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24
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"So, Ed. You've been making some really good progress over these last few sessions. I think this will be your last one," Mr. Potter said.
"Really? That's sweeter than a platinum Versacci handbag," Ed replied.
"Yes... okay now let's try something different. Now, Mr. Wood, I just want to remind you that yoga is very much fundamental to life. There are no guarantees that your back will really be fixed after this, which is why you should really consider applying yoga as a lifetime value. It's just so easy to adjust to and it makes you feel great everytime you do it. It's like opening up your eyes to something new everytime. It's like discovering something different in the world each time you successfully manage a pose. Yoga is just so good for a person's life. It will make you understand things better as well. It will open your mind up like it's never been opened before. I just can't see why anyone wouldn't want to abide by the yoga ways and just want to toss it aside. Yoga is very good for your aura too. It--"
Mr. Potter saw Ed staring at him impatiently and stopped. He cleared his throat. "Let's do the Scissor Pose... Lie on your side-- doesn't matter which one-- and put the arm that's touching the ground facing upwards instead of downwards with your palm down on the mat. Then push up on that hand and rise off of the mat. Now balance your weight on the leg that's touching the ground and lift the other leg up so that your legs make a 'V' shape. Then place your free arm on your hip and curl it outward, just like in the Butterfly Pose."
Ed did as instructed and obtained the Scissor Pose. "Look! I'm doing it!"
"Great. You are scissors!"
"I am scissors... Hey wouldn't it be cool to have hands as scissors? Yeah... you'd be calling me Eddie Handsscissors. No-- Wait! Edward Scissorhands. Oh, yeah. I like the sound of that."
Mr. Potter surveyed Ed, disturbed greatly at his strange and wild imagination.
"Yeah... um that's great... you do that... Now, if you will. Imagine cutting through a piece of smooth ribbon, just slicing it in half. Nothing can get in the way of you slicing that ribbon. And when you finally sever it, you feel a power rush through you that is so great it makes you feel invincible... Now hold the pose for three breaths... in... out... in... out... in... out... And release the pose and come back to the original pose."
Ed came back to the original pose.
Mr. Potter stood up. "Well, I think this will be it."
"What? Really? But I'm in yoga-mode and everything!"
"Well, we did about four poses today and you showed no trouble at all in obtaining them whatsoever. I say that your back is strong enough to function adequately. But... that's what you wanted all along. You wanted to get yoga over with, and now it is. So I bet you're real happy, aren't you?"
Ed got up from his mat and stood next to Mr. Potter. "Yeah. I'm pretty much better and I'm happy. It's just that I'd become acclimated to this yoga thing and I guess I'm just going to miss it."
Mr. Potter patted Ed on the shoulder. "Yeah. It's usually like that. I've told you that many people continue yoga on for the rest of their lives, though, because it's very healthy. Maybe you'd like to consider that?"
Ed shook his head. "Nah. Yoga's not for me. It's okay, but I have better things to do with my time, you know. Anyways..." He bent down, rolled up Mr. Potter's mats, and handed to roll to him. "...I'll show you out." He showed Mr. Potter to the doorway and opened the door.
Mr. Potter stepped outside. Ed threw a hand his way and shook Mr. Potter's vigorously. "Thank you, Mr. Potter. I really did enjoy your yoga. And if ever I need you, I'll make sure to give you a call."
"Sure thing, Mr. Wood. It was a pleasure to be your teacher. Well, anyways, I should be going now. Goodbye."
"Goodbye," Ed said, and closed the door behind Mr. Potter. He leaned his back against the door and sighed. "No more yoga for me..."