The Yoga Teacher by Alexandra Gray

Author:Alexandra Gray
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Grove/Atlantic, Inc.
Published: 2008-10-14T16:00:00+00:00

‘Which one?’

‘Perhaps you know him. Dr. James.’

An anxious pang hit Grace’s stomach; she nodded.

‘I liked him. He was good. Didn’t stand for nonsense, which didn’t impress Mr. Kramer. He wanted a woman, so I sent him to our practice counselor, who is, how shall I put it . . . motherly and competent but out of her depth treating him. He has since seen a dietician and a physiotherapist—both women—in addition to the nephrologist and oncologist, male specialists he is required to see given his cancer and his kidneys. Grace, I have referred Mr. Kramer so completely, I’ve run out of options.’

‘Please let me teach him.’

‘Would you teach him at home?’

‘If that’s what you want.’

‘I’m afraid it’s required. I’ve got to keep him out of here. And he would pay you himself. Perhaps you should think about it.’

‘I don’t need to,’ Grace said.

‘Then I shall tell him to expect you in the New Year, and if he stays out of the surgery until his next appointment, I promise to refer you patients.’

The women said good-bye, each one believing the other had answered a prayer.

Finally, Grace had the permission she felt she needed to write to Dr. James.

Dear Dr. James,

I am sorry it has taken me so long to reply. Saigon sounds exotic. Your joy at being there reminds me of how I felt at Bodhi Tree, which seems very far away now.

Nothing prepared me for teaching real students at Swami D’s. I was underwhelmed by my performance, which was disheartening and why I waited to respond to your letter. I wanted some positive news—and now I’ve got it. Today I was offered my first paid job as a yoga teacher—referred through the National Health Service, with whom I assumed I would never work again. I convinced Dr. Damodaran that I could help her patient Mr. Kramer. You have a better idea than I how likely, or not, that is. She told me that you were her first referral after the Porsche. I am the latest, possibly the last as she has run out of other ideas. Do you remember him?

If all goes well with Mr. Kramer the doctors will refer more suitable patients for me to teach—a strange prospect. I was eleven years in the lab and never met one patient. Rats and smaller creatures were my specialty and I met tens of thousands of those.

Swami D is taking his family to India for Christmas and shutting up the studio so we will have to go without his Christmas Eve party—a modern tradition in West London. About thirty of us get together for homemade apple cider, Indian food, and mince pies, followed by singing in a circle—bahjans and carols. It’s Christmas with a Hindu twist. He has asked me to open the studio in January. I will give one class a day until he gets back. It’s all without pay, which I don’t mind as long as paid work comes in from somewhere—soon. Trying not to panic about that.

I will let you know how I get on with Mr.

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