I wasn’t used to reaching out to people for help, even when they offered it to me. Iris was trying to be my friend. This was going to be good for me. I still wasn’t used to all the ways my life was changing but I was going to give it a shot. What did I have to lose?
We talked about what I got to look
forward to during the coming months of my pregnancy. She showed me a bunch of devices I could have at home to monitor my baby’s heartbeat and techniques to estimate their growth and size. She was a mother herself but all her kids were grown, a little younger than I was. It felt good to know that I was supported by someone who knew more than me and was so, so nice.
It was a lot to take in at once, the next nine months were going to be a trip but I felt like as long as she was there for the ride, I could probably take it. If nothing else, I’d have a good laugh while we were at it.
She had called ahead and asked, or rather told me that we were going to be doing yoga today. Exercise was important through pregnancy and yoga was a good low impact exercise that allegedly helped open you up for the delivery.
I had never done yoga. I told her we could use one of the rooms on the highest floor so we weren’t in the way. She waited for me while I changed and I met her up there. I heard music playing as I approached. I peered into the room. She was sitting cross-legged on a yoga mat on the floor with her eyes closed. I stalled at the door, hesitating because I almost felt like I was bothering her.
“Come join me, Brenna,” she said. I jumped. Jesus Christ, how did she know I was there?
I padded slowly into the room.
“Sit.”
I sunk down to the mat across from her.
“We’ll start here,” she said. I crossed my legs and placed my hands on my knees. “Yoga is fantastic for pregnant women. While being low impact, it’s effective for letting you connect with your body and deepens the relationship between mother and child.” She got up and put her hands on my shoulders.
“Breathe in deeply, roll your shoulders back… good, now roll forward,” she said, pushing me forward toward the floor. I grunted. I was so out of shape it wasn’t even funny. “Yoga during pregnancy can help you calm anxiety, improve your sleep and even reduce pain during childbirth.”
She took her hand off my back so I could creak back upright. I felt dizzy.
“How often do I need to do this?”
“I would recommend a few times a week. Come on. On your knees, spread them… good, now lean forward again until your forehead hits the ground… or as close as you can get, don’t strain yourself.” I huffed, pushing myself down towards the ground.
“I don’t think this is working.”
“This movement will open up the hips and is especially good during the last trimester when the baby has descended.”
“Then why am I doing it now?” I huffed, out of breath even though I wasn’t technically moving.
“It’s just your first session. Let’s try this,” she said. She got on the mat and demonstrated. I flopped to the ground and rolled out of my pose with all the grace of a penguin on land.
“Brenna? I was looking for you. What are you two doing up here?”
Perfect, the moment I am sweaty, distressed and ugly is the one when Charlie decides to show up. I shuffled up into a sitting position, peeling back the hair that got stuck to my temples with sweat. Sweat. I was sweating and I hadn’t even gone anywhere.
“Iris thought she’d teach me some yoga,” I said. “It’s good for the baby or something.”
“Would you like to join us, Charlie?” Iris asked. Charlie cocked a brow.
“If it’s supposed to be good for the baby then why should I have to do it?” he asked.
“Coward,” I said under my breath.
“Who are you calling a coward?” he asked.
“Why should I be the only one suffering?” I said. “I’m doing all the hard work if you think about it.”
He laughed. “I think you’re complaining too much. How hard could it be?”
“Get down here and let’s find out,” I said.
Charlie looked at me with challenge in his eyes. “Fine. Give me five minutes. I’ll change.”