Page 25 of Spring Showers

Back at her mat, she rejoined the group on all fours. The rain gently splattered in slow drops on the roof and created a musical lullaby. The air had filled with the sweet scent from the honeysuckle hedges skirting the gazebo’s railing. It was a delicious calm, even for her, and she felt it renewing something within herself.

“Now, if you can, stand on the front edge of your mat.” Buzz was in the rear of the group and his daughter helped him up. Thandie waited for him to steady himself before continuing. “With your hands at your sides, face your palms forward and slowly inhale, bringing your arms in a wide circle and coming together high above your head. On the exhale, bring your hands in a large arc back down to your side.”

They repeated the move for three breaths. “If you would like to modify, I invite you to lift one foot off the ground and press the toes of your free leg to your ankle on the other leg. Like a tree.” Thandie bobbled finding her balance. Lucky for her, no one noticed. Except Grant, who was holding his foot against his thigh on the other leg. “Show off,” she whispered. “Find your balance and repeat the breathing. Inhale, bring your arms over your head, and exhale.”

She released her pose and walked around the gazebo again, helping people get their balance. Brent and Daisy were helping each other in some sort of partner move that looked less like yoga and a lot like canoodling the way the farmers’ kids back home would do in the tractor on a Friday night. She couldn’t help but suck in a snigger.

“Now, join me down on your mat. I invite you to lie flat and relaxed on your back.” She waited for them all to change positions before she continued. “Place your open palms on the ground beside your hips and press each finger into the ground. Feel the material depress under your power. Feel your shoulders push against the floor. Breathe.”

Grant cleared his throat, though it sounded like he too was stifling a laugh. She resisted the urge to look at him and see what had caused him to crack.

“Now, relax your fingers in order from your thumb to your pinky. And notice your neck and back sink further into the ground as though your bones are made of sand. And breathe.”

Thandie lifted her head and saw a sea of relaxed bodies. Their chests rising and falling in slow intervals. It was hard to not feel calm in such a beautiful setting, with such sweet, aromatic air, and no digital distractions. Perhaps ruining her phone wasn’t the worst thing after all.

“When you’re ready, I invite you to roll to your side and push yourself into a comfortable sitting position. Bringing your feet together, let your knees fall towards the floor. Take a few healing breaths and allow your mind and your soul to be restored by this practice of self-love and connection to the earth around you.”

Grant smirked as if he knew that she was making this all up as she went along. Thandie shot a glance at him and shook her head ever so slightly. There was going to be some explaining to do if he brought this up later. Which she suspected he would from the way he kept inserting himself into her day.

“When you’re ready, open your eyes. Thank you for joining me this morning and I hope you enjoyed yourself. I certainly did.”

“So did I,” Grant said under his breath.

Ignoring him, she stood. “After lunch, there is some free time built into the schedule for a few hours. Then, at three o’clock, we will have a flower arranging class on the dock. Unless it’s raining, then the class will be held in the barn.”

The guests began to get up and leave.

“That was wonderful,” Buzz said and walked away with his daughter by his side. Thandie was glad to see him using the walking stick, even though he hated it.

“Can we do this every morning?” A woman, maybe Clara, asked.

“You enjoyed it that much?” Thandie hid her surprise.

“I’ve taken a lot of yoga. Hot yoga, Yin Yoga, Vinyasa, Ashtanga, Hatha. But I’ve never been to a class like yours,” the woman, who looked to be in her late thirties or early forties, said.

“Yeah,” Grant added. “What do you call your style of yoga?”

Ignoring him again, she said, “Well, Clara, right? I can certainly look at the schedule and see where I have a spare time slot. Would you like that?”

“I would. Thank you for today. I really needed it.” Clara said and looked over her shoulder at a man who was rolling the yellow mats.

It was obvious to anyone who had been in love before that Clara and the man had some sort of connection, but one that was strained under an invisible force. If Thandie’s yoga class was helping them in any tangible way, her pretending was very much worth the show that she had put on.

“Do you want help cleaning up?” Anne asked and began collecting water bottles.

Thandie rushed to Anne and stood between her and the trash. “Thank you for the offer, but I can handle all this. And I’ll see you all a little later.”

The rain, having stopped sometime while she was melting into her mat, left the ground damp around the gazebo. The sun peeked back through a break in the clouds and vaporized the sitting water. The humidity rose like steam and the sweet air was replaced by a thick haze that made her feel like taking a nap. But there were things to do, and a nap would have to wait. She straightened her spine and smiled at Margret, who was coming right at her.

“This was brilliant,” Margret said and shook Thandie’s hand. “You are a gem.”

Thandie didn’t know what to say, although she felt an urge to admit the truth to the kind woman. But she didn’t. “It was my pleasure. I’m glad you liked it.”

Grant joined them.

“And did you enjoy yourself this morning?” Margret asked him and nudged him closer towards Thandie.

“Very much,” he said.

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