*Original post can be found here

Worst soundtrack / weirdest song choice in a BL -> This might be an unpopular opinion, but the part of LITA where Payu sings to Rain stands out in my mind, because it just felt so forced in and uncomfortable. I also watched 2gether a long time ago, but I remember feeling like some of the singing just felt...off. I always find singing in BL cringey to some extent, so it's hard for me to judge any song fairly because I'm too busy squealing in agony.

Most cringe-inducing line (cute) -> To keep it recent, I'll say "Without wind, how can a windmill spin?" from Dangerous Romance, because it's so on the nose, but I'll admit it is endearing. The wind/windmill thing is giving me MAME, LITA flashbacks, and I'd just prefer to avoid those cliches altogether.

Most cringe-inducing line (actually bad) -> As I said above, I'm sure there are many more I could pick out with time, but the one standing out in my head is "If you don't have sexual intercourse within 2 hours, the poison will spread to your internal organs and you will die." For reference, this line comes less than a minute into the first episode of Tonhon Chonlatee. Suffice to say, I promptly closed my computer screen and that was the end of that. (I love Khao but they failed him here.)

Most stupid decision made by a character -> For Leo to give a single flying fuck about Fiat in Don't Say No. I know this sounds harsh, but I have such disdain for Fiat's character. All he did in TT season 2 and Don't Say No was whine...and yet Leo still liked him? He still wanted to be in a relationship with him? I'm failing to see what it is about Fiat that attracts him.

Worst plot line -> There are a lot of contenders here, but SCOY was pretty bad and ultimately pointless. And I don't think I've ever cringed harder for an extended period of time.

The most problematic show you've watched -> The fact that I'm going to put TharnType above KinnPorsche speaks volumes. At least KP was self-aware and eased us into the problematic content. TT didn't hold its punches at all.

A show people love but you find bad -> For me, it's probably A Tale of a Thousand Stars. Bad is a strong word, because I wouldn't say it was bad...it was just boring. I was really into it for the first couple of episodes, but the longer it went on, the more depthless I found Phupha to be. There was actually a point I remember thinking that Tian should be with Longtae instead. And thus my love for Khaotung was born.

A show people find bad but you will defend -> I'll say KinnPorsche too, because I also think it was a cultural reset for Thai BL in a lot of ways. I know a lot of people found Love Mechanics problematic, but I personally really like YinWar's chemistry and found the storyline compelling enough, so I'll defend it for that.

A show that is just objectively bad but you enjoyed it -> War of Y? Not sure if this counts since I didn't finish (but I'll give myself a pass since it does cover a bunch of different couples, so it's basically like several shows all in one). I think it had the potential to say interesting things about toxicity in the Thai QL industry, but it just...didn't? Or it tried to, but it ultimately fell flat. Anyways, the part that I watched (BillySeng's storyline, I think) was entertaining enough.

A bad show that you kept watching because you were intrigued/fascinated -> TharnType. I was fascinated to see if either of the leads (but mostly Type) could possibly get more annoying/problematic. Spoiler alert: they could.

A bad show that you kept watching because you were horny -> Hmm, maybe Big Dragon?

A bad show that you kept watching because of that one character -> This is so hard because I don't think Until We Meet Again is a bad show, but the first thing that popped into my head was Win and Team, mostly Win. I was getting annoyed with the main plot, but I looked forward to seeing my man Win whenever possible. (Plus BounPrem are cute together.)

A bad show that you would still recommend -> Goodness, idk...Why R U? was kinda fun. Even though I wouldn't say I found it particularly great (probably due to the cuts they made due to COVID).

The character that ruined a show the most -> Fiat in Don't Say No. That one's a no-brainer.

Most awful character that you hated -> Fiat. Get him off my screen.

Most awful character that you loved -> Vegas. I love to hate him.

A character that wasn't awful but that you just don't like -> Rain in LITA. I found him annoying. I get that his behavior was supposed to be cute, but he just came across as pouty and immature.

A hero that should have been a villain -> I kinda think Kim in KinnPorsche would've been a good villain? It would've been unexpected. Also, something about Jeff Satur playing a villainous character is just *chef's kiss* (if he had played Vegas, I think I would've lost my mind).

A morally bad character you're into -> Vegas from KP. Also Vee from Love Mechanics because the cheating stuff was bad, but I also just find him very endearing? He was having an internal crisis, which isn't an excuse, but I empathized with him. (Can I throw Ray from Only Friends in here as well? Not sure he entirely fits. Apparently I'm just looking for any excuse to bring up Khaotung, lol.)

