Chapter 3 #2
‘The pool did look tempting,’ she replied, ‘but it was a bit too cold. Tomorrow, for sure.’
Tash was subdued beside her, but Mark didn’t seem to notice.
When Cleo yawned, he had to stifle a yawn himself. It had been a long day for him as well.
‘God, I’m tired. I expect you are too. I hope you get a good night’s sleep,’ he added with watery eyes, smiling at them both in turn. ‘See you two ladies in the morning.’
Cleo feared replaying what had just happened would keep her awake; that, and fretting about Erica and her earlier text.
But in fact, having resolved not to reply to her daughter that night, she slept soundly, worn out by her early start and all the travelling, plus the emotional strain of dealing with Tash’s episode.
She was so worried about waking up late and missing morning yoga, she set her alarm for ten-minute intervals and forced herself out of bed on the second to last ring.
Her heart sprang when she opened the window shutters and was greeted by bright sunshine and a perfectly blue sky, which seemed to blend in the distance into the vivid cobalt sea.
For a short while, she completely forgot about her problems and the day ahead seemed packed with promise.
Rootling in her chest of drawers, she pulled out a pair of brownish, leopard print leggings, a black vest top and her grey sweatshirt, which she didn’t think she’d need.
Then she splashed her face with cold water, dabbed on a little sun-protective moisturiser and twisted her long, chestnut hair into a messy sort of bun.
The leggings, which she’d bought in a sale specially for the trip, felt tight round the waist and it occurred to her she should have got the larger size. She wasn’t fat, but wished the stubborn roll round her stomach, which had mysteriously appeared in her late forties, would melt away.
She tried to wiggle the top of the leggings up beneath her ribs, where she was thinner, but it hurt her crotch and she fretted about the dreaded camel toe.
Luckily, there was no full-length mirror in the room, or she might have got cold feet about wearing her new purchase at all. As it was, she could just about convince herself she looked OK and no one would care anyway.
A few people were already on the lawn beyond the trellised archway when Cleo arrived, sitting or lying on rubbery yoga mats in assorted bright colours, which had been placed in a big circle.
She spotted Maya first, all in black like last night but with a neon yellow sweatband on her head. She was on her back, windscreen wiping her legs from side to side, her arms outstretched and eyes closed.
Tash, meanwhile, was sitting cross-legged with her hands resting on her knees, breathing deeply while she seemed to gaze, head slightly bowed, at a particular spot on the grass in front.
Ingrid and Frida were kneeling side by side, chatting to the sixty-something woman with dark hair, flecked with grey, who’d worn the pink-and-blue cheesecloth smock last night. Cleo hadn’t managed to speak to her yet.
Picking the empty pale purple mat beside Tash’s green one, she put her water bottle on the ground and sat down quietly.
Ima, the tiny Spanish teacher, was busy sorting through a pile of blue-and-orange yoga stretch straps, rolling them up before putting them back in a wicker basket and checking her watch.
Large and distinctive-looking, with a round face and several buttons on the side which flashed periodically, the watch seemed to do a lot more than just tell the time.
It probably tracked Ima’s heartbeat, sleep, step count, oxygen levels and much more besides, Cleo thought.
Perhaps she should save up for one herself.
‘There are still two more people to come,’ Ima announced. ‘We can wait another a couple of minutes for them, then we’ll have to start.’
So, Lesley and Fran were late! Cleo smiled inwardly. Lesley, who’d slagged off the entire Greek population for their lack of punctuality, was now making the rest of the group hang about. Cleo couldn’t wait to discuss it with Tash.
Soon, Ima took her place at the top of her mat, which she’d put just a short distance outside the circle so everyone could see her.
‘Please stand up and take your positions,’ she said, placing her feet hip distance apart and rolling her neck from side to side.
‘Now, I want you to close your eyes, relax your shoulders, tighten your bellies, squeeze your pelvic floor and take eight deep breaths, counting five on the in breath and six on the out.’
So focused was Cleo on counting that at first, she wasn’t aware of Fran and Lesley’s presence. Then her eyes sprang open when Lesley spoke in a loud, grating voice, shattering the air of concentration.
‘I hurt my knee yesterday. I fell on a rock. It was right in the middle of the path, blocking the way,’ Lesley said crossly. ‘It’s stiff and swollen today so I won’t be able to do everything.’
