Quote Originally Posted by donriser View Post
It's funny, when i read your question at first, I thought of discipline as in ways we add structure and discipline to our lives or our D/s relationships - I didn't think of it as punishment. So easy to cross the two ideas, especially in western culture where often discipline feels like punishment and punishment is used to instill discipline - and in BDSM culture where the same activity can be used either as discipline or punishment with a very different feel and outcome based on its purpose (could make for a good discussion thread).

I'm still unsure of exactly what you're asking so I'll throw my two cents in the mix here and maybe it will land somewhere near the mark.

I'd echo the positions training that was already mentioned, but add in other types of rituals too like the use of mantras or setting rules around activities (like asking permission for basic needs/wants). Maybe look at an activities list to get ideas too. So many activities can be used to expand limits and tweeked to be used in a manner that adds the element of establishing discipline.

I'm fairly new to all this so I don't speak with great confidence in what I shared, but trying to get more involved and add what I have learned / am learning. Hope it helps.
Everyday should be a learning experience. That being said, we are all, and will always be "fairly new to this" and fairly new to everything that we truly apply ourselves to. Your level of confidence is not questionable, you are well spoken and I thank you for your advice.

I have given my personal definition of "exercises" so now that it has come into question, I suppose that I should give my personal definition of discipline. The following is the definition of discipline according to dictionary.com:

dis·ci·pline Pronunciation[dis-uh-plin]–noun
1. training to act in accordance with rules; drill: military discipline.
2. activity, exercise, or a regimen that develops or improves a skill; training: A daily stint at the typewriter is excellent discipline for a writer.
3. punishment inflicted by way of correction and training.
4. the rigor or training effect of experience, adversity, etc.: the harsh discipline of poverty.
5. behavior in accord with rules of conduct; behavior and order maintained by training and control: good discipline in an army.
6. a set or system of rules and regulations.
7. Ecclesiastical. the system of government regulating the practice of a church as distinguished from its doctrine.
8. an instrument of punishment, esp. a whip or scourge, used in the practice of self-mortification or as an instrument of chastisement in certain religious communities.
9. a branch of instruction or learning: the disciplines of history and economics.
–verb (used with object) 10. to train by instruction and exercise; drill.
11. to bring to a state of order and obedience by training and control.
12. to punish or penalize in order to train and control; correct; chastise.

My military service taught me that discipline is more of a self-control issue rather than an imposed subject--But that doesn't work for everyone, otherwise subbies would not need Doms and the world would come to an end! As a supervisor in my workplace, discipline is a means of correcting an undesired behavior for the benefit of the Agency. To me, if discipline is about self-control and correction of undesired behaviors, discipline is not a "punishment". Punishment, to me, is a much more severe and imposed matter. I hope that this clarifies your understanding of my use and intent of the phrase "discipline" in my original post.

Regarding your suggestion of setting rules: I created a new one today, just prior to reading your post--she must ask permission to masturbate, even when I am at work (via text message).

And, I agree, Discipline vs. Punishment would make an interesting thread subject.

Now it's your turn to explain--What do you mean by "mantras"?