Ungulate Yoga, Tuesday, period 1

[betterthanaplan]

So apparently summer workshops were generally an outdoor affair, which Duke had no problems with. He'd spent most of the year doing his Tuesday morning yoga on the beach, after all, so a campground area only really meant he didn't have to worry about getting sand all over everything.

No, the trouble he was seeing was definitely not where his class was.

He stared at the little sign someone from the school had helpfully put up near the designated class area. "Ungulate yoga. Ungulate yoga." He looked at the array of yoga mats on the grass. And the herd of baby goats. "Ungulate yoga."

One of the goats spotted him, and a moment later, the whole herd was gamboling over to say hi.

"Right." Duke looked down at them and shook his head. "Of course it is."

He'd regained his composure by the time his students were due to arrive, seated on his yoga mat at the front with one of the goats in his lap (look, you try to resist those adorable little faces). "Namaste," he said, pressing his hands into prayer position and bowing slightly as he looked his students over. "Welcome to — Ungulate Yoga. Hopefully none of you have allergies. Or a paralyzing fear of goats. First thing's first, introductions. I'm told it's traditional.

"I'm Duke Crocker. I've been a practicing yogi for about twelve years now. I run a mid-size fishing boat by myself, which requires strength, flexibility, and a cool head, all of which I've found through my practice. I'd like each of you to tell me your name, yoga experience, and what you're hoping to get out of this class."

One of the goats jumped up onto his shoulder. He grimaced faintly and laughed as he shoved it back off.

"I guess interacting with animals is a valid answer to that."

After introductions, he had the class stand up to learn their first flow.

"A flow is any progression of yoga poses, chosen for ease and fluidity of movement between each pose. One of the most basic common flows is called the sun salutation. It moves through several beginner-level poses, working and stretching the entire body. So grab yourself a yoga mat and shuck your shoes if you haven't already, and we'll get started."

Comments

Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

Name, yoga experience, and why you're in the class. Possibly while being interrupted by goats.

Re: Introductions

[arboreal_priestess]

"I'm Verity Kincaid-Price," Verity said, absolutely beaming at the baby goat in her lap. "Professional ballroom dancer when I'm not teaching here, and a cryptozoologist pretty much since birth. Moderately familiar with yoga because stretching, warming up, and staying flexible are all really important when you're about to start a dance routine. Originally, I was going to say that I signed up to have something to do now that I'm not teaching, but I've got a new reason now."

She looked up and grinned at Duke. "Baby goats forever."

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

“Judging by the class title I’m going to guess we won’t be getting these guys every week,” Duke pointed out. “But hopefully we’ll get to hang out with something equally as cute.”

And not the ungulate version of terror birds.

Re: Introductions

[dauntlessdragoon]

Freya started and blinked a little when her turn seemed to have come up, distracted in equal parts by trying to remember what everyone else was saying and by the goats, one of which seemed to be very convinced at the orange bow tied toward the end of her tail was food, and was very determined to not let her frequently twitching it away from him deter his mission.

"Oh," she said, "er, my name is Freya Crescent. Of Burmecia. I have no idea what yoga is, so I can't really say what I hope to get out of this class..."

But don't let that worry you, Duke. She was going to be an incredibly quick study in the subject. It took an incredible amount of natural grace and balance to pull off a get up like hers like it was nothing, after all.

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

“Welcome, Freya.” Teaching Sidon had prepared Duke well; he barely blinked at the giant rat person with a bow on her tail. “Hopefully my class will be a good introduction for you. You, uh, okay with taking off that coat? It might make it easier for me to tell if you’re getting the poses right.”

Re: Introductions

[hatesparadise]

Danny just gave him a very unimpressed look. "I'm not here for yoga. Why was this on my calendar? Did you do something to it?"

Yes, clearly Duke just wanted to see him more!

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

“Yes, because I’m just overjoyed you’re in my class,” Duke said. “I’m guessing you’re here because someone thought you could use some chill.”

