Phoenix Child

by Alica Mckenna Johnson

  * * *

  "Welcome to beginning acrobatics," Shin greeted us. His long blue-streaked bangs were tucked behind his ear. "The focus of this class is to build strength, increase flexibility, and make sure your foundational skills are strong. I know this class is a requirement for many of our other classes, and it is important that when you pass this class you have acquired a set level of skills and ability. You may not pass this class the first time through." Shin paused for a moment. We all waited patiently; no one seemed bothered by this.

  "In fact, three of you I remember from last session." Shin smiled. Two girls and a boy smiled back. There were seven of us in today’s class. They all looked older than me by at least two years, but that’s fine. I was here to learn, not to make friends. "For our first class we will go over warm-ups and exercises. Then we'll do some basic tumbling."

  Shin was as patient as I remembered from camp. Carefully, he went through each exercise, pointing out the exercise’s importance and how it would prevent injury and build core strength. One by one Shin went by each of us, adjusting our position, so we were doing the exercises properly. I could do them all, but just barely.

  I blushed through the partnered stretches, as Shin used me to demonstrate to the class how to do each one. I didn't know my legs could stretch that far back!

  "Okay everyone, go get some water," Shin said, as he offered me a hand and helped me up from the floor.

  "How's class going?" Gavin asked. He'd been watching since he got here ten minutes ago.

  "Good. Shin’s a great teacher. It's a lot harder than I thought it would be. Class is much more intense than camp. We haven't even started tumbling yet."

  "Have you ever taken gymnastics before?"

  I shook my head as I drank some water.

  "Well, the point of taking classes is to learn, right?" Gavin said, with a smile.

  "True. What are you up to today?" I asked, putting my water bottle away.

  "I'm teaching a trampoline class in a bit. Looks like you'd better get back to it," he said, pointing to my class.

  "Thanks, see you later," I said, walking back to the mats.

  "Let's start with somersaults. I'll show you a few then I want each of you to do three going down the mat and three coming back." Shin, of course, did a perfect somersault, tight and controlled. Picking up a clipboard and pen, he took notes as he watched us.

  I did my best, but there was a big difference between my tumbling and those of the three kids who were back for a second time. I tried not to feel embarrassed.

  "Everyone did really well. Next class I want you to come in and start with the stretches we did today. That way we'll have more time to work on acrobatics. The doors open at three-thirty, so get here as early as you can to warm up." Shin flipped through the papers on his clipboard. "To help you succeed in this class, I have a list of some of the core exercises we did today, plus exercises for each of you that I think will help you personally. You don't have to do them, but you will improve much faster if you do them at home. Does anyone have to go right away? I need a few minutes to go over the paper with each of you."

  "My mom is here, and we need to pick up my sister from piano," said one of the boys from class.

  "All right, we'll start with you. Anyone else?"

  I raised my hand. "I have to catch the bus home, but I have about fifteen minutes.”

  "You'll go next. If the five of you could pick your order based on who needs to leave while I talk with these two, that would be helpful,”

  I heard Gavin’s voice from the other side of the refurbished warehouse. "Everyone take a quick water break, and then we'll work on turns."

  I walked over to say goodbye to Gavin, knowing he would feel hurt if I left. "Hey, my class is over, so I'm going to leave soon."

  "Oh," Gavin replied. "David hasn't called me back yet. I'll call him again tomorrow, but if you want to wait until I'm done, I don't mind driving you home."

  I didn't tell Gavin that Five probably waited until he spoke to me before agreeing to put us together more. "Thanks, but I think you would have to work out something with Five and Melanie for me to be able to do that."

  "I'll talk to them," Gavin smiled. "You certainly are a well-behaved kid."

  I shrugged. "I get a lot of privileges because they trust me to follow all the rules. It's worth it."

  Before Gavin could answer, Shin called me over. I waved to Anali, who walked in. You couldn't miss her, she wore a lime-green outfit. "Hello."

  "Hey, Sara, how was class?"

  "Good. Are you teaching?"

  "Yep, I'm doing kid’s beginning acrobatics with Shin, then this evening adult beginning acrobatics."

  "Trying to get all of us newbies out of the way,” I teased.

  "Of course," Anali smirked, "that way the rest of the week is easy."

  "Shin is waiting; maybe I'll see you tomorrow?"

  "I'll be here." Anali went to greet Gavin.

  "Sara," Shin began, turning his clipboard so I could see the paper. "You are quite flexible and have good strength. You practice yoga right?"

  "Yes."

  "Do you take classes?" Shin asked his brow furrowed.

  "I take yoga at school for my P.E. credit, and sometimes I do it at home."

  "Okay, that makes sense. You need to work on your core strength. I've added a few yoga poses that I would like you to work on holding. Once you can easily hold them for sixty seconds, let me know and we'll see what you need then."

  "Okay," I nodded reading over the poses; I was familiar with some of them. "I thought yoga built core strength."

  "It does, but most classes for kids simply don't push you as hard as an adult class can. The classes I take do lots of challenging inverted poses, like headstand, and the class lasts for an hour and a half," Shin explained.

  "I know of few of these like, up and down dog, plank, and push-up," I said pointing to his list. I felt a little sad that my yoga practice wasn't as good as I thought.

  "Okay, great. Can I see them? These other poses build on those and I want to make sure you don't need any help with them."

  Nodding, I went through the poses that I knew. I hoped people thought my face turned red from being upside-down and not from the embarrassment I felt at sticking my butt up into the air.

  "You have a very strong practice," Shin complimented. "That's wonderful; it will make these a lot easier. Add these poses to your routine after you have warmed up your body. We'll start with dolphin."