Morning Training

[soul_mods]

Characters: Everyone!
Location: Training Ground, Shibusen
Rating: PG-13 for violence
Time: 6am to 9am
Description: Training takes place every morning in the park to prepare the guests of the city for the ongoing war. It's handwaved most days, but approximately once a month this gets played out in a log. This log takes place on March 29th.

Official areas:

FAQ: For people who have questions and need answers. Staffed by Maito Gai.
Breakfast: Providing food for those who come. All food-providers are given funds with which to buy the food and paid for the prep/cook time. Provided by Saya Tagaki.
Combat instruction: To learn or improve upon fighting techniques. Taught by Cloud Strife, Mickey Mouse, Auron.
Sparring: Show up, pick an opponent, and spar. Overseen by Amateresu, Spirit Albarn.
Weapon Transformation: Guiding new Weapons through the sometimes difficult process of finding a form and then re-finding their original one. Taught by Bakura Ryou, Yami Bakura, Aqua.
Soul Perception: If someone wants to find out more about their soul, what they are, and what they may potentially do. Overseen by Hades.
Partner Training: Guidance on how to work as partners. Taught by Spirit Albarn; Eve and Keroro
Weapons Handling Training: How to handle weapons and Weapons. Taught by Death the Kid with Liz and Patty.
Shooting Range: How to shoot. Taught by Naoto Shirogane, Maes Hughes.
Meister Ability Helpers: Learning what your meister ability is and how to use it. Taught by Kanji Tatsumi, Miles Edgeworth.
Finding a Partner: An area for unpartnered Weapons and Meisters to mingle in. Overseen by
Meditation: This month's novelty class is on focus and meditating. Taught by Hyuuga Neji.
Medics: A place for the medics to linger, recruit, and help anyone that's gotten hurt. Helping out are CR-S01, Rosalia Rossellini.
Watch: A place for the watch members to linger, recruit, and train. Interested observers welcome!
SEES: A place for the SEES members linger, recruit, and relax.
Hug Brigade: Offering encouragement through hugs. Staffed by Maes Hughes, Maito Gai.

Feel free to make your own threads!

Comments

Meditation

[soul_mods]

[A very important part of soul resonance. Hyuuga Neji will be teaching this class.]

OPEN

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji's acquisitioned a fair amount of space for this lesson, and it's notably separated from the bulk of training. He stands at the front of a tree needlessly checking over his supplies one last time, and tries to recall the last time he actually taught a class anything. The students had been only children. But he's done this sort of work before, even if it was still unnerving to have the attention of more than a few people focused on him at once]

Meditation is a subtle technique requiring patience and diligence. It's something that few master in any short amount of time, that most struggle with to some degree in the beginning stages, and so those are the natural key lessons for anyone hoping to learn it.

As most of you are aware, meditation is generally used for various physical and mental health benefits, and is often viewed as a type of relaxing hobby. While those benefits remain, meditation also nurtures a soul's strength and stability here in Death City- allowing individuals better control over their abilities, bolstering resonance as well as aiding in the resistance of the Madness Wavelength.

[He pauses to let the information sink in and allows for a couple questions before trundling on with the exercise itself]

When you're ready, find a place to sit comfortably that isn't too close to anyone else and try to relax. Turn your focus inward and let go of wayward thoughts and distractions. For this, I find monitoring self-regulation is easiest- focus on breathing and relaxing muscles, or for those with particular sensitivity, your soul wavelength. But as those options may not work for everyone, some may need a more physical focus point to start. The flame of a candle is a well-known method available to anyone that finds themselves in need of it.

[Neji gestures to small white candles and simple white saucers to hold them]

Try focusing for small amounts of time at first, and remember that any progress is something to build off of. Once everyone's settled, relative silence is preferred for this exercise. If anyone is having trouble, signal in some way and I will come over to speak with you.

[scatterflower]

*Chika's going to be here, paying as much attention to Neji as he speaks, before going off to get started with practicing after he was finished, sitting in the corner and trying to just focus on the breathing.

It's... a lot harder than it looks, and a frown on her face and a furrowed brow will be very visible to anyone who decided to look.*

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji limits his wandering to avoid distracting those attempting to concentrate, but he watches, noting those who appear to have any issues for prolonged periods even if they don't say anything. He knows the signs, and approaches Chika, crouching quietly near her and speaking low]

Just breathe, Chika. Relax and take deep breaths to start.

[scatterflower]

*Chika opened her eyes for a moment, before closing them again with a nod. Okay, he said deep breaths to start. And relax. She should be able to do that, right? It shouldn't be that hard.

She'll start taking a few deep breaths, trying to concentrate like Neji told her to. Hopefully it'd work out better this time around than her first try.*

[adun_toridas]

[Zeratul looked fairly out of place in this gathering, and not just because he was a 10' tall alien. Honestly, at his age he knew the in and outs of meditation and control, though he had recently attempted to teach a human. His techniques only went so far between species, however, so this lesson had caught his attention for that reason. Humans were still largely a mystery to him, and he'd like to know how they mastered mindfulness. Leaning more about resonation and soul wavelengths was an added bonus.

He stayed towards the back of the group, hunched over in his own version of half-meditation. There was little reason for him to actually meditate; he was here more for observation than anything.]

