01-04-2019, 11:51 AM
The Continuing Education of Susan Ch. 04
"But was I all right? (Was I all right?)
Did I take you to the height of ecstasy?
Was I all right? (Was I all right?)
Did a shadow of emotion cross your face?
Or was it just another trick of the light?"
—The Who, "Trick of the Light"
Hi. My name's Susan. Yes, really me this time.
Julie's pep talk did its job. Or she did the Thing to me, either one. It still worked. I knew I could do this now. Rachel sitting cross-legged on the mat in her underwear when I came into the room was also a big help.
I sat down on the mat across from her, debating stripping to my underwear as well so she wouldn't feel awkward, but then I remembered the Seinfeld bit about "pants beat no pants" and figured that would help with controlling the situation. The vibe I was getting from Rachel was that at any moment, I could simply step forward and kiss her (A plan that Suzy-Ho approved.); however, there was still that middle step of attaining control to deal with. Based on everything I'd studied, going into the teacher role would put me in the dominant position.
"Ok, honestly," I said, remembering that in-road I'd established back in the coffee shop.
"This first pose to learn is so basic that it's called the Child Pose. If you have any knee issues, go ahead and ease your legs into position as gradually as is comfortable." She followed along as I showed her the starting position.
"I've never had any problems being on my knees, Susan," she replied with an even cuter smile than before. I smiled back, but not a smile as big as hers. Laughing at or acknowledging that statement too much could blow everything now.
"That's good, Rachel. And we want to walk forward slowly with our hands, mindful of our breathing. Inhaling and exhaling through the nose when possible. Gently, like you're sniffing a flower rather than taking a big breath." I took a breath to show her and she followed my example. "And gently resting your stomach on your thighs, keep lowering yourself deeper until your forehead is resting on the mat."
I listened for a moment to make certain that Rachel was breathing properly before continuing. Then came the tricky part. I can't really explain it any better than "emphasizing my will toward her" as I changed my tone of voice to a more soothing one.
"Of course, one of the most important things about yoga is the relaxation that it brings. You're starting to feel that now as we hold the pose, aren't you, Rachel? Becoming more and more relaxed as you rest your head on the mat?"
"Oh, yes," she exhaled. "I'm honestly feeling it now."
"Thank you, Rachel. As I said earlier, I'm more of a secretary than an instructor, so it's very important that you honestly tell me how I'm doing here. Just continue to breath and relax."
"I'll tell you honestly, Susan," she said, sounding a bit more distant. "It's important."
It was working! I slowly, quietly rose to my feet and looked down at her; head bowed, arms outstretched, like a supplicant worshipping at the feet of a jungle goddess, and I felt it! The confidence that I'd sought and thought I'd had a grasp on so many times before; what I'd started to feel before the encounter with Helen that set me back to zero, was now filling me, but so much more. It felt amazing... it felt different... it felt...
* * *
"But was I all right? (Was I all right?)
Did I take you to the height of ecstasy?
Was I all right? (Was I all right?)
Did a shadow of emotion cross your face?
Or was it just another trick of the light?"
—The Who, "Trick of the Light"
Hi. My name's Susan. Yes, really me this time.
Julie's pep talk did its job. Or she did the Thing to me, either one. It still worked. I knew I could do this now. Rachel sitting cross-legged on the mat in her underwear when I came into the room was also a big help.
I sat down on the mat across from her, debating stripping to my underwear as well so she wouldn't feel awkward, but then I remembered the Seinfeld bit about "pants beat no pants" and figured that would help with controlling the situation. The vibe I was getting from Rachel was that at any moment, I could simply step forward and kiss her (A plan that Suzy-Ho approved.); however, there was still that middle step of attaining control to deal with. Based on everything I'd studied, going into the teacher role would put me in the dominant position.
"Ok, honestly," I said, remembering that in-road I'd established back in the coffee shop.
"This first pose to learn is so basic that it's called the Child Pose. If you have any knee issues, go ahead and ease your legs into position as gradually as is comfortable." She followed along as I showed her the starting position.
"I've never had any problems being on my knees, Susan," she replied with an even cuter smile than before. I smiled back, but not a smile as big as hers. Laughing at or acknowledging that statement too much could blow everything now.
"That's good, Rachel. And we want to walk forward slowly with our hands, mindful of our breathing. Inhaling and exhaling through the nose when possible. Gently, like you're sniffing a flower rather than taking a big breath." I took a breath to show her and she followed my example. "And gently resting your stomach on your thighs, keep lowering yourself deeper until your forehead is resting on the mat."
I listened for a moment to make certain that Rachel was breathing properly before continuing. Then came the tricky part. I can't really explain it any better than "emphasizing my will toward her" as I changed my tone of voice to a more soothing one.
"Of course, one of the most important things about yoga is the relaxation that it brings. You're starting to feel that now as we hold the pose, aren't you, Rachel? Becoming more and more relaxed as you rest your head on the mat?"
"Oh, yes," she exhaled. "I'm honestly feeling it now."
"Thank you, Rachel. As I said earlier, I'm more of a secretary than an instructor, so it's very important that you honestly tell me how I'm doing here. Just continue to breath and relax."
"I'll tell you honestly, Susan," she said, sounding a bit more distant. "It's important."
It was working! I slowly, quietly rose to my feet and looked down at her; head bowed, arms outstretched, like a supplicant worshipping at the feet of a jungle goddess, and I felt it! The confidence that I'd sought and thought I'd had a grasp on so many times before; what I'd started to feel before the encounter with Helen that set me back to zero, was now filling me, but so much more. It felt amazing... it felt different... it felt...
* * *
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