A morally bad character you're not into and you wish people would stop being into -> I'm having a hard time with this one...my first thought was Boston because his behavior makes me sick to my stomach, but I think it's funny how other people are into him. Like I get it even if I don't agree with it (Neo is hot, in any case).

The show that disappointed you the most -> This one is hard. I guess I'd say A Tale of A Thousand Stars? As I said above, I loved it at first, but I started to get so bored.

The Worst Show of Them All Because of Your Own Reasons -> Don't Say No. Sorry Fiat.

Whew, that was much harder than I thought! Will tag some of my moots if any of y'all wanna play--as always, no pressure! :) @abstractelysium @thegalwhorants @nihilisticcondensedmilk @bird-inacage @aprilblossomgirl @dreamedofyou @firstkanaphans @itsmelb @k-white @way-too-indecisive @autisticbokutoenthusiast

And of course, anybody and everybody is welcome to play along!

[kteabug]

...that isn’t my name

Summary: Izuku hears his partner, Katsuki, call out a name in his sleep.

Pairings: Bakugo x Midoriya | Bakugo x Kirishima (past)

Word Count: 410

Warnings: Angst. QL! AU.

A/N: Loosely based off ‘Some of Us’ by Starsailor. I had planned to flesh things out more, but it felt like it was just dragging things out awkwardly. I hope you still enjoy this little drabble!

Izuku let out a yawn as he clicked the bathroom light off. They both had a busy day: Izuku spent the day unpacking the last few boxes into their new shared apartment and Katsuki had several work meetings.

The blonde was sleeping peacefully, a smile spread across the greenette’s face as he crawled next to his partner, burying his face in between Katsuki’s shoulder blades. He inhaled the cinnamon scent that always clung to him, getting ready to let it lull him to sleep when he heard the blonde speak.

He took a deep breath, hoping that the familiar scent would replace the ache he felt in his chest. It doesn’t. In fact it causes that very ache to grow as he slowly unattached himself from Katsuki, rolling over to face away from him. The singular word his partner said bounced around his thoughts.

“Eijiro.”

- -

It wasn’t until the sun started to fill the room and the bird’s chirping were heard that Izuku realized he never fell asleep. But how could he? How could he sleep when the one person he loved more than anything called out for his ex-lover? But Eijiro wasn’t just Katsuki’s ex, that would be too easy.

No, he was Katsuki’s first. First serious relationship. First love. First fuck. First heartbreak. And it had been Izuku who was there to console him through that heartbreak, reassuring him that he would and could love again. If anyone knew that, it was Izuku, who made it through the heartbreak of Katsuki looking past him at Eijiro and never stopped loving him.

A year after the break-up, things changed between him and Katsuki. The blonde finally started to see his childhood friend as more than that, finally returning the feelings Izuku held onto since before he knew what love even was. Vibrant red eyes looked into green ones with nothing but adoration and love, Izuku had been over the moon.

Which was why last night affected him so much. It had been three years since Eijiro broke things off with Katsuki, nearly two since Izuku worked up the nerve to ask the blonde out. Had he been thinking of the other man their whole relationship? Was it spiky red hair and dark red eyes that filled his thoughts throughout the day and night?  Izuku wasn’t just a rebound, was he? Surely not because no one would keep a rebound for two years and move in with them, right? Right?

m.list | likes, comments and reblogs are always appreciated!

[lundqvist22clapp]

