The monitor in the suite winked to life. The female instructor sat on a zafu cushion with her legs crossed in the lotus position. The back of her hands rested on her knees with her thumb and index fingers touching while the other three fingers remained stretched out but somehow still relaxed.
"Master the moves and obtain this calming meditative state by understanding the philosophy and its makers," she began. "To understand the nature of Tai Chi Chuan, meaning Supreme Ultimate Fist, we have to put into context with the culture from where it has come. This means we have to look closer at Inoba culture and, in particular, the spiritual tradition of Taoism which is where Tai Chi Chuan finds its roots and sustenance."
As the instructor continued to talk, Solana sat on her zafu cushion completely bored. Normally, her head was in the game when it came to meditation but she found herself completely distracted by the fact this was an online class. She was much better at following in-person or audio classes where she could either get hands-on, one-on-one training with her instructor, or move at her own pace and be more attuned with her body with the freedom of audio instruction. This format on TV online instruction created a weird in-between Solana was not comfortable with and therefore she could not completely focus.
She glanced over at her husband. Lunick remained at a quarter lotus pose since he couldn't hold the full lotus position, but he seemed totally into it. His eyes were closed and he listened intently to the backstory of Tai Chi as well as the instructions of their Sensei. Even more impressive was that his concentration didn't appear to break once as he maintained this meditative posture for ten minutes until their instructor finished giving her account and moved on to the actual movements of the martial art. Even Plusle and Minun were concentrating more than she was, their large ears twitching every so often from the slightest inflection of Sensei's voice.
"The art of Tai Chi is said to improve the flow of Qì, the traditional Inoban concept of a physically intangible energy or life force. In scientific studies, Tai Chi has proven to improve a host of medical conditions including but not limited to muscular pain, headaches, fibromyalgia, cardiovascular problems, arthritis, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's, Alzheimer's, Diabetes, and ADHD. Though itslow-impact workout is especially helpful to seniors, Tai Chi is for everyone and is deceptively simple in appearance. The thing to keep in mind about Taoism is that it is about attuenment with nature. Not just nature outside of us. It is also the nature within us."
If she hadn't cinched Lunick yet, she had him now for sure. Though he and Solana were both nature nerds as to be expected as they were both Pokémon Rangers, Lunick always made it a point to include nature in everything he did. He was probably more holistic than even she was. He planted a fruit and vegetable garden in their front and backyard where he grew his own herbs, vegetables and fruits for cooking and eating, and even made his own creams, salves, and balms for them with it.
"This principle is called Tzu Jan and it is the principle of being 'self-so' or embodying one's 'self-nature'. So beyond the health benefits and stress relief, Tai Chi Chuan is also a means to tap into one's inner self. With that said, let us begin."
"Finally," Solana muttered quietly to herself.
"We're going to start with the single whip move. A pretty standard move that is seen in every variety is the single whip. It's where every point along your arms and upper torso is part of a whip that can explode with a force of energy at any moment, becoming the end of the whip. For this move, stand to your feet, positioning your legs and feet in a warrior pose while your dominant hand will move then stay in the beak hand position."
Both Solana and Lunick and their Pokémon stood to their feet. The Warrior Pose Solana was familiar with thanks to her years of yoga, but the beak hand position she hadn't a clue. She watched the monitor carefully as the instructor angled her four extended fingers on her right hand downward and curved them to lightly touch her thumb with her palm facing downward, while her left arm extended in front of her in a defensive palm-up position at shoulder height. She tried to replicate what she saw but felt her warrior stance was too wide compared to the position the instructor was holding. Lunick meanwhile seemed to have copied it perfectly.
"Each style of Tai Chi is slightly different but your arms should spread like loose wings."
"What the heck does that even mean?" Solana asked.
"Your legs are too far apart, Babe. Closer together." Lunick corrected. "You can't circle your opponent like that. You're not doing yoga, you're taking a fighting stance. You need to be able to move and flow freely."
"I'm trying."
"Think about more than doing just the move," said the instructor as if she was privy to their conversation. "Tai Chi isn't about putting your arms out in front of you. No. Just no. For every moment, there's purpose, flow, and some fighting application. While you're practicing, think about these things. What does this move symbolize? How does such a simple move evoke such energy?"
