Gil Fronsdal teaches at the Insight Meditation Center and at Spirit Rock Meditation Center. He has practiced extensively in the Soto Zen and Theravada Buddhist traditions. He is the author of The Issue at Hand: Essays on Buddhist Mindfulness Practice and the translator of The Dhammapada: A New Translation of the Buddhist Classic.
When focusing on the breath is difficult, look at it as an opportunity to become more aware of the forces of mind and the feelings causing the distractions.