How To Go To Yahoo Mail Account Using Microsoft Outlook

microsoft office 2016 free download intends to explain the procedure of synching Microsoft Outlook between two computers and while doing so educate users about work out or disadvantages of synchronization. The methods described following are simple and reliable. However, it is still advised that users follow these methods carefully software program making common mistakes and gradually calling up Microsoft technical support services to fix them. The default location among the PST file can be C: drive> Documents and Settings> Username> Local Settings> Application Data> Microsoft> Prospects. Select the PST file. Also check brother ql-570 comes with beside Make backup of scanned file before repairing and then hit the Repair press button. The tool will now scan for damages and repair them. When done, microsoft office 2016 crack activation key to exit the Inbox Repair Tool dialog pack. In case the tool returns this error message 'Fatal Error: 80040900', it signifies that your PST file has turned into over types of. You will need to reduce the size of the PST file to make Outlook working again. To the PST file size, create several small PST files and divide your complete Outlook data into him. It will reduce the main PST file's size and help Outlook function normally. The very first thing you must do is to spread out the Ms word 2007. Achievable do it by clicking the Start button which usually available as left bottom of model .. As the column pop up, click the option of "All Programs" than select "Microsoft Office" and click "Microsoft Office Word 2007". System 76 sells/ships computers, desktops, and servers with Ubuntu. Advertising are a linux user or sense that you may be in order to take the plunge, system a fantastic place start with. At least their systems are totally linux harmonious. Even though you do not like ubuntu to get some other pet distribution, it have a better risk of working 1 of these than you actually get a windows pc and flush the hard disk drive to install linux. Google was started up by two college buddies, Larry Page and Sergei Brin PhD, in March of 1996 as a quest project for school. Google wasn't always Google. It started by helping cover their another name, "BackRub". Page and Brin decided who's should be renamed one year afterwards its conception to something a little catchier.Google. Google comes for the word googolplex, meaning 1 followed by 100 0's. This was all part of the philosophy the Google founders wanted to show to players. microsoft office 2016 crack download were going to change the way you search and if they weren't disappearing anytime within the. Here, farming is easy how to set passwords on Microsoft Office 2007 documents, presentations, and workbooks. When you have to ensure that your documents feel secure when you are looking for other people reading them, or you need to make positive others do not make changes to your documents, presentations, and workbooks, then this information is for you really! The first thing that you must realize is that some passwords are stronger than other products. In order to ensure maximum security, it is completely vital a person can mix the ingredients of numbers, letters, instances symbols. Passwords that lack strength lack these significant elements. Also, the storage capacity of there have been is definitely lacking. Seen on laptops . 64 GB of memory; the professional version has 125 GB which most likely not enough to buy a PC. Hamburger limit systems files or data that you can download. For more great computer tutorials, examine to bookmark this page and frequently visit as we constantly updating our database of tools and options. You can find detailed computer tutorials, articles, as well as!

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@tomoge : ❛  whatever it is that you’re planning to ask , the answer is ‘ no ’ .  ❜ no ql you canNOT distance yourself from cxs or he will literlally fucking snap

Cheng Xiaoshi makes you want to protect him.

She said that, once, to Xu Shanshan.  Cheng Xiaoshi is strong, in heart and body, and yet she’s never wanted to do anything but keep him safe.  It’s why she befriended him when they were young, even though their closeness lost her other friends, fleeing her like she was poison — or like he was, and even association was enough to spread it.  But even then, she’d known that it didn’t matter, that Cheng Xiaoshi was worth protecting.  He’s good, in the purest sense of the word.  And he needed Qiao Ling, like she needed him.

They’ve —— always been that way.  Essential to one another, halves of a whole, close, close, close.  Holding each other’s hearts, and ———

I want to protect Cheng Xiaoshi, she’d thought, so much younger, when he’d been alone.  I want to protect Cheng Xiaoshi.

(  she wakes from a dream / head heavy and heart hammering / her hands are covered in blood / whose blood / he’s losing blood, someone says / her head turns —— / she screams ———  )

I want to protect Cheng Xiaoshi, but she hasn’t.  She stole his friend — their friend — from him, guts twisting around a knife, the memories are only half - there but it’s enough to wake her screaming most nights — and he ——

(  he has the knife in his hands but she knows it wasn’t him / he says it’s going to be all right / and she understands, suddenly, that he’s going to take the fall for her, that he’s going to protect her.  )

She’s a victim, yes, of course, she’s never wanted to hurt anyone, not Doudou (  but she did  ) and not hurt Lu Guang  (  but she didn’t!  ), but —— but it was her hands with the blood on them and her smile at Cheng Xiaoshi as the monster puppeteering her body tried to kill him, too, and it was her face that Lu Guang saw as he died / or didn’t, too close for the distinction to count.  Because she couldn’t resist, because she doesn’t know how to stop it from happening again, because she’s always wanted to protect Cheng Xiaoshi and instead she’s the reason that Cheng Xiaoshi’s best friend — that’s not her anymore, it can’t possibly be her anymore — almost died and she’s the reason that Cheng Xiaoshi was detained and she’s the reason that ———

He says, “whatever it is that you’re planning to ask, the answer is ‘no,’” and tears fall down her ashen cheeks when she blinks.

His eyes go wide and he’s taking her wrists and then her hands, squeezing like they used to when they were kids, then pulling her into his chest.  Her hands settle against the same and she tries to push away, she shouldn’t be here, but he holds tighter, close, close, and her sobs get worse, more desperate as he does.

