Gym: Emily assists customers and teaches a yoga class

Emily had always known her parents as fitness enthusiasts. Every other month they became obsessed with a new kind of sport. They went running almost every day and were talented at nearly every sport, whether it involved a ball or a racket. Her big sister Ashley followed in their footsteps, joining several sports clubs and eventually earning a scholarship to an elite sports college.

Emily, however, had never been quite as athletic. She was more the cozy type. Hanging out with friends and binge-watching Netflix had been her favorite pastimes during her teenage years. Now in her senior year of high school, she focused mostly on studying, hoping for an excellent result in the finals to secure a good college for herself.

A few years ago, her parents turned their hobby into a profession and took over the city’s gym. Thanks to their years of experience, they managed to run it successfully as a family business. Both daughters were expected to help in the gym after school and on weekends, to reduce costs and earn some extra money alongside school.

Since Emily wasn’t as athletic as the rest of her family, she was mainly responsible for cleaning and assisting customers with the equipment, occasionally demonstrating basic exercises.

A few months ago, though, she discovered yoga for herself. Unlike the intense workouts her family preferred, yoga helped her slow down and clear her mind after long school days. When her parents noticed her growing interest, they offered her the opportunity to teach beginner yoga classes at the gym. It was good for business, helping them expand their customer base and Emily would receive a share of the course fees.

Emily liked the idea and started teaching yoga classes every Wednesday evening and Saturday afternoon. To everyone’s surprise, the classes became popular quickly. Week after week, more participants signed up, turning what had started as a small experiment into a steady source of income for the gym.

But this week, something unexpected would happen – finally breaking her long streak of uneventful shifts.