Wheel
January 29th, 2021
Starring: Teach (25-40), Yogi (25-40)
A dual Zoom/FaceTime screen. Both Teach and Yogi are in their living rooms. They’ve reached the final pose of the session: Urdhva Dhanurasana, AKA Wheel pose, AKA a full backbend. Yogi stays in the pose, as Teach teaches, also holding the pose as they teach:
TEACH
Dig in. Feel into every fingertip, every toe. Feel that rainbow of energy you’re building.
Hold it
Hold it
We’re going three more breaths
I know it’s hard I’m right here with you
But do it for you
If you can’t do it for you, then do it for me
Hold it!
...
And 3
And 2
And 1
Release
You can go into down dog if you want, pedal out.
Yogi follows, moving into a down dog. Teach mirrors:
TEACH
Awesome work.
Teach looks into the camera and sees Yogi is holding down dog, but shaking a little:
TEACH
Hey
YOGI (looking down)
Mm?
TEACH
I can see you’re shaking, you good?
YOGI
umm
I uh...I’m ok
Just tired
TEACH
That was a tough sequence, I’m proud of you.
Yogi starts to shake more. Beads are dripping off their face:
TEACH
Is...that all sweat?
You’re really drippin—
Yogi collapses down into a folded leaf with a whimper. Teach breaks out of down dog and comes closer to camera:
TEACH
You ok?
...
Hello? Anyone in there?
I’m sorry if I pushed you...are you in pain?
Yogi nods, staying in folded leaf:
TEACH
Was it the wheel?
Yogi nods.
TEACH
Do you think you can look up and talk to me?
Yogi shakes head.
TEACH
I don’t want to end today like this. Please?
Yogi slowly lifts their head, red faced, sweaty, and crying:
TEACH
Hey there.
What’s going on?
YOGI
...uh
I don’t know, I think
the wheel unlocked something in me
TEACH
Well that’s great, it’s supposed to! It’s a very powerful, heart-opening pose, there’s nothing to be ashamed of.
YOGI
I know but...but I don’t like what it unlocked
TEACH
But it’s out now. You took your bolt cutters and let it free.
YOGI
no
TEACH
Yes. It’s huge step!
YOGI
no
TEACH
Yes! You purged it out!
YOGI
I love you.
I know you’re engaged and happy but I love you.
And in the alternate universe where you aren’t engaged and happy, I think I would be the right person for you
But that’s not this universe
And all I want is for you to be happy and I don’t want to interfere with that
So for my sake and yours I should find someone new
…
now it’s out.
…
TEACH
Woah.
Alright yes, that’s...that’s out
…
I agree, it’s probably for the best that we um…
I hope you feel better.
YOGI
I do. None of it could’ve happened without you.
TEACH
Well
Thanks
…
YOGI
I’m sure you’ve got another session.
TEACH
Yes I should probably zoom over there.
YOGI
Yeah I’ve got work too.
...
Do you think I could pay you by check for today?
I could mail it. Or put it by your door.
TEACH
Can you not do Venmo today?
YOGI
No I can.
I just like to have a certain Venmo balance and—
TEACH
Venmo still works best for me.
YOGI
Got it. Then I will Venmo.
…
But thank you. Again.
TEACH
No problem
I’ll…see you around!
YOGI
Yeah.
That would be…
Yeah! uh
See you!
Yogi leaves the call. Teach stares into their screen.
TEACH
See you around.
See you around?!
Teach facepalms.