“Absolutely. Promise.”
I leaned across the counter, kissed her wrinkled cheek, and an hour later turned on the heat of Hot Yoga Hilton Head for a ninety-minute flow.
I lit a stick of Nag Champa and put it in the incense holder, grabbed a rental mat and towel for myself, and set up my space in the practice room. Two students entered and set up their mats for quiet meditation.
I returned to the foyer to grab a bottle of water, and the studio door swung open. Elias walked in wearing swim trunks, a muscle tank, and his crooked smile. I laughed aloud at the sight, and he winked at me before peeling the plastic off a mat he’d clearly bought on his way over.
“What are you doing here?”
“Taking a yoga class.”
I rolled my eyes and chuckled. “I can see that.”
He stepped forward to meet me. “Yoga’s important to you. It makes you happy. Your face lights up when you talk about it.” He shrugged. “I wanted to see you shine.”
My heart swelled, and the walls I’d erected around it started to crumble. Nervous, I tucked my hair behind my ear and cleared my throat. “Let’s get you set up then.”
I grabbed a towel and showed him into the practice room. While he rolled out his mat, I brought over a couple of blocks and a strap and set them at the top of his space. He scowled at the props. “What are those for?”
“They’re to help you maintain alignment in certain poses. If you need them.”
He stared at the props a beat longer, then turned his furrowed brow to me.
“Don’t worry. I’ll let you know when and how to use them if you need to modify. You know the basics, right? Downward Dog, Upward Dog, Warrior One…”
“Yeah, I think so.” He shoved a hand through his hair. “Sounds familiar.”
“You’ll be fine. Just watch me. And take it at your own pace. If something doesn’t feel right, don’t do it.” I eyed his muscle tank. “You might want to lose the shirt. It’s going to get in the way, and you’re just going to sweat through it anyway.”
He raised an eyebrow, and his lips shaped into a mischievous smile.
I rolled my eyes and shoved the towel into his chest. Time to get started.
For someone who didn’t practice regularly, or at all, Elias wasn’t half bad. I shouldn’t have been surprised. He was an athlete, and his base level of fitness showed in his flow. His balance and flexibility needed work, but he could hold a pose and wasn’t too shabby for a beginner.
We had that in common, a passion for movement and a deep connection to our bodies. Watching Elias swim, anyone could see he belonged in the water. It amplified his playful nature, making his spirit shine even brighter. It reminded me of how I transformed when I stepped onto my mat—present and carefree.
And he’d wanted to see me in that same light. Elias had shown up. For me. My heart expanded with affection, knocking down another piece of that crumbling wall. Maybe he wasn’t the playboy I’d imagined.
At the end of class, one of the students approached me and asked for help with her Eagle pose. I stole a glance at Elias, tilted my head toward the student, and gave a little wave. As much as I was dying to know what he thought of class, my students came first.
I spent the next fifteen minutes helping the young woman with proper alignment. I’d noticed during class she’d struggled to stay upright in the pose, losing her balance and tipping forward. I immediately saw the problem—she was collapsing into her back and not pulling up through her core—and as soon as I corrected her form, she was flying high. She attacked me with a big, sweaty hug and an outburst of thanks, then pumped her fists in the air while leaving the studio.
Gratification wrapped its arms around me as I turned off the heat and closed up the practice room. Helping bring the joy of yoga to others was why I loved teaching, and the morning’s unexpected class had been a welcome reminder.
Refreshed and fulfilled, I locked the studio, turned toward the parking lot, and nearly choked on my breath. Elias leaned against a motorcycle, ankles crossed, thick arms folded over the muscle tank now clinging to his sweaty chest. He flashed his easy, crooked smile, and I thought my knees might give out.
He ran a hand through his sweaty hair. “Hi.”
I swallowed, attempting to regain composure. “Hi.” I stepped to meet him. “You did great today.”
“Really? I felt like I had two left legs. Yoga is no joke.”
“Really. You have excellent awareness of your body and space. Once you get the hang of the flow, you’ll be able to tailor the poses for yourself, and that’s when the magic happens.”
“You’re an awesome teacher, Lena.”
My heart burst with pride. “Thank you.”
