Yoga Practice

Slowly...lift back and exhale...picture a string going in the top of your head, through your body and down to your toes. Now, the string is getting tighter...tighter...tighter--

"What're you doing?"

Without breaking the concentration it took ten minutes to find, she answers, her voice quiet and controlled. Hopefully. "Yoga."

Crossing his arms, he stands and watches. From the corner of her eye she see his mustache twitch as he tries not to laugh. Remembering the imaginary string, she straightens her back. Almost.

Then, a positon change. Slowly...move into the posture, feeling your muscles relax...slowly...concentrate...feel the--

"What's that one called?"

"Cat pose." Inhale. Exhale.

With a fast glance at the television screen, he says, "Her arms--"

"I know." Through gritted teeth, "My shoulder, remember?"

"Right. But her legs--"

"My knee." Inhale. Exhale. Concentrate on not killing husband, she silently adds.

He shifts his gaze back and forth between wife and instructor. He murmurs, "Doesn't look comfortable. But not so hard, really."

Now, jump to your feet and prepare for--

"Pretty easy, to tell the truth." His brings his legs together, stretches his arms out from his sides. She tries to ignore him, concentrating instead on her breathing and form.

Slowly...slowly...feel your body lengthen. Feel the muscles--

"What the...?" He raises his arms above his head, and lifts one foot.

A grunt, followed by a thud, brings a small grin. "Tree pose."