Leo
I shifted into a reverse warrior pose, fighting to keep my balance as every muscle in my body protested the movement. Blinking, I crinkled my nose in an attempt to divert the sweat that somehow still managed to trickle into my eyes even though I’m looking up at the ceiling.
The curses ricocheting through my brain mocked the incense-and-serenity vibe in the studio. But seriously, this is bullshit. I’ve been through every cardio, strength, and flexibility training Major League Baseball has to offer and haven’t struggled or sweat this much. I’ve already done all these poses on the other side of my body and am definitely feeling it.
At least this hell is almost over.
“Exhale and come into an extended side angle pose by placing your right forearm on your right thigh. Then extend your left arm and hover it over your ear.”
I followed Clay’s directions, breathing through the discomfort as he had me flow through triangle and half moon poses.
“Step back to downward dog and you can rest there for a few breaths, or if you’d prefer, move into child’s pose.”
Oh trust me, I’d prefer.
I lowered onto my knees and, reaching my arms forward, rested my forehead on the mat, thanking every supernatural power in the universe that this torture is almost over. I could have stayed like that forever, but once again, the taskmaster shouted out a command.
Okay, he told me what to do in a soft, calm voice, but either way, he was making me move.
“Shift to a seated position with your legs straight in front of you.”
My knees cracked as I moved onto my ass and stretched my legs out. The back of my right calf settled into the wet spot my sweaty forehead had created and I shifted it slightly to the left.
“Inhale and straighten your spine then bring your arms straight out to the side and up over your head, reaching toward the ceiling. Draw your spine up and inhale, keeping your torso long. As you exhale, lean forward from your hip joints, not your waist.”
My hamstrings, hips, and lower back protested as I did what he told me. I breathed deeply, willing my muscles to give in to my will. But as I’ve learned in the past week of classes, it will take more than determination to make things happen.
“Don’t grit your teeth. Keep your face and jaw relaxed and with each inhale, lengthen your spine and with each exhale, fold deeper. Imagine your belly coming to rest on your thighs, rather than your nose coming to your knees. Keeping your feet flexed, grab hold of either your toes or your ankles.”
My toes? Yeah right.
I glared up at Clay, my jaw clenched. His raised brow and muted smirk would have made me laugh if I had the energy and enough breath. Despite my sneers and groans, it’s the first time in a week that he’s dropped his professional demeanor during our private sessions.
“Keep your neck a natural extension of your spine, don’t look up or down.”
I looked forward again and slicked my hair back off my face before grabbing my ankles.
“Keep breathing and if you’re able, deepen the stretch with each exhale,” Clay said.
Sweat dripped off my chin and immediately soaked into my shorts, forming a blotch that got larger with each subsequent drop. He had me hold that pose for what seemed like forever before saying the words I’ve been waiting for since this torture session got started.
“Release your hold on your ankles and come back to a seated position. Now, with your core engaged, exhale and slowly lower your back to the mat. Rest your hands at your sides with your palms facing up and put your feet mat-length apart. Close your eyes and transition into savasana, allowing your body to be just as it is and yourself to be whole and complete, simply lying there, breathing.”
My body felt heavy as I eased onto the mat and my muscles relaxed. I closed my eyes and listened to the soothing background music and focused on regulating my breathing until it settled into a slow, comfortable rhythm.
In my opinion, this is the best kept secret of yoga. I think if everyone knew the torturous classes ended with this relaxing pose, they’d be packed. The first few times I did this, my mind wandered, thinking about all the things I had to do once I left the studio not to mention how much pain I was in. But after just four classes, I’m learning to savasana like a pro.
My mind and body totally relaxed and I enjoyed just lying on my mat breathing. Then a beat pounded into my consciousness. I opened my eyes and looked around, trying to figure out its source.
I spotted Clay through the glass door of his office. He’d started going in there after my first class when I said the thought of him watching me in savasana was giving me the wiggins.
Sitting up, I twisted first to the right side then the left and shook out my legs. I grabbed my water bottle and finished its contents in one gulp. As I swallowed, I identified the song that had intruded on my savasana. Boom Boom Pow by The Black Eyed Peas is an awesome song, but not something to listen to while in a state of total relaxation.
