Page 55 of The Love Position

‘I appreciate that some of you might not have done any yoga before and most of you won’t be used to sitting cross-legged for long periods of time,’ Isaac continued. ‘It’s important you’re comfortable and you don’t injure yourselves, so Anisha and Mohan have brought blocks for you to sit on. If you’re experienced and open in your hips, then you’ll probably only need one. However, some of you may need three or more. You can also create a stack lengthways and kneel with the blocks between your legs and under your bottom like this.’

He demonstrated the position, then stood, took the bag Anisha was carrying, and began handing out the blocks.

‘Decide on the right amount for you and hold on to them for the duration of the course. You can hand them back at reception when you leave.’

‘I can’t believe they’re not charging us to hire them,’ Jessica murmured to Sophia.

She nodded in agreement, noticing Anisha’s frowning face as if she was thinking the same.

‘How’s everyone getting on?’ Isaac asked.

He walked around the class, making slight adjustments to some people’s set-ups and making other recommendations.

‘I’m almost as in love with him as you are,’ Jessica whispered out of the corner of her mouth.

Heat whooshed into Sophia’s cheeks and she pressed her palms against them, petrified that people would notice.

Jessica leaned closer. ‘Chillax. We’re at the back. And believe you me, no-one is looking at us.’

Sophia glanced around. Without exception, everyone was gazing at Isaac as if he’d just floated down from heaven and was handing out hot chocolate with whipped cream and mini marshmallows.

Pride filled her chest. This was the Isaac she remembered. Someone thoughtful and kind, who gave each person in the room the same amount of care, respect, and attention.

Well, almost. He’d made eye contact with everyone except for her.

‘Fantastic,’ Isaac said, taking his seat at the front of the class. ‘Let’s start with “easy pose”, which is known in Sanskrit as sukhasana. Cross your legs at the mid-calf point and extend the heels away. Now lift the flesh of the buttocks out and apart so you’re on your sit-bones. Roll your shoulders up as you inhale, then back and down as you exhale. Your spine should be comfortably straight without arching in the lower back, so you might need to tuck your tailbone under. Elongate the back of the neck and close your eyes if you feel comfortable doing so. We’re going to begin with the opening chant.’

10

‘Guruji, are you sure this is a good idea?’ The weather had changed, turning the air thick with moisture, but that was not why Isaac was sweating.

The older man took his arm as they strolled away from breakfast.

‘Hanuman. Whenever have I steered you wrong?’

Guilt tugged inside Isaac’s chest. ‘Never, Guruji.’

‘Well then. It’s been four days now and you have not done as I’ve asked.’

‘But Guruji, I—’

‘Hanuman, your body is present, but your mind is elsewhere. I’ve seen you teaching. The woman hides at the back and you ignore her completely.’

Isaac was silent. As ever, Swami Vishnu was speaking the truth. Isaac had taught Sophia twice a day since the start of the TTC, yet she may as well have been invisible for all the attention he gave her.

What would Eveline say about his behaviour if she knew? Shame flooded through him.

And despite all his attempts to block Sophia from his mind, she still filled his waking thoughts and fevered dreams. Whenever she wasn’t looking his way, his eyes were drawn to her. He knew the course was hard, but she seemed exhausted, her face paler than normal and her eyes sunken. He’d done the TTC when he was younger than she was and he’d had the advantage of being strong and fit. Watching Sophia was like experiencing it again through a completely different lens.

How had he never truly noticed the pressure put on the students before? The lack of time to rest and assimilate the information being thrown at them? The fact so many of the asanas suited men’s physiques better than women’s?

‘How do you expect to deal with your feelings towards her if you hide from them, Hanuman? By spending time with her, you will see they are shallow. Baseless. The construction of an unquiet mind. Soon the physical attraction will pass, and you will return to a state of equanimity.’

Isaac nodded, but no part of him believed his guru’s words, and his restless feelings of dissatisfaction with his life had started before he’d met Sophia. Yes, he was drawn to her on every level, but removing those feelings wouldn’t make the other ones disappear.

‘Guruji, when can we return to India?’

The older man paused before replying. ‘It is important you are here.’

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