Free In Touch (Play On #1) by Cd Brennan Page A

either, but at least they could act like they were out of school.
    “Most people do when they get into it,” Gillian said, then motioned to Padraig. “Mr. O’Neale, are you going to join us?”
    There was the one mat left on the far right side, and without a word, he casually stepped to the top.
    “Thank you,” she said quietly, then repositioned her feet. “Yoga originally was a discipline to attain a permanent state of peace. Now, in Western culture, we use it mostly for the physical rewards—body toning, breathing exercises, control, flexibility, strength, and endurance. I’d like you to notice that all of these benefits are what you also need as professional athletes.”
    The lad right next to Padraig, whose name he had yet to learn, mumbled under his breath, “Professional, my ass.”
    Gillian ignored it, but Padraig felt the pressure of four sets of eyes on him as they recognized the paid athlete in their midst. He kept his gaze straight ahead, standing solid, his feet slightly apart.
    “So yoga will now be introduced into your training once a week in group sessions such as this.” The music strained higher until it peaked at a crying violin, then retreated into a more subdued refrain.
    “Let’s get started. I’ll talk you through the positions and your breathing. Stand with feet slightly apart, comfortable.” She pointed to the hooker. “A bit farther apart, Shane.” When he shifted, she continued, “That’s perfect. Now raise your arms up and let them fall back to your sides. Each move is partnered with a breath—in for one movement, out for the next. Now, swoop down until your fingertips touch your toes. If you can’t touch now, don’t worry, we’ll work on getting you a little bit closer each time.”
    Gillian took one step back, then another, her bum up in the air in an inverted V. He tried to follow along with her but was mesmerized by the movement of her body. So beautiful and graceful. And he looked as much an idiot as the boys next to him.
    “This pose is called the downward dog. Get used to it. We use it a lot.”
    Snickers came from across the room, but they continued the routine. Gillian led them through a sequence of movements that she called the sun salutation, and a basic starter, she explained, for novice yoga practitioners. Which they all very much were. When they were in their second downward dog, Padraig shifted his gaze over to the lads next to him to see how they were faring. Was he the only one embarrassed as fuck about this?
    All their beefy hands were spread at the top of the mats, the downward pressure causing white knuckles and fingers. At least he wasn’t the only one with crooked legs. None of the boys’ legs were straight, all bent with their bums sticking up at awkward angles, like sprinters at the blocks.
    During the third round of the sun salutation, Gillian said, “Okay, I’m going to go around to each one of you to help with your positions. I’m happy to see you can all do the plank well, not a far stretch from a push-up, but correcting the others will do wonders for your flexibility. Also, try not to jerk from position to position. Smooth. Go from plank to cobra in a smooth motion.”
    She started at the far end with Shane, but Padraig could see no more for the large bodies between. When he pressed up into downward dog, he noted her at Dick’s shoulder. “Press back into the balls of your feet so there is a nice line from your hands on the floor along your back. That’s better.”
    They had to hold the placement for five breathing repetitions. His bad knee was fine but his back ached. Padraig wanted badly to shake out his hands, just for a moment to relieve some of the pressure. But there wasn’t a chance in hell he was going to be the first one.
    She stepped out of the corner of his vision. As per the sequence, he took one step, then another forward until his feet were between his hands. As he lifted his head to stretch his back, he felt her hands