Re: Introductions

[died8yearsago]

There was, however, a small bit of satisfaction in the fact that Crocker was saddled not only with goats everywhere, but also two cops in his class. That alone made it worth being here, honestly.

"Emily Diaz," she offered, without blinking an eye. Because how could she not? "I've been doing yoga for a while now. It helps me relax."

Yeah, she was pretty sure everyone'd get a kick out of that.

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

“Em,” Duke nodded to her with a faintly resigned smirk. “Glad to hear something does. I would have pegged you for more of a, uh, punching bag kind of girl.”

Re: Introductions

[canlendanear]

"I'm Alara Kitan," Alara said, managing to focus when it was her turn for introductions, "I don't have any yoga experience but I'm from a planet with high gravity and I thought that it might be a good way to maintain my strength while on Earth,"

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

“It can’t hurt,” Duke said. “Welcome, Alara. How much higher gravity are we talking?”

Re: Introductions

[lovethatjourney]

"I'm Alexis," said Alexis, "and I've taken classes on and off around my very busy schedule. I'm in this class because it's not something like math."

At least she was honest.

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"It is not even a little bit like math," Duke agreed. "Glad to have you."

He meant that. Even if her presence here baffled him.

Re: Introductions

[snowdroplace]

"I'm Elli," she said softly, petting the two baby goats she'd gotten to come over to her as she talked. "I've never done yoga before but I heard it's supposed to be good for you?"

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"It's very good for you, yes," Duke said, smiling. The whole 'goat yoga' thing was beginning to grow on him. "In lots of ways."

Re: Introductions

[sith_said]

"Ah said na eating me!"

Yes, he was still having problems with the goats. The perils of being an animated stuffed toy.

"A'm Cait Sith," and if he knew anything about where that name came from, well, it was definitely an indication of his personality, "'N' ah--am nae fur eating!"

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"You doing alright there, buddy?" Duke asked. "I'm sure they're just being friendly."

He was not at all sure of that, actually.

Re: Introductions

[heroic_jawline]

"I'm Steve Rogers and I've done a little bit of yoga with a friend of mine who uses it to relax him," Steve said.

Bruce Banner needed all the relaxation.

"But not with goats."

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"So this will be new and fun for both of us, then." Duke nodded. "Yoga's excellent for relaxation. You have any particular favorite poses?"

Re: Introductions

[meepmeepmeep]

"MEEP MEEP meeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee--" Beaker shrieked as he raced past Duke, pursued by a goat.

Haven't you missed him?

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

Duke watched the . . . flaily little man-thing . . . run past him with a nonplussed expression.

Sure. This may as well happen.

"Okay then. Next?"

Re: Introductions

[solarhippie]

Not that Karolina wasn't glad to see Duke, too, but the width of her grin when it came time for her introduction was entirely due to the little goat that had climbed into her lap and that was now trying to chew the ends of her hair.

"I'm Karolina," she said brightly. "I've been doing yoga for... a few years, now? On and off. And I'm mostly hoping this class will, like, help me form more of a habit of it."

Because a set time for class seemed like it'd be helpful.

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"They say it takes a month to form a habit, and we've got nearly two," Duke said. "So here's hoping." He gave her a broad smile in return (in no small part because a beautiful woman grinning at a baby goat was a wonderful thing to behold). "Nice to see you again. I do a weekly practice on the beach, too, if you ever want to stop by that. Was on Tuesdays, now on Wednesdays."

Re: Introductions

[stykera]

Stark had been delighted to learn the little goat's ears were, in fact, quite soft.

"I'm Stark. No yoga experience. I thought it sounded interesting." And, if he was going to be honest with himself, like something Zhaan would have liked.

Re: Introductions

[betterthanaplan]

"Glad to have you," Duke said, mouth quirking up as he watched the guy pet the goat's ears. "I hope you enjoy it."