Who doesn't need a good lesson in breathing sometimes? For me, controlling my breath yogi-style helped me through two unplanned drug-free childbirths! Now, when I find myself feeling anxious, I need a lesson in breathing. But apart from what I learned in yoga classes over the years, no one has ever taught me how to meditate to control my mind, body, breath. Enter brother in-law, "Moxie". While his "thing" isn't posted, it should be! I went to Moxie to learn how to meditate because I want to manage my stress and anxiety better (I know many of you are shocked to hear that my tightly-wound self ever feels anxious! :) ). He was surprised by my request to say the least, and threw me a curve ball to get me off his tail for a while. My first, lesson: read this:
a "practical guide" to learning how to control one's breath. Yeah right. Apparently my brother in-law cherishes this damn thing because it's his only copy (Circa 1970's but still in great shape). I don't think he expected me to get through it (and neither did I for a while as I paged through illustrations of netti pots and pretzel-yogi poses) BUT I DID! Impressed was he, my brother in-law. I can't say I learned much from it though, other than "you will never be a meditation master" and "don't try this at home. Seriously, don't." (Okay, the book doesn't really say that but that's how it made me feel!)
Now I am ready for step two: sitting down with Moxie for stage one in my lesson. I am a hands-on learner so there is no better way to learn than dive head first in (unless of course I am learning to snowboard...) However, such lesson will have to wait because Moxie is on his own personal expedition- he is hiking Mt. Rainer this month! Good luck brother in-law and please don't get hurt because you owe me a full meditation lesson!
Namaste people!!