“Stop!  Stop...!”  Her cry is anguished and she crumples against him, “Let me go!  I can’t — I can’t p - protect you like this —— !”

Has she ever protected him?  Years his only confidant pale in comparison to this simple fact : she nearly killed Lu Guang and it could happen again and she knows, she knows, she knows that Cheng Xiaoshi would not be able to kill her if that was what he had to do to defend himself.  She knows that Cheng Xiaoshi is too good to kill her even if that was the only choice.

(  she wakes from a dream / head heavy and heart hammering / her hands are covered in blood / whose blood?  )  

“I c - can’t keep you safe —— !  I can’t do anything for y - you!”  He holds her tighter / tucks her close / his lips press to the crown of her head and that hurts, too, almost - worse.  She thinks she’s coming apart / that she’s made of too - thin glass / or worse.  “I don’t want to hurt you more ——”  Her voice breaks and she follows.  “Please...”

[yogaadvise]

6 yoga poses for stress relief

A regular yoga exercise technique helps to manage and ease stress but occasionally, despite our attempts to organise as well as control it, life takes control of and we only have a few minutes to spare.

First of all, annoying though it might be, try to bear in mind yoga is as much concerning adaptability of the mind as it is regarding the body, and fighting realities will only exacerbate your stress and anxiety levels.

Know that it does not matter whether the moment you invest connecting to yourself is an hour and a fifty percent or five minutes, it's the high quality of your method that counts.

Here are 6 yoga exercise postures for you to attempt, either together or independently, that might assist you to take advantage of that place where your serenity stays. Try as well as remain in each present for 3 - 5 mins, however always pay attention to your body as well as if you require ahead out earlier, do. These presents may provide a stretch to areas of your body that really feel stressful or limited but bear in mind, this is not concerning extending or pressing, it's about release, enabling yourself to be literally sustained yet likewise letting go of the shoulds and necessities as well as what ifs and so ...

So also if you only have a few mins, make them count, breathe deeply, attract inwards as well as completely absorb on your own in the here and now moment ...

1. Reclined Butterfly present with bolster

Why: This is my much-loved present when I'm really feeling out of kilter. Literally, it gives a gentle stretch for the internal upper legs, hips and also fronts of the shoulders and also a wonderful opening for the chest area/ heart area - a place which has a tendency to get literally restricted while we're operating at a workdesk, driving, texting, examining, etc. Psychologically, if we're having a challenging time in our individual lives, or if we've dealt with a cough or cool, this location can additionally really feel limited and 'shut down'.

This pose allows optimal opening for the breath to move with the diaphragm and also spending a couple of minutes in this gesture of total physical openness invites the mind to follow suit.

How: Lie back on a boost or a pair of company folded up coverings/ cushions with your base on the floor as well as the edge of the bolster at the little of your back. Place the feet flat on the flooring with the internal edge of the feet with each other, gently allow your thighs fall open so that the soles of the feet are touching as well as lay back along the size of the assistance. If this positions way too much strain on the groin area or internal thighs, sustain the knees with a pair of blocks or some publications. Move the arms so they're away from the body and transform the hands upwards. Put your shoulder blades into the back, release your shoulders and allow your arm joints feel heavy. Feel exactly how your body is supported, the opening in your heart area, the fluctuate of your breath ...

2. Sustained child's posture with bolster

Why: This is a wonderful, nurturing, relaxing pose - an area to rest during a more energetic yoga exercise method yet likewise a place to remain in its own right - a shell-shaped sanctuary, if you will. Where reclined Butterfly pose opens up area in the front of the body for breath to move more openly, sustained child's posture can aid to extend as well as stretch the back as well as the back body whilst additionally relieving compression in the lower back. It can likewise help to increase understanding of back-body breathing.

How: Lay a bolster, cushions/ blankets in front of you and curtain the size of your body over the increased support with your knees on either side. Lay your forearms on the flooring and turn your head to hinge on one side. Ensure your knees and also neck are comfortable as well as remember to turn your head to the various other side, half way via your time in this present. Feel your breath spreading out across the back of the body. Feel this growth as you breathe in, the contraction as you breathe out ...

3. Seated reflection with hands on heart

Why: Positioning your hands - hand on palm - on your heart is an attractive, immediate way to get in touch with yourself.

Feeling the warm touch of the hand straight on the skin of your heart space is supporting and is a charming means to tune right into how you are really feeling.

