“It’s a little more involved than meditation,” Rachel tried to clarify and, hopefully, soothe any nerves. With Abby, however, that was likely going to take a while – not a terrible thing. Rachel was patient (she had to be) and over time, she was certain that Abby could learn to trust and rely on her. “There’s relaxation involved, but it will also help you build some flexibility and strength. Once you’re familiar with some of the poses, we can incorporate some Tai Chi and Pilates—it’s not as intense as it sounds, I promise.”
Rachel sat patiently and quietly as Abby tried to mimic her pose. Although it took her a few attempts to get it – eventually, the redhead was successful, earning a smile of encouragement from the handler. “I do want to help train and prepare you with some defensive techniques and we will continue your work with blades, but I thought this might be a less intimidating way for us to start. What do you think? Honestly.”