Page 3 of The Yoga Teacher

Beside her, Daniel let out a small exhale, the kind that told her he wastrying, but not fully buying into it.

Sienna’s gaze drifted across the room, landing briefly on him. “And what about you?” she asked, smiling in that slow, knowing way. “What’s your intention today?”

Daniel hesitated.

Then, with his usual dry humor, muttered, “Survival.”

A few people chuckled.

Sienna didn’t. She tilted her head, studying him.

“That’s very interesting,” Sienna said softly. “Why do you feel the need to endure, rather than surrender?”

Daniel blinked. “…Because I have no idea what I’m doing?”

Sienna smiled. “Your body knows more than you think.”

Hannah grinned, elbowing him again. “See? The universe thinks you should be here.”

Daniel huffed, but when Sienna finally looked away, he exhaled and muttered under his breath, “This was a mistake.”

Hannah just squeezed his hand.

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The flow started slow—gentle stretches, deep breaths—but it wasn’t long before they moved into the poses.

Hannah loved yoga, truly. But loving it didn’t make her great at it. Sweat clung to her skin as she held downward dog, her arms shaking slightly, her breath coming faster than she wanted. Her face, she knew, was probably red.

Beside Hannah, Daniel grunted.

“I feel like a badly assembled piece of furniture,” he muttered.

“You look great,” she lied, watching as his shoulders trembled slightly.

Sienna floated through the room, her movements impossibly smooth as she offered adjustments and murmured encouragement.

When she reached Daniel’s side, she placed a hand on his back, guiding his posture. “Breathe into it,” she murmured. Hannah could see Daniel trying to move his body into the unfamiliar shape.

Sienna pushed harder, making Daniel grunt. She hummed, sounding pleased as he held the position. “Your energy is remarkable.”

Hannah, still in downward dog, smiled encouragingly at Daniel.

Daniel, however, looked vaguely startled. “Uh. Thanks?”

Sienna’s lips curved. “Don’t thank me. Just be.”

Hannah rolled into the next pose, glancing at Daniel as he tried to keep up. He was stiff, awkward—but he was here. For her. That meant everything.

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She’d given him other birthday gifts. Things that would make him happy. But as they walked to the car, Hannah reached into her bag.

A small smile tugged at her lips as she pulled out the envelope. “One more birthday surprise,” she said, handing it to him.

Daniel raised an eyebrow as he took it. “I thought yoga was the gift. My muscles certainly feel like they’ve been through something special.”

Hannah laughed. “That was just the preview.”

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