Feeling the surge and loss of the chest location concentrates understanding onto the breath and progressively you might feel it start to reduce down. From a physical perspective, resting cross-legged opens up the hips, groin, as well as outer thigh muscular tissues. It likewise strengthens the back and stretches the knees as well as ankles.

How: Come right into a seated placement with your legs went across. If you feel pain in the knees or you are locating your back is rounding to ensure that you're falling down in the chest, remain on a boost or a block. Sit in a chair. Place one palm at the centre of the chest and also the other ahead and also close your eyes. Feel the base of the spine rooting down and also the crown of the head lifting up, unwind your face, shoulders as well as tummy. Feel the wave of breath move from the belly towards the breast and spread throughout the collar bones ...

5. Legs up the Wall pose

Why: This present is an instantaneous refreshment for the legs - specifically if you have actually been on your feet all day - and my go-to present if I'm having a hard time to reach rest. As it's an inversion it brings great deals of advantages such as boosting your flow and lymph flow. You can practise it with the hips a little far from the wall surface and also with your feet together or a little apart - the most important thing is that your legs and feet are relaxed.

How: It may really feel a little complicated obtaining right into this pose it's worth it! Beginning seated on the flooring with your hip as well as upper leg near to the wall, then bend your knees, slide your legs around and also up the wall surface and also run your lower closer to it to ensure that you're resting on your back. The arms can encompass the side, a little far from the body, hands encountering upwards, or you can position the palms onto the reduced belly.

Feel the stress drain away from the legs, really feel the power attract down and ground you right into the earth, really feel the breath in the belly and also start to allow go ...

6. Dangling pose

Why: In this yin yoga exercise position the objective right here is to be loosened and to allow go of all effort. Dangling carefully stretches the lower spinal column, loosens up the hamstrings a little and strengthens the quadriceps. Really feel the spine elongating from the hips, as if your body is hanging from a washing line.

Think of the head like piece fruit from a tree. Picture the thoughts draining pipes out from the crown of your head and into the earth.

How: Begin with the feet hip-width apart and with the weight evenly dispersed through the soles of your feet, bend your knees and fold onward. If you have any pain in the lower back, flex your knees well and also rest your elbow joints on your knees, if the reduced back feels ok, maintain the knees somewhat curved and also grip the joints or allow the hands hinge on the floor (it behaves to turn the hands up, fingertips transforming inwards) Permit your neck to soften, your head to really feel hefty and also your arms to be limp. Involve on your own in the circulation of the breath and feel the stress recede ...

6. Savasana with a bolster

Why: Savasana - traditionally the pose that knits every little thing with each other at the end of our yoga exercise class - but an additional remarkable posture by itself to allow our whole body feel its link with the earth as well as the existence in Being, rather than the thrill of Doing. The physical advantages of Savasana are manifold and consist of decreased high blood pressure, lowered heart price, reduced price of respiration and also decreased muscle mass tension yet it's the mental as well as psychological benefits that makes Savasana one of one of the most vital yoga presents of all.

How: Remain on the floor with legs bent and also slide a bolster or rolled up coverings beneath your knees (this takes the weight off your hips as well as provides launch for the lower back and also back vertebrae). Gently reduced your top body onto the flooring and also allow your arms remainder a little away from your body, hands encountering upwards. Offer your weight to the floor, instead than pressing the floor away. Attract your focus inwards as well as bring your recognition deep inside.

Try and also notification where one assumed ends and the various other begins. Look for the area, like the stops briefly in between your breath. Know that these few minutes of simply Being may be the kindest thing you can do on your own all day.

A word of note:

When it's time ahead out of the posture, do it gradually. Not just due to the fact that it's much safer for your body, but additionally much more pleasing for your mind. Attempt and also take the sense of convenience and also visibility that you have actually grown on the mat with you off the mat and into your life.

If you enjoyed this artice, you could also such as 6 yoga poses to help you go to sleep as well as Tension monitoring suggestions.

EkhartYoga members may like to try the adhering to video clips:

De-stress on your own with Esther Ekhart

Short wonderful stress-reducing stretches with Irina Verwer

Meditation after a difficult day with Esther Teule

Release your deep muscles with our Deep Launch program

A 3 week directed yoga exercise program where we concentrate on releasing stress within the mind as well as the muscular tissues and also fascia/connective tissues of the body consisting of the QL muscle. With three classes a week including Hatha, Yin and also Yoga Nidra. Most likely to programme.