She was standing right in front of Ima, obscuring everyone’s view of her, while Fran hung back.
‘The class has already started,’ Ima said quite fiercely. She might be small, but she was no pushover. ‘Find a mat and just do what you can. Listen to your body. I’ll come over to you in a minute and give you some alternatives.’
Lesley, who had her back to Cleo, hesitated for a moment, as if she wanted to object. But Ima raised her arms above her head and circled them in opposite directions a couple of times.
The message was clear – the class had resumed and her focus was elsewhere. There wasn’t much more Lesley could do, so she stomped over to a mat and sighed noisily while she settled into position. Fran, meanwhile, was so quiet, she mightn’t have been there at all.
At first the class was quite fast moving.
Cleo, who’d only been to a handful of yoga lessons before, was so busy trying to keep with the instructor, she barely noticed how the others were coping.
But by the time they began their third Sun Salutation, she felt more confident about what she was doing.
While she was bent over in the Downward Facing Dog position, she took the opportunity to glance to her right. Tash, next door, was red in the face and huffing and puffing; surprisingly, by the looks of it she was even less supple than Cleo.
But Maya, who was further round, seemed to have perfected the movement. With her long flat back, strong arms supporting her weight and her straight legs, with both feet planted firmly on the ground, she appeared so at ease, she could probably hold the position indefinitely. Of course she could.
Cleo wrinkled her nose. She distrusted people – especially women – who were good at everything. They made everyone else feel inferior. Surely every woman owed it to the sisterhood to have a few flaws?
The session lasted fifty minutes. By the end, Cleo’s stomach was growling and she was relieved when they were told to lie flat on their backs at last, with their arms and legs comfortably spread, for the final Shavasana.
With her eyes closed, listening to the rich, resonant tones of Ima’s singing bowl and feeling the warm sun and soft breeze on her skin, Cleo felt so calm and peaceful she forgot her hunger and was reluctant to move ever again.
At the end, after they’d sat cross-legged on their mats once more, taken some deep breaths and honoured each other with a ‘Namaste’, she remained, head bowed, for a few minutes, only dimly aware of the movement all round her.
When she finally opened her eyes again, she saw Lesley hotfooting it towards the breakfast area, with Fran following close behind. They must have rolled up their mats double quick, as most of the others were still busy with theirs. Maya, meanwhile, was up front, talking to the teacher.
‘But you should have at least told us it was a beginner’s class,’ Cleo heard Maya complain. ‘I’m sure I’m not the only one who’d like more of a challenge.’
Ears pricked, but pretending not to listen, Cleo rolled up her own mat extra slowly.
‘It wasn’t a beginner’s class,’ Ima replied, somewhat shakily, as if she were trying hard to hold herself together.
‘But it was the first time I’d taught everyone.
I had to gauge their level. Obviously, I don’t want any injuries.
If you noticed, I did give some options for more advanced students.
Next time, I’ll be able to incorporate more. ’
Maya looked a bit like a giant stick insect, Cleo thought, dressed all in black, apart from her neon yellow headband, and towering over the teacher.
‘As far as I can see, most of them are beginners,’ she snapped. ‘I did explain to Henrietta I wanted advanced classes and she assured me this would be the case.’
‘Yes, but—’
‘It’s all very well giving multiple options,’ Maya cut in, ‘but it’s not the same as being in a class where everyone’s at the same level. I really think Henrietta should have been more upfront about what she could offer.’
Ima gave a tiny squeak, before clearing her throat.
‘If you wish to complain, you should speak to her directly. Perhaps she can find you a different teacher for one-to-one classes. There may be an extra charge, of course.’
‘I don’t want—’ Maya began, but Ima turned her back and began collecting the rolled-up rubber mats, tucking them under an arm. Perhaps she knew if she spoke to Maya a moment longer, she’d completely lose her rag.
Cleo, sympathising with the teacher’s frustration, stood up and walked towards her.
‘Would you like a hand?’ she offered, ignoring Maya’s scowl.
‘Thank you,’ Ima said. ‘I can take most of the mats, if you can just bring the basket and my sound bowl.’
She looked so grateful, Cleo thought she was about to give her a massive hug.
‘I really enjoyed that class,’ Cleo said, meaning it. ‘I can’t wait for tomorrow.’
She could almost feel Maya’s angry, toxic presence spreading round her like a bad smell. Soon, if someone didn’t do something, she might infect the entire group.