"See?" Lunick said smugly.
"Well, nobody asked you," Solana muttered grudgingly at the woman through the monitor.
"Now we will transition to the white crane spreads wings move. For this one, your weight should always be on one leg, but both feet should always be on the ground. Shift back and forth as you test your balance. Your arms should be opposite: one should be moving fast and on different planes and the other should be slow and deliberate. But never flaccid and weak. The name of this move sounds docile but it does have a fighting application. Your weight and arm position is always changing. And when you have 100% of your weight on one leg, it frees the other up to kick. There's your purpose. Now kick the air as if you are striking down your opponent!"
Lunick did and followed as he was instructed near perfectly, as did Plusle and Minun, but Solana couldn't seem to get the concept of bearing all her weight on one leg with both feet still on the ground. So when she raised her leg to kick, she lost her balance and fell to the ground on her bottom.
"You okay, Babe?" Lunick asked as he held his right leg in the air and turned to face his wife.
Solana hit the floor with her fists.
"Uh! I don't get this!"
"It's not that hard, Solana. Think of it like your Bird of Paradise or Dancer pose from yoga. It's all about weight-bearing balance."
Solana stood to her feet. "This is nothing like yoga. This isn't about improving balance and stability at all. This isn't cultivating calmness or patience. It's frustrating, aggravating and confusing."
"You're just not channeling your qì."
"Lunick, there is no such thing as qì."
"Of course there is. That's like saying there's no such thing as chakra."
"There isn't."
Lunick once again looked away from the monitor to look at her. "Well, that's just ridiculous. There is a vital force coming from all living beings."
Solana wrung her hands and held them in the air in frustration.
"Forget it! I'm done!" Solana stormed out of their luxurious cabin and onto the balcony of their suite.
Their Champion's Suite came with one of the largest balconies offered on the cruise and in fact, it was the perfect setting for a candlelit dinner over wine and Champagne as they overlook the ocean. Something Solana would have much rather been doing than this infernal Tai Chi class.
She heard the sliding door and knew Lunick had come out onto the balcony to join her, partly because she sensed him, partly because she expected him. She felt his presence stronger as his arms snaked around her waist and his chin rested on her left shoulder, his lips connecting to her jawline and neck before his chin once again returned to rest on her shoulder.
"Are you gonna stay out here until the class is over?" He asked as he watched the sunrise with her.
She brought her left hand up and caressed the left side of his face.
"I can't do it, Lunick. I just can't do it."
"You may be trying too hard."
"It's just not my thing. I'll stick to yoga. But you can continue to take the Tai Chi classes if you want. You seem to really enjoy it."
"I want you to be able to enjoy the cruise's activities too."
"I can think of something," she said sweetly before turning around in his arms and kissing him gently on the lips.
Lunick gave into the kiss. He pulled her closer to him as he kissed her back a little harder, his tongue entering her mouth and exploring as both of his hands drifted down to their familiar spot on her behind and squeezed.
Solana wrapped one arm around her husband's neck and placed one on his chest, tracing circles through his athletic black fitness vest he was wearing. She felt herself pressed against the railing as Lunick leaned a little further into her. She didn't resist as his hands explored, one moving from her bottom to her chest and cupping her through her lavender sports bra. She returned the favor, reaching deep up under his undershirt with her right hand, feeling the grooves up the middle of his abdomen before traveling up to his shoulders and gripping them tightly, losing herself in his touch and the embrace.
Their tongues flailed wildly as they continued to fence with each other. Solana could feel herself getting more and more aroused and sensed the same thing coming from Lunick in his lower region.
"If we keep going like this, I don't think we'll be able to stop," Lunick breathed, his forehead pressed against hers.
"Who says I want to stop?" She breathed back.
"You don't think it's too early?"
"No. Would you rather return to your Tai Chi class?"
"Hell no," Lunick replied huskily as he lifted Solana up. She smiled and squealed excitedly as she wrapped her legs around his waist and they resumed kissing intensely as he carried her back inside to their massive, handcrafted bed.
It was many hours before they got out of it.
A/N: Sometimes you just get the intense urge to write some fluff and it just can't wait.
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Always Do Everything With Love.
XyKPfan