“Inhale through your nose,” she continues. “Slowly. Deeply. Let your ribs expand.”
I breathe in.
“For four… three… two… one. Hold. And release.”
The room fills with the sound of synchronized exhaling and honestly, it’s strangely powerful.
We move through gentle stretches, supported child’s pose with bolsters beneath our chests, slow hip openers, seated twists that don’t strain.
Every movement is intentional.
“Stress lives in the shoulders,” the instructor murmurs at one point. “Roll them back. Let it fall away.”
I don’t realize how tight I’ve been until I feel the release. At one point we’re asked to turn slightly toward our partners, knees angled inward.
“Place one hand on your own heart,” she instructs, “and one hand over your belly. Now breathe for the life you carry.”
Elena mirrors me, our movements are in sync.
“Inhale for yourself,” the instructor says. “Exhale for your child.”
My chest loosens and for the first time in days, maybe weeks, I don’t feel like I’m bracing for something. For the first time in a while, I’m in the present, breathing.
Near the end, we lie back against bolsters, eyes closed and just center ourselves and I swear I feel the stress and strain leave my body, like water flowing out.
When the soft chime signals the end of class, I sit up slowly my body feeling lighter. Like someone quietly lifted something heavy off my shoulders.
Women begin rolling their mats, murmuring gentle goodbyes.
I step outside into the late afternoon air and for some weird reason, it feels brighter somehow. Hell, everything feels so much brighter and lighter.
Elena falls into step beside me. “You looked lighter toward the end,” she says.
I smile faintly. “Honestly, I felt lighter… I really needed this.”
We walk slowly down the stone path toward the parking area.
“Do you come here often?” I ask.
“Every Thursday for about a month now,” she replies. “What about you?”
“It’s my first time here, but honestly I might just start coming in more.” I reply, thinking about the membership offer Adrian mentioned.
A small comfortable silence settles between us.
“How far along are you?” I ask.
Her hand instinctively covers her belly.
“Almost six months… What about you?”


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