[heavenly_earth]

[After a little bit of time, Neji walks around to answer questions and distribute candles to those that find it difficult to focus. He almost moves past Zeratul, but slows as he notes that he appears to have considerable success for a new practitioner]

You seem to have been able to grasp this quickly.

[adun_toridas]

[Zeratul barely had to look up even from his seated position, but he gave Neji a short nod. His tone is soft, so as to not disturb anyone else.]

Indeed, I have practiced meditation all my life. It is how humans accomplish it that I am interested in knowing.

[heavenly_earth]

I see. It's simple self-regulation in most cases, but for others that find it difficult, watching the flame of a burning candle can be effective, and induce a trance-like state..

[Neji frowns, not terribly fond of that particular technique, but unable to dispute it's effectiveness]

What method do you generally rely on in your world?

[adun_toridas]

[Humans seemed to have a hundred different ways to do one thing, but Zeratul found that fascinating, if sometimes a confusing mess. The diversity was definitely refreshing, though.]

That same self-regulation, an intense discipline for our warriors. We focus inwards, though we make use of the Khaydarin crystals to aid our meditation.

[He gave one of the the large crystals embedded in his armor a tap to indicate what he was talking about. They were dull now, but back home they had much more life than a candle.]

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji took in the crystal with a hint of curiosity, the nodded]

It doesn't sound too much different. In my world, we have chakra that runs through our bodies, and my clan in notable for our absolute control over it. I was taught to see and feel the flow of chakra through my circulatory system, and used it as a focus for my own meditation.

[adun_toridas]

[Zeratul tilted his head in interest. Now that was something he hadn't heard from any human from his universe before.]

I was unaware humans employed such methods. The term 'chakra' is unfamiliar to me, but what you describe sounds familiar.

[heavenly_earth]

I've noticed that it seems to go by a few different names with some differences across varying worlds, but I believe it's more or less the same thing from the accounts I've heard.

[Yep, eyeing that crystal thing with barely concealed interest, because the varying manifestations of chakra is a topic he's keen on, but few seem to understand]

Is that a form of your natural energy?

[adun_toridas]

There are many noticeable patterns, yes. It makes one wonder about the grand design of our universe - or universes, if that is more accurate.

[He wasn't bothered at all by Neji's interest in them. They'd be far more fascinating if they were anything more than pretty rocks here, though.]

The crystals house immense power and energy, through which we focus our own power and fuel our technology.

[awokentospring]

[Lee has opted in to practicing meditation, since he's sure it'll help control his power and keep it from rebounding. But it's clear he's having some issues.

Sitting cross-legged on the ground, Lee has his eyes closed and is attempting to control his breathing. It's not working all that well. His eyes are screwed shut tight and his breathes are labored.

Neji! Halp!]

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji touches Lee's shoulder, crouching beside him and giving it a light shove to get his attention]

Lee! You're closer to hyperventilating than anything. Slow it down.

[awokentospring]

[Startled by the touch, Lee flinches and jumps in his seat. Then he blushes a little when he sees it's just Neji.]

R-right! This is just... more difficult than I expected.

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji expected that Lee would have difficulty, but the extent still manages to surprise him]

You're accustomed to tackling everything with energy and determination, but this is different. First and foremost, you need to relax. Take a deep breath, but don't hold it in. Let it go, and release the tension you feel along with it.

[awokentospring]

[Lee frowns, a bit disappointed in himself. It's in his nature to tackle things with all he has. Being subdued was just the opposite of Rock Lee.]

I will try again, then.

[He squeezes his eyes shut and takes a deep breath. When he releases it, it comes out a bit shaky. He's more relaxed this time, but only by a little. He breathes deep again, and again the release is shaky.]

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji presses the heel of his palm into Lee's back, rubbing in small, soothing circles, and speaks softly, encouraging]

It's just breathing, Lee. You do it on a constant basis without any conscious thought. Slow, and steady.

[awokentospring]

[Right. Just breathing. He should have this down naturally. The rubbing on his back helped and Lee focused on the comfort that came from Neji's touch. Slowly his breathing relaxed, and with that his muscles in his shoulders also began to lose their tension. Slowly... steadily...]

[heavenly_earth]

[Neji slowed the small circles on Lee's back, hoping to encourage him into subconsciously relaxing a little further, and offered a low hum instead of words- not trusting them to break the spell once Lee realized he was succeeding]

[awokentospring]

[The tension left his muscles little by little. Soon, he was slumping forward slightly and even the tightness in his hands and wrists had gone limp.

A breath like a sigh escaped Lee, and then he fell into an even deeper state of relaxation. In fact, he was so relaxed he could possibly even...

A soft snore escaped the green beast. He had dozed off without even realizing it.]

[heavenly_earth]

[It was going better than he hoped, feeling the tension in Lee's back melt away, watched the lines of frustration fade into smooth concentration. Lee had succeeded, as far as he was concerned, at least until the snore slipped through. Neji stared in mild disbelief, and his hand dropped from Lee's back. He shoved him over and stood]

The point is to still be aware of your surroundings, Lee.

[draculabackwards]

This doesn't seem like a bad exercise today. Especially, for the dhampir, as he was not quite himself today. Everything seemed to hurt and concentrating on being calm sounded like a good way to ignore that pain.