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A HEALTH COACH SHARES FOUR WAYS SHE PRACTICES PRESENCE EACH DAY
Presence is a key part of what we practice in barre3, and today, Kris Rice, a Portland-based holistic health coach and self-proclaimed “barre3-lifer” (seriously—she’s been doing barre3 since the beginning!), is sharing her tips for bringing more mindfulness to your everyday life.
I’ll confess, before going to barre3, I didn’t know how to listen to my intuition. The idea made sense, but I didn’t understand how to connect the idea with the feeling. A decade into my barre3 practice, I’ve learned that listening to my intuition is truly a game-changer. I love that instructors provide guidance but ultimately leave it up to us to discover what’s right for our body. Given this freedom, we can focus on how a movement feels for ourselves.
Another game-changer I’ve discovered at barre3? Breathwork. Giving ourselves these few minutes at the end of class to stretch and breathe helps exercise our ability to be present. Breathwork is the final reset I need to re-enter the reality of my day, and it helps me feel centered.
But let’s be honest, the majority of our time is spent outside the studio walls, and it’s important to find simple and effective ways to take what we learn in class into our real lives. Barre3 has given me the confidence to explore mindfulness practices I may not have otherwise been exposed to, and below, I’m sharing my top four ways to be present in everyday life.
Practice Gratitude Every Day
Gratitude truly changes everything, and cultivating a sense of gratitude doesn’t cost a cent and can be done anytime and from anywhere. I began a gratitude practice years ago, and it’s the only mindfulness practice I’ve stuck to every day.
My favorite way to practice gratitude is to journal three to five things I’m grateful for that day. It’s simple, takes very little time, and is a perfect way to start or end your day. To be grateful will make you more present to the moments that may seem insignificant but actually fill your heart.
Tap Into the Power of Disconnecting
It’s challenging to hear your child tell you about their day when your attention is divided between their story and your phone. We spend our lives so connected to technology, and it can feel uncomfortable and scary to step away.
While I believe in the power of disconnecting, I also believe in starting with micro-goals to set ourselves up for success. If you normally have your phone at the dinner table, try setting it in another room for 15 minutes. Disconnecting is not only great for your mental health, but it’s also the start of setting healthy boundaries with technology. I know that if I have my phone sitting on the counter while I’m cooking dinner, I’ll look at it five times. But if I tuck it in my purse in the laundry room, I can soak in the time spent prepping for dinner with my kids and experiencing the joy of cooking.
Allow yourself to participate in activities that bring you joy while being disconnected. Trust me—the joy you’ll find will fill you in a way that being connected to technology won’t.
Give Yourself Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of mindfulness practices, but I encourage you to spend one week prioritizing sleep and feel the difference it can make.
I’ve created a bedtime routine for myself similarly to how I do it for my own kids. It may seem silly, but small routines to remind our bodies that we’re moving toward rest can greatly improve the quality of our sleep. If I get my eight hours, I’ll show up the next day eager and ready to go.
Lean Into the Joy
Like gratitude, joy creates a ripple effect. When we focus on feeling good and doing the things that make us happy, our outlook changes. Suddenly, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we can let that thought slip away and focus on the areas of life that are bringing us joy.
I’m not trying to be unrealistic and say that we’re meant to be joyful all the time—certainly not. But how often do you focus on doing the activities or spending time with the people who bring you joy? It’s amazing how prioritizing coffee with a friend can leave you feeling fulfilled and more present than if you’d spent that time on other to-do’s. Consider the unique areas of your life that bring you joy, and let them be a priority.
Visit Kris’ website, Deconstructing Wellness, to learn more about her coaching services and sign up here for a free consultation.
Tap into the power of presence and sign up for a 15-day free trial of barre3 online today.
Presence is a key part of what we practice in barre3, and today, Kris Rice, a Portland-based holistic health coach and self-proclaimed “barre3-lifer” (seriously—she’s been doing barre3 since the beginning!), is sharing her tips for bringing more mindfulness to your everyday life.
I’ll confess, before going to barre3, I didn’t know how to listen to my intuition. The idea made sense, but I didn’t understand how to connect the idea with the feeling. A decade into my barre3 practice, I’ve learned that listening to my intuition is truly a game-changer. I love that instructors provide guidance but ultimately leave it up to us to discover what’s right for our body. Given this freedom, we can focus on how a movement feels for ourselves.
Another game-changer I’ve discovered at barre3? Breathwork. Giving ourselves these few minutes at the end of class to stretch and breathe helps exercise our ability to be present. Breathwork is the final reset I need to re-enter the reality of my day, and it helps me feel centered.
But let’s be honest, the majority of our time is spent outside the studio walls, and it’s important to find simple and effective ways to take what we learn in class into our real lives. Barre3 has given me the confidence to explore mindfulness practices I may not have otherwise been exposed to, and below, I’m sharing my top four ways to be present in everyday life.
Practice Gratitude Every Day
Gratitude truly changes everything, and cultivating a sense of gratitude doesn’t cost a cent and can be done anytime and from anywhere. I began a gratitude practice years ago, and it’s the only mindfulness practice I’ve stuck to every day.
My favorite way to practice gratitude is to journal three to five things I’m grateful for that day. It’s simple, takes very little time, and is a perfect way to start or end your day. To be grateful will make you more present to the moments that may seem insignificant but actually fill your heart.
Tap Into the Power of Disconnecting
It’s challenging to hear your child tell you about their day when your attention is divided between their story and your phone. We spend our lives so connected to technology, and it can feel uncomfortable and scary to step away.
While I believe in the power of disconnecting, I also believe in starting with micro-goals to set ourselves up for success. If you normally have your phone at the dinner table, try setting it in another room for 15 minutes. Disconnecting is not only great for your mental health, but it’s also the start of setting healthy boundaries with technology. I know that if I have my phone sitting on the counter while I’m cooking dinner, I’ll look at it five times. But if I tuck it in my purse in the laundry room, I can soak in the time spent prepping for dinner with my kids and experiencing the joy of cooking.
Allow yourself to participate in activities that bring you joy while being disconnected. Trust me—the joy you’ll find will fill you in a way that being connected to technology won’t.
Give Yourself Good Night’s Sleep
Sleep may not be the first thing that comes to mind when you think of mindfulness practices, but I encourage you to spend one week prioritizing sleep and feel the difference it can make.
I’ve created a bedtime routine for myself similarly to how I do it for my own kids. It may seem silly, but small routines to remind our bodies that we’re moving toward rest can greatly improve the quality of our sleep. If I get my eight hours, I’ll show up the next day eager and ready to go.
Lean Into the Joy
Like gratitude, joy creates a ripple effect. When we focus on feeling good and doing the things that make us happy, our outlook changes. Suddenly, instead of focusing on what could go wrong, we can let that thought slip away and focus on the areas of life that are bringing us joy.
I’m not trying to be unrealistic and say that we’re meant to be joyful all the time—certainly not. But how often do you focus on doing the activities or spending time with the people who bring you joy? It’s amazing how prioritizing coffee with a friend can leave you feeling fulfilled and more present than if you’d spent that time on other to-do’s. Consider the unique areas of your life that bring you joy, and let them be a priority.
Visit Kris’ website, Deconstructing Wellness, to learn more about her coaching services and sign up here for a free consultation.
Tap into the power of presence and sign up for a 15-day free trial of barre3 online today.
