“I’ll circle correcting poses and to make sure everyone’s safe,” Miranda carries on. “We’re going to start our beginners’ sequence with a Plank on Plank pose to help build core strength and learn how to support a partner. If you’re the base, take Plank pose with your hands shoulder-width apart, arms straight, core engaged.”
Everyone designated as the base—all the men in the class and two women, we’re five couples in total—assume the position.
“Very well,” Miranda says. “Now, flyers, facing your base’s feet, place your hands on their ankles, press down with straight arms, and place your left foot on their distant shoulder. Once you feel secure, place your other foot on their near shoulder and hold steady.”
I grab Archie’s ankles and follow the instructions. This isn’t too bad, I’m looking at his heels and he’s looking at the floor. There isn’t much contact, platonic, or physical.
So far, so good.
After thirty seconds—more than enough in Plank—Miranda calls the pose off. “Okay, class, that was fantastic. Now let’s try another pose that’s amazing to build trust between partners, and to teach the bases how to support their flyers. This one’s called Plank Press. Bases, please lie on your backs facing your flyers, knees bent.”
Archie turns on the mat and lies down, looking up at me. He’s keeping a straight face, but his eyes are filled with mischief. I take a deep breath and wait for the rest of the instructions. I fear this pose won’t be as easy-peasy lemon squeezy.
“Flyers, place your feet in between your partner’s. Perfect.” She takes a quick look around the class and motions for me to advance a little. “Don’t be afraid to really get in there.”
I take another step forward, and Archie winks at me, causing a small butterfly explosion in my stomach.
“Now, bases,” Miranda continues. “Set your feet hip-width apart on your flyers hips.”
The contact is innocent but intimate. My hipbones are tingling. I didn’t even know that was possible.
“Flyers, open your arms in a T shape and keep your bodies straight while maintaining a strong core. Bases, bend your knees toward your chest and receive your flyer’s weight and then push back slowly. Flyers, plant your feet on the floor and trust your weight to the base. Try several times, each time coming in deeper.”
Archie’s lips curl at the corners, and his eyes burn into mine. Has yoga always been riddled with double entendres, or is it just this man that can make everything seem dirty, hot, sexual, and why aren’t we in his bed right now? Maybe having morning sex is how I should’ve started the day, because this sure as hell seems like an extended foreplay session and I’ve no idea how long I’ll have to wait before my next Archie fix.
“Fantastic, class.” Miranda claps, distracting me from my reverie. “Let’s try out one last pose.”
Thank goodness this will be over soon.
“This one is called the Base Test. And it’s a very beneficial pose to help the base practice staying stable while the flyer lifts off. We’re all good so far?”
The class cheers with varying levels of enthusiasm, prompting Miranda to keep going.
“Great. So, bases. Stay on your backs and lift your legs ninety degrees in an L shape, stacking your feet over your hips for stability.” She waits for everyone on the floor to comply with the instructions, and then continues, “Now, flyers. Cross your forearms and settle on your bases’ feet. Your elbows should be firmly planted in the middle of your partner’s soles.”
Once we’re all in position, Miranda delivers the final stroke. “Now, make eye contact with your base to establish trust.”
I lower my gaze to Archie’s face, and a wave of heat slams into me. This is ridiculous. We’ve had sex, for heaven’s sake. And this pose is chaste in comparison to what we did last night. But the eye contact is intense. His eyes are so blue, so penetrating. I feel like they can read my soul’s deepest secrets.
Last night, in the dark, I could close my eyes and forget where I was and who I was with. But this morning, the universe is forcing me to confront all my bad decisions.
No, “bad” isn’t the right word. “Dangerous” is.
A light touch on my elbow distracts me. “Are you having trouble with the pose?” Miranda asks.
“No, why?” I turn to her, then look around the cabana. Everyone else has lifted off the floor and is perched on their partners’ legs like parrots. But I got so lost in Archie’s eyes, I didn’t even hear Miranda utter the next round of instructions. “Sorry,” I say. “I was just—”
“No need to apologize,” Miranda interrupts me. “Take all the time you need. Whenever you’re ready, fold your arms into your base’s feet and slowly lift off the ground.”
I nod and assume the pose. Then make the mistake of looking at Archie again. No wink this time, but that doesn’t save me from having butterflies exploding in my belly all over again.
How long do we have to stay in this position?
As if on cue, Miranda answers my prayers. “And, flyers, please slide back to the floor. Wonderful job, class, we’ve earned a few minutes of relaxation in corpse pose, yeah?”
I flee to the safety of my mat, lay down, and close my eyes, ready to disappear in a quiet spot in my mind with no Archibald Hills in it.
Easier said than done.
I try to follow Miranda’s meditating instructions, but every fiber of my body is still hyper-aware of the man lying beside me. No amount of closing my eyes, opening my mind, letting my breath occur naturally, and allowing my body to feel heavy on the ground works.
Instead, my body feels light like a feather and… tingly.
“Work from the soles of your feet up to the crown of your head,” Miranda says. “Consciously release every body part, organ, and cell.”
Ah. All I can think about is how Archie’s hands followed the same path last night, starting literally from the soles of my feet to end up tangled in my hair.
“Relax your face. Let your eyes drop deep into their sockets. Invite peace and silence into your mind, body, and soul.”
Peace and silence, uh? I fear I’ve invited the devil into my mind, body, and soul.
Seven
Archie
“Okay, class, it’s now time to come out of Savasana.” The yoga instructor’s voice makes me jump.
With barely two hours of sleep under my belt, I was already dozing off. I hope I wasn’t snoring.
“To exit the pose…” Miranda’s soothing voice keeps rolling instructions I don’t want to follow. All I want to do is curl on my side and sleep. “Deepen your breath. Inhale and exhale. In through your nose, out through your mouth. Wonderful.” She leaves us a few instants to breathe before continuing. “Now, bring gentle movement and awareness back to your body; you can start by wiggling your fingers and toes. When you’re ready, roll to your right side. Rest for a moment before slowly pressing into a comfortable sitting position. Inhale as you unfold your body, letting your head be the last thing to come into place. And exhale.”