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[remedialmassage]

The A-to-Z Guide to Yoga Cues

With so many teaching styles, it can be tough to know which cues to listen to and which ones to ignore. Enter this guide: an incomplete roundup of the good, the bad, and the just plain funny.

A: Adduct and abduct

You probably hear these words all 
the time, yet it can be tough to differentiate them from one another. Annie Carpenter, a senior yoga teacher and creator of SmartFLOW yoga, has a trick for remembering which is which: “When I hear adduction, I think of adding in,” she says. Adduction refers to movements in toward the midline of the body—for example, wrapping your arms in Garudasana (Eagle Pose). Meanwhile, abduction refers to movements away from the midline, such as lifting your arms parallel to the ground in Virabhadrasana II (Warrior Pose II).

B: Bring your biceps in line with your ears

You may hear this cue in Adho Mukha Svanasana (Downward-Facing 
Dog Pose), and while there’s nothing inherently wrong with the cue, it can lead to misalignment if not properly explained, says Brooklynite Kathryn Budig, yoga teacher and author of the book Aim True. “Taking your biceps to your ears can cause you to drop your head too low and collapse in your upper back,” she says. “Instead, I prefer to say to my students, ‘Keep your ears in line with your arms.’”

C: Close your eyes

If the only time you shut your eyes in your yoga practice is during seated meditation or Savasana (Corpse Pose), you’re missing out. “Closing your eyes can help you to disconnect from visual stimulation and find more stillness,” says San Francisco–based yoga teacher Laura Burkhart. Senior yoga teacher Giselle Mari adds that closing your eyes in a balance pose, like Vrksasana (Tree Pose), challenges you to use your inner eye to find your center.

D: Draw your shoulders down your back

Alexandria Crow, yoga teacher and founder of Yoga Physics, is on a personal mission to put an end to this common cue. “When your arms go overhead, your shoulder joint itself goes up—that’s the natural movement,” says Crow. “Pulling your shoulders down while your arms are up is not only dysfunctional, it doesn’t fix the problem of people scrunching their shoulders up to their ears, which is the reason this cue took hold in the first place,” she explains. 

See also Alignment Cues Decoded: “Draw Your Shoulder Blades Down”

E: Hug your elbows to your sides in Chaturanga Dandasana (Four-Limbed Staff Pose)

This is one of the most vital cues during Chaturanga, says yoga teacher and Yoga Journal contributing editor Jason Crandell. “It’s essential to pull your elbows into your side ribs while keeping your forearms perpendicular to the floor,” he says. This creates greater stability in the joint where your upper arm bone and shoulder blade connect. Of course, it also requires upper-body strength, so Crandell encourages his students to drop their knees if necessary to offload some weight while maintaining the integrity of the pose. 

F: Flower your anus

Admit it: When you first heard this cue (or its cousin, “blossom your buttocks”) you either laughed or cringed. But what exactly does it mean? And why would anyone want to do it? While this cue’s origin is unclear, many teachers suggest it may be an awkward attempt at saying “widen the sit bones” or “relax the glutes.” “I’m like a 4-year-old when I hear this,” says Budig. It makes me laugh every time.”

G: Ground down

Sounds simple enough, yet Noah Mazé, founder of Yogamazé, says grounding down involves more than pressing your feet into the floor. “It’s important to activate your pelvis, hips, and gluteus muscles to create the proper push-down action that firmly grounds the feet,” Mazé says. To do this, try to spread your weight evenly between the inner and outer edges of your feet when standing in Tadasana (Mountain Pose), he says. Adds master instructor David Magone: “Allowing your body to settle into the ground allows your skeleton to hold some of your weight, so your muscles don’t have to work as hard.”

H: Square your hips

Despite decades of teachers telling their students to square their hips to the front of the room when twisting, Magone says hips don’t actually need to be squared. In fact, the motion creates torque, he says, which weakens the space between the hips and the torso—upping the odds of injury. Instead of trying to stay square, allow your pelvis to rotate in the same direction as your spine, which will allow for a much deeper spinal rotation and reduce the likelihood of lower-back pain.

See also How Yoga Teachers’ Cues Unintentionally Focus on the Negative

I: Inner rotation

In yoga, sometimes you have 
to draw in in order to move 
up. Carpenter says Urdhva 
Dhanurasana (Upward Bow Pose) is a good example: Practitioners often push their groins up because it makes them feel like they are getting higher, but this can cause the glutes to grip, forcing the sacrum up and putting pressure on the lumbar spine. “ For any backbend, you may have to engage your glutes to get off the floor, but then it’s helpful to turn your internal rotators on and let your glutes go. This allows you to soften your groins and lengthen your iliopsoas and lower back,” she says.