“You have five more minutes,” Clay said from behind me.
“I was rudely interrupted by your music.”
“I wasn’t playing music.” He frowned, then cocked his head to the side. The music changed to a slightly slower tempo as Sorry by Buckcherry started to play. “The floors must be finished downstairs.”
“What does that mean?”
“The floor was being refinished in the pole dance studio downstairs, which is why there haven’t been any classes there this week.” He looked at his watch. “Although there aren’t usually classes this late on a Sunday. Down there or up here. Which is probably why whoever is down there wasn’t too concerned about blasting the music.”
I got up and walked across the room to grab a spray bottle and rag off the shelf. Kneeling down, I sprayed down my mat and wiped it clean.
“I appreciate you meeting with me privately.”
“No problem. I can’t have you in my class distracting everyone with that pretty face,” he said with a chuckle.
“Smart ass.”
“But seriously, we’ll do whatever works for you.”
“You’re the one with the busy schedule.” I sat and slipped on my socks and sneakers then rolled my mat and stood. After returning the spray bottle to its home, I tossed the rag into the hamper. “I’m free most anytime since it’s the offseason. So if you need me to come during the day, I can.”
I reached down and grabbed my water bottle and mat.
“Mornings or early afternoon might actually be better during the week. I’ll text you tomorrow and let you know about Tuesday.”
“Sounds good.”
“It’s getting easier, right?”
“No comment.”
“Well, I see improvement in the few sessions we’ve had. Your balance is better and you don’t seem to be protecting your lower back as much, so it must be loosening up.”
“I do feel more loose, but this is harder than I thought it’d be. When the Waves’ trainer recommended yoga, I had no idea it’d be so tough.”
Clay patted me on the back and opened the door.
“You’ll get there.”
“I’ll take your word for it.”
That said, I stepped into the hallway and walked toward the stairs. I was rounding the landing when the unmistakable thump of Fat Bottomed Girls pounded out of the open door on the first floor. I jogged down the rest of the way and walked over to peek inside.
Holy shit!
I never believed in love at first sight, but good Lord, I fell into something the moment I spotted her. With her long limbs, porcelain skin, and platform boots, she looked like some kind of goddess as she climbed the pole. When she reached the top, she released her left hand and extended her arm out to the side and held on by her right hand and her ankles as she spun around and around. With her body away from the pole, she gripped it with her right hand near her thigh then wrapped her right leg around the pole and continued to spin with her right arm extended.
My sister Angie used to have a musical jewelry box with a ballerina inside that would spin around when the top was opened. That’s exactly what the woman on the pole looked like.
I watched in awe as she straightened her legs and rolled around the pole then tipped back, spread her legs into a straddle, and hooked her left leg, seeming to hang on by the back of her knee. She arched back and grabbed the heel of her right boot as she kept spinning around and around. I was getting dizzy just watching.
She let go of her boot and kicked her left leg back toward her head. Wrapping her hand around her ankle to hold it in place, she extended her right leg in the other direction until she was hanging upside down in a full split.
Hooking her left leg around the pole again, she wrapped one arm behind her and grabbed on. Twisting her body, she straightened her legs until somehow she hung upside down with her back against the pole. She looked like a sexy bat.
Freddie Mercury continued to sing about how fat-bottomed girls make the world go round and I have to agree. Not that the enchantress in front of me has a fat anything, but her bottom is perfectly rounded, especially in comparison to her slim figure and tiny frame.
Releasing her hands, she let her arms hang toward the ground while just her knees held her to the pole. She slid down slowly until her fingertips brushed the floor as she continued to spin. Around and around she went until she finally placed her palms flat on the floor slowing the momentum. Once the spinning stopped, she let her legs fall back until her feet landed against the hardwood with a bang.
She stood, whipping her hair over her shoulders and gripped the pole again. Before executing another mind-boggling trick, her eyes widened when she spotted me.
Her sky-high heels added a sexy sway to her hips as she walked in my direction. My mind raced as I tried to think of something to say that would accurately convey how much her performance blew me away. But I didn’t have to worry about it because she didn’t give me a chance to speak.
“Show’s over,” she said, and slammed the door in my face.
Click to order!
