Total pages in book: 79
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 76693 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 383(@200wpm)___ 307(@250wpm)___ 256(@300wpm)
And, boy, did he need help.
“Do you mind if I touch you?” she asked softly once he got into place and attempted the very simple pose.
The way his deep voice rumbled “Be my guest” caused a flurry of warmth to spiral through her and land at that recently neglected spot between her upper thighs.
She tried not to linger as she adjusted his alignment, but he was tense and she had to keep whispering, “Relax. Loosen your muscles. Don’t lock your joints.”
The man needed a lot of work, but at least he had shown up. That was more than most people.
However, it turned out that she had to correct his form for every pose. Was he doing that on purpose?
The more she put her hands on him, the more heated his eyes became.
Cam appeared athletic. He probably stuck to doing more “manly” exercises like lifting weights and maybe even running. He was a former cop, after all, and the cops she knew all thought they had to appear “alpha,” even when they weren’t.
Toward the end of the session, she announced, “Now for the best part. Savasana, or Corpse pose.” That got a few quiet chuckles. “Lie in a comfortable, neutral position on your mat. Lengthen your body from your neck through your tailbone, open across your chest, and move your shoulder blades away from your spine. Let gravity help with the rest. Allow your body to feel heavy; let go and sink into the mat. Close your eyes. Notice your thoughts without getting attached to them. Take this time to recalibrate and reset. Your body—and mind—deserve it.”
Amazingly enough, that was one pose that Cam didn’t need help with, so she shut up and sat cross-legged on her own mat to keep an eye on the class. She grinned when, after a couple of minutes, a few soft snores met her ears. It was inevitable that at least one person always drifted off during the last pose since everyone was so relaxed.
Five minutes later, Hope pressed her hands together as if in prayer and said softly, “May there be love in your heart, peace in your thoughts, and joy in your words as you carry on throughout the rest of your day.”
Her students rolled to their sides for a minute or two, then slowly rose to their feet. She was pleased to see how chill everyone appeared. Even the people who might end up bound and whipped with a crop later today.
“I hope to see some, if not all, of you in the future.”
When the rest of the class filed out of the event hall, Hope began wiping down the mats, rolling them and stacking them on the cart to put them away. She really needed to sit down with Dayne or Dylan and see if they’d be willing to invest in some desperately needed yoga equipment, like straps, blocks, and bolsters.
The only person who lingered was Cam. Once he pulled on his socks and sneakers, he went around rolling up the mats she hadn’t gotten to yet and brought them over to the cart.
She thanked him.
“I never expected it to be such a workout.”
Hope smiled knowingly. “Used some muscles you never knew you had, did you?”
“Yes, and I regularly use the resort’s gym and pool. Sometimes I even take my bike out or go for a run on the trails, even though running isn’t my favorite.”
Just what she figured. “You might be sore tomorrow. While yoga is low impact, you’re holding poses when your body is used to movement. If you’re unaware, the muscle contractions result in microscopic tears to the tissue. Your muscles, tendons, and fascia will grow stronger as your body repairs itself. If you keep coming to my classes, I promise you’ll start to feel the benefits. Why do you think some professional athletes do yoga? Even football players.”
“To hook up with the teacher?” he suggested with a completely straight face.
Hope shook her head and laughed softly. “Is that why you showed up?”
His sudden smile blinded her. “Of course.”
She stared at him.
He shrugged. “I prefer not to lie.”
“Like in Corpse pose,” she teased.
“That was my favorite part. Also worth mentioning is the guy who farted while we were in Child’s pose.”
She pressed her lips together. “That happens. It’s natural.”
“Since I wasn’t expecting it, I had to hold my laughter in like a fart. I thought I was going to explode.”
A laugh burst from her. “Like the blond gentleman?”
“At least he had some relief.”
“So, what did you think? Other than the farting, of course.”
Cam shrugged his broad shoulders. “Honestly, I’m not sure yet. I might have to join in on a few more classes to get a better feel for it.”
“I hold different levels of classes at my home. So, if these classes get to be too easy, let me know.”