Page 16 of Love Letters from a Libra
She narrowed her eyes. “You brought me to a class you’ve never tried?”
“Would you rather I bring you to one I did all the time? Where I already knew all the moves, and you were the odd one out?”
She considered it, then nodded. “Fair point. I prefer us both being clueless.”
“Good evening, everyone. Tonight, we’ll be working with the heart chakra, also known as Anahata. It is the center of connection, compassion, and our capacity for love. Partners, face each other, and we’ll begin with synchronized breathing.” Sarena demonstrated the sitting position with her spine straight.
Zanaa adjusted her position. Our knees now touched, and the contact sent a visible ripple of awareness through her body.
Sarena’s voice was calm and measured. “Now, place your hands on your knees, palms up. Close your eyes and take three deep breaths together. In through the nose, out through the mouth.”
Zanaa’s eyes fluttered open, meeting mine. A smirk tugged at the corner of her mouth, and then she leaned in slightly, her voice low enough that only I could hear. “This feels like foreplay for people who read horoscopes.”
I burst out laughing, not my usual controlled chuckle, but a genuine, unexpected laugh that came from somewhere deeper. A few heads turned our way, including Sarena’s, who gave us an indulgent smile.
“Sorry,” I managed, still grinning.
“Care to share the joy with the class?” Sarena asked, not unkindly.
“Just finding our rhythm,” I replied, which made Zanaa bite her lip to keep from laughing again.
It hit me then. I couldn’t remember the last time someone made me laugh like this. Not the polite laughter of client meetings or the knowing chuckles exchanged with my sister. This was something, spontaneous and unguarded. The kind of laugh that broke through my coolness.
Zanaa watched my face with a mixture of surprise and satisfaction, like she’d just discovered something valuable. “You should do that more often,” she whispered.
“What?”
“Laugh for real. It changes your whole face.”
I didn’t know what to say to that. No one had ever commented on my laugh before or noticed the difference between the real thing and the performance. But of course she would. She saw things others missed, just like I did.
“Place your right hand over your heart and extend your left palm toward your partner,” Sarena instructed.
We followed the instructions. Our extended hands didn’t quite touch.
“Feel the energy between your palms before they meet. The living field that connects all beings,” Sarena continued.
Sarena moved through the room, adjusting postures and offering quiet guidance. When she reached us, she nodded approvingly. “Good energy here,” she said, then moved on without elaborating.
Zanaa rolled her eyes, but there was no real annoyance behind it. She’d settled into this space, into us, in a way I hadn’t expected. And so did I.
Zanaa was focused on our hands, and her expression shifted from skepticism to surprise. She felt something.
“Now, gentle pressure, palms together, eyes meeting. Synchronize your breath,” Sarena instructed.
Our palms met. Zanaa’s hand was warm and slightly smaller than mine. I adjusted the pressure and met her eyes, slowing my breathing to make it easy for her to follow.
“Inhale for five. Hold for five. Exhale for five.” Sarena demonstrated her instructions.
We found our rhythm, and I saw the tension in her shoulders release.
Sarena’s voice guided us. “Allow your breath to become a conversation.”
We maintained eye contact. I watched her pupils expand and contract with each breath, a physiological response she couldn’t control.
“Now, place both hands palm to palm with your partner. Breathe into your heart space,” Sarena instructed.
Slowly, Zanaa lowered her shoulders. Her breathing deepened, and the rise and fall of her chest grew more pronounced. The tension in her fingers eased, her palms melting more fully against mine. She hadn’t grasped or held on. We simply touched and existed in the same space, sharing the same air.