J: Jumpback

What does it take to master the pickup-jumpback to Chaturanga Dandasana? Practicing Lolasana (Pendant Pose), says Crow, which trains key muscles for the movement: Stand on your shins, each hand on a block outside of each shin. Press your palms firmly into the blocks and straighten your elbows. Round your back, pull your navel toward your spine, and bring your thighs up to your chest. 

K: Kick up into handstand

It may be tempting, but don’t do this—especially if you’re in a crowded class: Kicking up into inversions can harm both your practice and those around you if you topple over. “When you kick into an inversion like Handstand, you’re using momentum rather than control, whereas you should be focusing on moving with precision,” says Crow. What’s more, kicking reinforces the notion that the final posture is more important than the steps it takes to get there. To build patience and precision when practicing Handstand, Crow recommends starting with your hands a few feet from the wall and walking your legs up the wall so your torso and legs make an L shape. When you’re ready, move away from the wall, and place your hands on the floor. Raise and extend one leg, then use your standing leg to lightly bounce (not kick) up. This will allow for more control and muscle engagement, enabling you to work up the strength to do Handstand in the middle of the room.

L: Lengthen the sides of your body

This cue creates spinal elongation—both while you practice and when you’re off the mat, says Crandell. To lengthen the sides of your body in poses where this can be challenging—such as in Utthita Parsvakonasana (Extended Side Angle Pose) and Vasisthasana (Side Plank Pose)—imagine you’re stretching from the tips of your toes to the crown of your head, which will lengthen your torso on either side, says Crandell.

M: Microbend the knee

Though this cue can be somewhat controversial (how micro is the bend, after all?), Amy Ippoliti, co-founder of 90 Monkeys, an online resource center for yoga teachers, suggests thinking of it this way: “You are trying to ever-so-slightly soften and bend your knee, and at the same time, putting some effort into straightening your leg,” she says. This cue is especially relevant for those who have a tendency to hyperextend (over-straighten) their knees, which can cause unnecessary wear and tear over time. “Creating these two opposing actions in your knee brings balanced strength to all the intricate muscles of your lower leg,” Ippoliti says. 

N: Neutral spine

Maintaining a “neutral spine”—or 
“the natural curves of the spine,” as many teachers describe it—is a cue that’s universally embraced. “It is important because it optimally distributes force among the intervertebral discs, which act as shock absorbers,” says Mazé. When your spine is out of its natural alignment, excessive force can become concentrated in one area, which can lead to injuries such as bulging or ruptured discs. However, keep in mind that in some poses (like forward and backward bends) you want the spine to come out of neutral in order to flex and extend. “In a balanced yoga practice, you are moving your spine in every direction,” says Mazé.

O: Open your heart

As countless power ballads have told us, the heart is a complex thing. Crow agrees, explaining that the cue “open your heart” carries multiple meanings in a yoga class. On a physical level, it can refer to opening your chest or lifting your sternum upward. However, it can also imply that students’ hearts are emotionally closed off—an implication that can be hurtful. The consensus? This cue doesn’t resonate with everyone. Use it (or follow it) only if it feels right to you.  

P: Pretend you're between two panes of glass

Most teachers have stopped using this phrase when cueing Utthita Trikonasana (Extended Triangle Pose) in recent years. But if you still hear it, ignore it, says Ippoliti. “It prompts students to externally rotate both legs, which means the femur (thigh bone) heads will not be fully seated in the hip joints,” she says. “This can limit range of motion and flatten the lumbar curve.” Instead, when you come into the pose, move your thighs and butt back so your femurs sit into your hip joints, then draw 
your front buttock under to externally rotate your front leg and spin your chest up into the pose. According to Ippoliti, “this is the safest way to get 
the opening most practitioners seek in this pose.”

Q: Activate your quadratus lumborum

Gary Kraftsow, founder and director of the American Viniyoga Institute, says the quadratus lumborum (QL)—which connects the spine to the pelvis—doesn’t get the attention it deserves. When your back muscles are weak, the QL picks up the slack, which can cause it to contract excessively and become fatigued. 
To activate and strengthen this muscle, Kraftsow recommends practicing a variation of Janu Sirsasana (Head-
of-the-Knee Pose): With your left 
leg extended straight and your right leg folded in, twist your shoulders to the right and lower your left shoulder to your left knee, then take your right arm up and over toward your left foot. Hold for 5–10 deep breaths, then switch sides. Hello, QL.

