The Day an Avenger Nearly Kicked My As$

Pretty sure one of the instructors in my kickboxing class is an Avenger.  I haven’t actually seen her in any of the movies, but I’m pretty sure I’d find her if I watched the final Avengers: Endgame fight scene in slow mo.  

She’s pure muscle, & she could kick my ass & the ass of most people.

Most days we hit & kick the bag, never each other.  But one day we took turns sparring with the Avenger.  

About halfway through class, she started sparring with one of the guys in class.  I assumed he had asked her to spar.  

I continued to focus on catching my breath.  

Then she moved on to one of the other women in class.

Oh, shit.

Eventually she headed my way & politely asked if I’d like to spar...as any decent super-hero would.

I said I would, & it was true.  I knew it was a challenge I would enjoy, just wasn’t quite certain how much given there were 15 minutes left of class & I was a sweaty mess.

She walked me through what we would do...then added a couple steps...then added a couple more steps & yet a couple more.

And I was truly enjoying it.  I was all over it!

Until I nearly buckled to the ground because I couldn’t breathe.

The Avenger had my back.

“Put your hands on your head, & breathe in through your nose….Out through your mouth...In through your nose...Out through your mouth.”

I tried doing what she told me to do, & eventually, I could.

“That was great.  But you have to keep breathing!  Don’t stop breathing!”  

It ended with me thanking her & asking her to promise to never kick my ass if I upset her in any way.  She promised, & I’m pretty sure she meant it.

Glad that was taken care of.

But yet another bonus was...It made me aware of how often we simply don’t breathe.  

Whatever we're doing...Whether it’s kickboxing or meetings or taking kids to practice or getting groceries or whatever…

Sometimes we just focus on going through the motions...

On getting it done...  

On getting everything done right..

We don’t stop to do what we think we should automatically do.

What we think we already know how to do the right way.

We don’t breathe.

Seems like we should given it’s required to stay alive, doesn’t it?

Yet we don’t.

So whatever you’re doing today, this week, this month...  

Take some time to breathe.  

It really is essential...especially if you want to do more than just survive.