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The studio where Elf worked. One two three one two three. The 4th beat an indrawn breath. Then the sound of calisthenic crooning. Aerobic music, musclebound, buff. And all the gleaming dames in their teal sweats, middle-aged, brittle, beautiful, forgetting to breathe. One two. One two.
Now do a repeater here, then over the top, remember to straighten your spine. Grapevine, skate, dig that ditch, knees up and now peel yourself gracefully off the wall. Lovely, very ladylike. But when the class moves clockwise, counter is not the thing.
Heart rate, now drink of water, stretch, cool down, give thanks to God ("all blessings"), and now sink the chi. Slowly. Is this a pagan ritual, ma'am? By no means, not at all. Think of this. If God is with you at all times, he is with you in these Chinese exercises too. He is with the Chinese. Unless someone pushes him away. But we are pushing him close. That is what we are most doing.
Words of wisdom. Please remember to perform all your four basic exercises in some way every day: cardiovascular, muscle toning, flexibility, and then deepest prayer. And by the way that last form of exercise enfolds the others, enfolds them all.
Not to be skipped for any reason.
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