R: Release

In the quest for perfect yoga poses, we often sharpen our focus on performing the pose, rather than releasing or dropping into it. However, Tias Little, founder of Prajna Yoga in Santa Fe, New Mexico, says reminding students to release helps them deeply relax the body. “Because people tend to carry stress in the 
jaw, mouth, and other areas of the face, I like to use 
cues around releasing cranial structures, like ‘Drop into Savasana of the tongue,’” says Little. 

S: Subtle body

The phrase “subtle body” is often used to describe the idea of weaving together yoga wisdom and physiological function. It helps people open to a state of inquiry and discovery, shifting focus from an outward performance of a pose to an inward exploration, says Little. “It’s all about observing sensation in the body: the movement of the fascia and pulsation of blood moving through the veins,” he says. “That kind of attunement in each pose is what makes yoga a moving meditation.”

T: Tuck your tailbone

Here’s a cue many teachers are steering clear of these days, because a majority of students overtuck, says Budig. “Tucking your tailbone can create more length in your spine—but when you take this action too far, you flatten the natural curve in your low back,” she says. Instead, she tells her students to “release the tailbone as you simultaneously draw your lower belly up”—dual actions that prevent practitioners from overdoing it on 
the tuck.

See also Yoga Anatomy: Prevent Low Back Pain in Twists

U: Use your props

If Mari had her way, every student would be issued a standard blanket, block, and strap upon walking into a yoga studio. “Sometimes a block is exactly what you need,” she says, noting that cues that call for props are not just for beginners—they can also help experienced students discover a pose in a different way. Budig agrees, adding that “props 
can help yogis learn 
what it feels like to have power and strength in a pose as opposed to collapsing in it.” 

V: Visualization

Cues that prompt you to visualize help you 
to connect to the 
pulsatory rhythms of a pose, known as the nadis, instead of simply trying to get the mechanics of it right. “Visualization directs people to the sensory experience,” says Little. “Imagery helps me perceive my body as an energetic field, where the elements of wind, rivers, fire, and moonlight are expressed, rather than simply as a collection of muscles, bones, and flesh.”

W: Go to the the wall

Walls are often an overlooked asset for deepening your practice—and they can be especially great for beginners, says Carpenter. For example, Carpenter likes to teach what she calls Puppy Dog Pose to new practitioners as an alternative to Downward-Facing Dog Pose because it requires less upper-body strength than holding the pose on the floor. To try it, start with your hands on the wall at hip-bone height, then walk your hands up and step your feet back into a Down Dog variation with your hands pushing into the wall.

See also 8 Ways (Besides Handstand) to Use a Wall in Your Yoga Practice

X: X-Ray Vision

X-rays help us see things more clearly—a key concept in Patanjali’s Yoga Sutra, and one that yoga teachers who veer into the philosophical teachings of this ancient practice might explain. “Patanjali points out that in viewing the world, we tend not to see reality clearly, but instead we’re deluded by the error of false perception,” says David Life, co-founder of Jivamukti Yoga. “This confusion about the true relationship between the act of seeing, the object seen, and the identity of the Seer, is the root cause of suffering.” The cure? Using a kind of x-ray vision comprised of viveka (discrimination between “real view” and “unreal, apparent view”) and vairagya (detachment from a mistaken identification).

Y: Focus on you

Yogis are often urged not to compare themselves to others in the room—a tall order both on the mat and off. Yet Kraftsow says one way to embody this important cue is to remember that true yoga is not about doing a series of poses but rather learning more about yourself. “You use each posture as a tool to understand what’s going on in your body,” he says. “Asana is a means to come to a deeper understanding of self.”

Z: Zip up through the midline

Engaging your midline is key to turning on your all-important core muscles, which do everything from promoting better balance to helping you feel more grounded and connected to yourself. This zip-up cue makes it easier by signaling you to tap into the energy that resides in your sushumna nadi—the hub that runs along your spine, around which the entire energetic system is organized, says Magone. He likes to use this cue when teaching backbends: “Pulling the abdominals gently inward and upward in a backbend increases your range of motion because it creates a deeper stretch in the rectus abdominis muscles.”

See also Alignment Cues Decoded: “Wrist Creases Parallel”

from Yoga Journal http://ift.tt/2smMJs9