Breathing

‘Take up the T’ai Chi stance and connect for nine breaths.’

I do not want to connect with the earth. I don’t want to be here at all.  It’s too cold.  Too damp. Too early.  Well, look at that!  Up, dressed and marching a double buggy round the park by 6!  That is impressive – unless, poor soul, she hasn’t been to sleep.  Yeuch! They’ve mown the lawns - icy clods of wet grass cuttings caught between my toes.  Don’t you dare allow your dog to pee on my shoes, sir!

‘Raise the chi; breathing in and lift.’
The fog must be impenetrable at sea  - all these gulls.  Just look at that haar snaking up river.  It’s even muffled the weir!  I’m going to run out of dog food this morning.  And eggs.  I hope the supermarket by the prison opens at 7 on Sundays too.  Half moon circle left.

‘Inner circle right.  Breathing out.  Step to align.’
And shampoo.   Should have made a list.   For heaven’s sake, Marguerite!! What kind of person makes a shopping list at 5.30 am?  That’s easy: the same kind of person who does her housework in her underwear. Oh no!  I’m going to giggle.  Breathe in; breathe out; breathe in; breathing out.  Breathing in.  Pause.

‘Breathing out and offer.’
This is such a gentle sequence.  Slow.  Smooth.  Your hands drifting across like clouds.  Hold for three breaths. 

‘Inner circle right’
Inner circle left; body weight right; step left; push.  Breathing in; my hands are warm.

Breathing out.

Breathing out.

‘Dragon tail to the right.’
Step left.

Breathing out.
Extend the dragon tail.

Breathing in.

Breathing out.

Breathing.