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DENISHA PARKER SHARES MAJOR INSPO ON LIVING—AND LOVING—A BUSY LIFE
Every barre3 instructor comes with a unique story and inspiring perspective. Denisha Parker is not only an instructor, but also a mother of five (five!), and a full-time special-education teacher. At barre3 Legacy Village, there’s an encouraging phrase that’s often heard in the studio:
“If Denisha has the time, then we have the time.”
And it’s true: If Denisha can carve out an hour or two in the studio every day, so can we, right?
We sat down with Denisha to see if we could get in on her secret to balancing such a busy life. Turns out, the answer isn’t in planning each day down to the minute and forcing yourself to finish every last to-do on your list. Instead, it’s creating a life filled with things you love. That way, even days that are packed from dawn till dusk are filled with joy, not exasperation.
BUILDING A (MEANING)FULL LIFE
Living a full life is nothing new for Denisha—she’s been at it since the moment her eldest son, Albert, arrived nearly 20 years ago. A set of twins, Alonna and Alonn, followed a few years later. While raising her three littles, Denisha put herself through school, focusing her undergrad on social work, and started working with at-risk youth at The Centers for Families and Children, in Cleveland.
“While I was doing nonprofit work, the kids who were referred to me were generally low academically or had some behavioral issues. Kids have always sort of just taken to me, and I love them. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I took a year off to figure out my next move and, ultimately, decided to go into special education.”
Denisha graduated with her master’s and landed a job in her local school district, where’s she’s heading into her ninth year of teaching this fall. This past November she was honored as Teacher of the Week—an award that’s especially meaningful, as she was nominated by the family of one of her students.
“I have such a great relationship with the families,” she says. “They all have my personal phone number so they can call when they need help. To have a part in the daily growth of their kids, no matter how small, is the best. Nothing could top that award, because it came from the people I work with every day. It meant so much, and it lets me know that I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing the right thing.”
Meanwhile, Denisha met and married her husband, Jason, and welcomed two more kids, Jason and Jayse, into the mix. And as if that weren’t enough to keep anyone busy (did we mention she also mentors a fellow teacher and often leads classes at Cleveland State University?), she became a founding member of barre3 Legacy Village when they opened in early 2015.
FINDING THE “ME” HOUR
“As luck would have it, I was on break during a teacher work-day at school when a coworker told me that a barre3 was opening and classes were free all week,” Denisha says. “I’d never heard of it and wasn’t really into group fitness, but I signed up. The moment I walked in the door, I fell in love. It was inviting, warm, and free of judgement. It quickly became the only time I could get away from everything to focus on me—and nothing else. When the week ended, I made the commitment to join. The rest is history.”
Denisha took her B3 love a step further when she became an instructor two years ago, even making her first solo plane flight to Portland for training. She now teaches several classes a week, but still, amazingly, finds the time to take as many classes for herself.
“There are 24 hours in a day, and we all deserve one to ourselves, right? I think it’s really important to take care of yourself. When I teach, I’m totally focused on clients, so when I take class, I allow someone to take care of me. I meet my friends and we hold each other accountable. We all have those moments when we fall off, but what’s important is how you recover when you pick back up. I’m always trying to make myself better. It’s a pretty busy life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
BUILDING IN BREAKS
Busy indeed, but with summer finally here, Denisha is looking forward to not adhering to a 5 a.m. alarm, spending quality time with her family, and just being in the moment. That’s not to say she isn’t ramping up her B3 schedule to teach eight classes a week. She is, but you can be sure she’ll take a break if and when she needs it.
“I recently took two weeks off, which was so hard for me, but it enabled me to get things off my plate and reset,” she says. It was everything I needed. Now I’m fueled even more, though I still work every single day to find balance. It’s a challenge, trying to stay balanced, listening to my body. But I always say that when you enjoy what you do, it’s not work. And I do—I love it.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
It seems Denisha’s live-what-you-love approach is catching on. “I share so much of my life with my clients, so they know things are busy,” says Denisha. “But they tell me they see me taking the time to get to class, and they know they can do it, too. I’m motivating them, but they’re also motivating me. It’s a give and take.”
Ready to experience the amazing and inspiring energy of the barre3 class? Sign up for a 15-day free trial of barre3 online workouts or join us in studio for 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $49.
