A black-and-white photo of a person mid-air in a Superman-style body suspension pose, supported by multiple hooks in their back and legs, smiling joyfully toward the camera. They are suspended horizontally in a large indoor space with high ceilings and visible rigging. A group of onlookers—some seated, some standing—watch with expressions of admiration, amusement, and support. The atmosphere is lively and communal, capturing a moment of shared experience and transformation.

Stretching yourself to the limit

Be free all worthy spirits, and stretch yourselves, for greatness and for height.

–George Chapman

Today I’ve spent a bit of time focusing on the work of the artists that make up our community.  Specifically the works of one artist, but the idea is there.  What doesn’t get discussed a lot on ModBlog is the DIY aspect of the modification community.  Now the DIY modification enthusiasts range from the simplest of piercings, to some of the hardest modifications and play sessions that are covered by BME.  Due to the nature of the broad spectrum that DIY covers, it is impossible write a post about every aspect without getting complaints from people about writing the longest ModBlog post ever.  What I do hope to do is feature DIY stories more frequently as there are a tremendous amount of photos of  DIY modifications in pretty much every category of photo.

For today, I thought it would be nice to go with something simple.  Now the headline may be a bit misleading but it will make sense if you follow along.

So, what would you say is the most popular form of DIY modification?  In all honesty, I don’t have any numbers to back me up, but I think a safe bet would probably be lobe stretching.  I think it is safe to say that the majority of people with stretched lobes have at some point performed the stretching themselves, probably without even realizing that they were adding their names to the list of DIY modified people.

A lot of what makes the DIY movement so significant is that it is taking the next step in control over the body.  While everyone getting mods is doing it for their own personal reasons, they all are in essence changing their bodies to what they want, primarily through the help of practitioners.  What DIY means to many is the opportunity to make the changes that they want but by their own hands.  This means that by performing any mod by yourself, you are singlehandedly pushing the limits of control you have over your body, changing it to what you want it to be.

One person in particular who was kind enough to send in an image of a DIY modification is IAM: tiny.vertebrae.

tiny.vertebrae

From what I can tell, it appears she’s using a piece of wood to stretch out her own lobes.

So while lobe stretching is fairly common when it comes to DIY modifications, it is still a process that is being undertaken by those who are choosing to modify themselves under their own power.  I know someone is thinking it, and yes this isn’t the limit in which a lobe can or has been stretched, but in the moment captured in the image, the stretching is pushing the limits of what came before.

Comments

128 responses to “Stretching yourself to the limit”

  1. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Sorry, just because her lobes are doing alright doesn’t mean in the future she could have some major issues with her lobes! I am glad they’re doing well but still. Sooo many better, easier ways to stretch your lobes than tapering (let alone with porous organics).

  2. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Sorry, just because her lobes are doing alright doesn’t mean in the future she could have some major issues with her lobes! I am glad they’re doing well but still. Sooo many better, easier ways to stretch your lobes than tapering (let alone with porous organics).

  3. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Sorry, just because her lobes are doing alright doesn’t mean in the future she could have some major issues with her lobes! I am glad they’re doing well but still. Sooo many better, easier ways to stretch your lobes than tapering (let alone with porous organics).

  4. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Sorry, just because her lobes are doing alright doesn’t mean in the future she could have some major issues with her lobes! I am glad they’re doing well but still. Sooo many better, easier ways to stretch your lobes than tapering (let alone with porous organics).

  5. LettySunshine Avatar

    I love her!! She’s really nice! I’m pretty sure she didn’t stretch it with wood, and that this is just photographic purpose.

  6. LettySunshine Avatar

    I love her!! She’s really nice! I’m pretty sure she didn’t stretch it with wood, and that this is just photographic purpose.

  7. LettySunshine Avatar

    I love her!! She’s really nice! I’m pretty sure she didn’t stretch it with wood, and that this is just photographic purpose.

  8. LettySunshine Avatar

    I love her!! She’s really nice! I’m pretty sure she didn’t stretch it with wood, and that this is just photographic purpose.

  9. trip Avatar
    trip

    i think DIY is classified to who wish to obtain fresh piercings and to those who find ways of solving problems on a cheaper creative rebel attitude. As i was told by past informers who held knowledge of how to do it yourself, gives the individual a safer DIY at home on your own time bases. i have worked my ears slowly up to 1/2 inch with no problem but with a constant measure of safety, basically i did my home work. and maybe at one time i tried the sharpie marker and packed q-tips sticks in my ear till my earlobe felt tight. but i managed to go with the normal best solutions and adding tape worked the best to increase the size.

