My work ethic had never been in doubt. Rather, I’d been described as a workaholic, and arguing that point would be, well, pointless. But the small changes I’d been making in my life were adding up, and sometimes I couldn’t remember why I’d thought it was such a good idea to be a marketing consultant. Of course, it paid well. But at what point had that been such a big deal that it overtook everything else?
And now…well, that was the career I’d studied for.
So there was no use trying to go back and change something I couldn’t afford to. Another degree was out of the realm of possibilities.
But my plans to make small changes were still in place, and I was going to take a break like everyone else in the free world. And use the time to visit a certain omega at his place of business. Maybe there’d be a breath work class I could sit in on. And pay for. I couldn’t take advantage of Briar’s good nature forever.
I didn’t remember what the schedule said about this afternoon, but had mentioned changing his day off to Monday, so there should be something going on. I’d even try a yoga session if it meant I got to be around him for a little while.
Did I work Sundays? Yes. But this Sunday, I was taking a break.
By the time I parked—in my new usual lot—and arrived at the front door of the studio, I was very excited to see what kind of class I could take. There were a number of people standing around just inside the door, so class must be about to start. I entered and worked my way to the front of the crowd.
Class had already begun.
And it wasn’t one I could join.
At least fifteen adorable kids between about five and twelve lay on their backs on smaller versions of yoga mats. The adults clustered at the back must be their parents. Briar stood at the front of the room and spoke softly to them. The music from the hidden speakers was soft and whimsical, and the omega’s words created a fantasy place where the children could find calm and peace. They looked angelic, eyes closed, little bodies utterly relaxed.
I found a stool in the corner and sat down, just as Briar started on breath work. I hadn’t known he had any classes for kids, much less breath work. I let my eyes close and listened to Briar guide the kids through the breathing exercises. They were very different than the box breathing I’d learned so far. At his first words, my eyes popped open.
“We are going to work on two skills today. The first one is called balloon breathing and it’s just what it sounds like. We are going to try belly breathing first. It’s where you try to inflate your tummy like a balloon.” He went on to explain the technique in a way the little ones could understand. He was so kind, kneeling next to one little boy and helping him to make his tummy “as poofy as a balloon.”
Giggles broke out as all the others attempted the feat, Briar moving among them and offering helpful hints and working with them until everyone from the littlest to the biggest had achieved the goal.
“Now, I know that was a lot,” he said, “so, maybe we should put off lion’s breath until next week.”
A chorus of protests made it clear that the little ones had no intention of calling it an afternoon. They demanded to try lion’s breath, even though they didn’t know what it was. I didn’t blame them. I wanted to try it too.
“All right, all right. We’ll do it. What sound does a lion make?”
The room erupted in fierce roars, and Briar clapped his hands.
“Very good. To be lions, we need to roar, and to roar our very best, we need a lot of…can anyone guess?”
“Fur!” suggested a little girl.
“Big teeth,” another added.
“Yes, those are good, but today we’re working on…”
“Breath!” they all chorused.
“Exactly, and lions have to fill up their lungs with air if they want their voices to carry all the way across the forest. Let me demonstrate.” Within a very few minutes, there was a roomful of children inhaling deeply and roaring on the outflow. It wasn’t quite the disciplined sound Briar had accomplished; one look at all the smiling faces would melt the hardest heart.
It certainly melted mine.
Watching Briar move among the young, roaring with them, encouraging them to do their best and to enjoy it, I could see him as a dad. He’d be a very good one. Did he want children of his own? Of our own? It wasn’t something that had come up yet, but it was a very winning image for me.
When the session ended, the parents all mobbed Briar, telling him how much they loved his way with the kids. They were signing up for all kinds of classes for themselves as well. I hung back and waited until they were all gone before approaching the omega. “Good class.”
“Do you think so?” he asked. “I wasn’t sure that two techniques was a good idea. Some of those kids are pretty young. I didn’t want them to struggle.”
“Nobody struggled. Giggling, that’s a different matter.” I shook my head. “Adorable, all of them. But do they need breath work at those ages?”
“Kids have a lot of things to deal with. Emotions just like the rest of us, and if they have a way to express them or let them out,it can help. Breath work is good for everyone, I think. We have kids’ yoga as well.”
“They sure are cute.”