Every barre3 instructor comes with a unique story and inspiring perspective. Denisha Parker is not only an instructor, but also a mother of five (five!), and a full-time special-education teacher. At barre3 Legacy Village, there’s an encouraging phrase that’s often heard in the studio:
“If Denisha has the time, then we have the time.”
And it’s true: If Denisha can carve out an hour or two in the studio every day, so can we, right?
We sat down with Denisha to see if we could get in on her secret to balancing such a busy life. Turns out, the answer isn’t in planning each day down to the minute and forcing yourself to finish every last to-do on your list. Instead, it’s creating a life filled with things you love. That way, even days that are packed from dawn till dusk are filled with joy, not exasperation.
BUILDING A (MEANING)FULL LIFE
Living a full life is nothing new for Denisha—she’s been at it since the moment her eldest son, Albert, arrived nearly 20 years ago. A set of twins, Alonna and Alonn, followed a few years later. While raising her three littles, Denisha put herself through school, focusing her undergrad on social work, and started working with at-risk youth at The Centers for Families and Children, in Cleveland.
“While I was doing nonprofit work, the kids who were referred to me were generally low academically or had some behavioral issues. Kids have always sort of just taken to me, and I love them. When I graduated with my bachelor’s degree, I took a year off to figure out my next move and, ultimately, decided to go into special education.”
Denisha graduated with her master’s and landed a job in her local school district, where’s she’s heading into her ninth year of teaching this fall. This past November she was honored as Teacher of the Week—an award that’s especially meaningful, as she was nominated by the family of one of her students.
“I have such a great relationship with the families,” she says. “They all have my personal phone number so they can call when they need help. To have a part in the daily growth of their kids, no matter how small, is the best. Nothing could top that award, because it came from the people I work with every day. It meant so much, and it lets me know that I’m right where I’m supposed to be, doing the right thing.”
Meanwhile, Denisha met and married her husband, Jason, and welcomed two more kids, Jason and Jayse, into the mix. And as if that weren’t enough to keep anyone busy (did we mention she also mentors a fellow teacher and often leads classes at Cleveland State University?), she became a founding member of barre3 Legacy Village when they opened in early 2015.
FINDING THE “ME” HOUR
“As luck would have it, I was on break during a teacher work-day at school when a coworker told me that a barre3 was opening and classes were free all week,” Denisha says. “I’d never heard of it and wasn’t really into group fitness, but I signed up. The moment I walked in the door, I fell in love. It was inviting, warm, and free of judgement. It quickly became the only time I could get away from everything to focus on me—and nothing else. When the week ended, I made the commitment to join. The rest is history.”
Denisha took her B3 love a step further when she became an instructor two years ago, even making her first solo plane flight to Portland for training. She now teaches several classes a week, but still, amazingly, finds the time to take as many classes for herself.
“There are 24 hours in a day, and we all deserve one to ourselves, right? I think it’s really important to take care of yourself. When I teach, I’m totally focused on clients, so when I take class, I allow someone to take care of me. I meet my friends and we hold each other accountable. We all have those moments when we fall off, but what’s important is how you recover when you pick back up. I’m always trying to make myself better. It’s a pretty busy life, but I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
BUILDING IN BREAKS
Busy indeed, but with summer finally here, Denisha is looking forward to not adhering to a 5 a.m. alarm, spending quality time with her family, and just being in the moment. That’s not to say she isn’t ramping up her B3 schedule to teach eight classes a week. She is, but you can be sure she’ll take a break if and when she needs it.
“I recently took two weeks off, which was so hard for me, but it enabled me to get things off my plate and reset,” she says. It was everything I needed. Now I’m fueled even more, though I still work every single day to find balance. It’s a challenge, trying to stay balanced, listening to my body. But I always say that when you enjoy what you do, it’s not work. And I do—I love it.”
PAYING IT FORWARD
It seems Denisha’s live-what-you-love approach is catching on. “I share so much of my life with my clients, so they know things are busy,” says Denisha. “But they tell me they see me taking the time to get to class, and they know they can do it, too. I’m motivating them, but they’re also motivating me. It’s a give and take.”
Ready to experience the amazing and inspiring energy of the barre3 class? Sign up for a 15-day free trial of barre3 online workouts or join us in studio for 2 weeks of unlimited classes for $49.