  10. trip Avatar
    trip

    i think DIY is classified to who wish to obtain fresh piercings and to those who find ways of solving problems on a cheaper creative rebel attitude. As i was told by past informers who held knowledge of how to do it yourself, gives the individual a safer DIY at home on your own time bases. i have worked my ears slowly up to 1/2 inch with no problem but with a constant measure of safety, basically i did my home work. and maybe at one time i tried the sharpie marker and packed q-tips sticks in my ear till my earlobe felt tight. but i managed to go with the normal best solutions and adding tape worked the best to increase the size.

  11. trip Avatar
    trip

    i think DIY is classified to who wish to obtain fresh piercings and to those who find ways of solving problems on a cheaper creative rebel attitude. As i was told by past informers who held knowledge of how to do it yourself, gives the individual a safer DIY at home on your own time bases. i have worked my ears slowly up to 1/2 inch with no problem but with a constant measure of safety, basically i did my home work. and maybe at one time i tried the sharpie marker and packed q-tips sticks in my ear till my earlobe felt tight. but i managed to go with the normal best solutions and adding tape worked the best to increase the size.

  12. trip Avatar
    trip

    i think DIY is classified to who wish to obtain fresh piercings and to those who find ways of solving problems on a cheaper creative rebel attitude. As i was told by past informers who held knowledge of how to do it yourself, gives the individual a safer DIY at home on your own time bases. i have worked my ears slowly up to 1/2 inch with no problem but with a constant measure of safety, basically i did my home work. and maybe at one time i tried the sharpie marker and packed q-tips sticks in my ear till my earlobe felt tight. but i managed to go with the normal best solutions and adding tape worked the best to increase the size.

  13. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Ahh gotcha Letty. Makes sense just looks like some irritation but that could just be the picture itself.
    Trip – I only use the taping method. So simple, quick and you’re not tearing your ears up one bit if you do it correctly.

  14. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Ahh gotcha Letty. Makes sense just looks like some irritation but that could just be the picture itself.
    Trip – I only use the taping method. So simple, quick and you’re not tearing your ears up one bit if you do it correctly.

  15. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Ahh gotcha Letty. Makes sense just looks like some irritation but that could just be the picture itself.
    Trip – I only use the taping method. So simple, quick and you’re not tearing your ears up one bit if you do it correctly.

  16. Sara Avatar
    Sara

    Ahh gotcha Letty. Makes sense just looks like some irritation but that could just be the picture itself.
    Trip – I only use the taping method. So simple, quick and you’re not tearing your ears up one bit if you do it correctly.

  17. Nerd Avatar
    Nerd

    haha, I thought it was some sort of fruit. looks like pineapple…stuff.

  18. Nerd Avatar
    Nerd

    haha, I thought it was some sort of fruit. looks like pineapple…stuff.

  19. Nerd Avatar
    Nerd

    haha, I thought it was some sort of fruit. looks like pineapple…stuff.

  20. Nerd Avatar
    Nerd

    haha, I thought it was some sort of fruit. looks like pineapple…stuff.

  21. lolo_at_heart Avatar
    lolo_at_heart

    um…ow? that looks very irritated

  22. lolo_at_heart Avatar
    lolo_at_heart

    um…ow? that looks very irritated

  23. lolo_at_heart Avatar
    lolo_at_heart

    um…ow? that looks very irritated

  24. lolo_at_heart Avatar
    lolo_at_heart

    um…ow? that looks very irritated

  25. Conner Avatar
    Conner

    Yeah, she’s using it as a taper and obviously intends on using it as jewelry, since it’s a fresh stretch and I highly doubt it’s a conditioned/safe/oiled wood, her lobes could definitely adhere due to the porousness of the wood, also that shape of it will cause uneven pressure and uneven stretching and all sorts of other issues.

  26. Conner Avatar
    Conner

    Yeah, she’s using it as a taper and obviously intends on using it as jewelry, since it’s a fresh stretch and I highly doubt it’s a conditioned/safe/oiled wood, her lobes could definitely adhere due to the porousness of the wood, also that shape of it will cause uneven pressure and uneven stretching and all sorts of other issues.

  27. Conner Avatar
    Conner

    Yeah, she’s using it as a taper and obviously intends on using it as jewelry, since it’s a fresh stretch and I highly doubt it’s a conditioned/safe/oiled wood, her lobes could definitely adhere due to the porousness of the wood, also that shape of it will cause uneven pressure and uneven stretching and all sorts of other issues.

  28. Conner Avatar
    Conner

    Yeah, she’s using it as a taper and obviously intends on using it as jewelry, since it’s a fresh stretch and I highly doubt it’s a conditioned/safe/oiled wood, her lobes could definitely adhere due to the porousness of the wood, also that shape of it will cause uneven pressure and uneven stretching and all sorts of other issues.

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