The Art of Reinventing Yourself

Bernice Parent is passionate about her work. She usually offers yoga and mindfulness sessions in person, but this year marked a new turning point for her: going virtual. The pandemic meant she had to adapt and find solutions to continue to offer her courses.

What does mindfulness mean? “Mindfulness is how you choose to live your life every day,” explains Bernice Parent.

In order to get certified, the entrepreneur went through extensive training. “I retired in 2014 and wanted to follow my passion. I decided to get a certification in yoga and mindfulness. I started my own business shortly after named La Vie Mindful.”

She is a certified yoga instructor since 2006 and in 2018, she obtained a certification in Yin Yoga. She also has her certification in mindfulness since 2017 after completing her mindfulness training. Bernice Parent insists that for her “it was important to get certified, particularly in mindfulness, because we interact with people’s emotions.”

The entrepreneur usually offers her classes in her studio, but this year meant she had to change her plans. “When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, I had to cancel spring sessions. I was sad that I couldn’t teach anymore and during the summer I questioned everything.”

“At that point, I had to reinvent myself. I wanted to find a way to continue to share the benefits of mindfulness and yoga, because it can really help people of all ages. ”

The solution? Going online. Bernice Parent explains, “After this time of reflection, the solution was to turn to technology and offer my classes online. I also recently created my website: www.laviemindful.com.”

“I worked with Productions Rivard to prepare professional videos intended for a wide audience. It was important for me to set the videos on the Prairies with the Red River in the background, surrounded by nature so it complements my practice.”

“There are eight videos in French and eight in English between 15 to 30 minutes each. Four videos are yoga focused and others are about mindfulness. I also offer a 10-minute video geared towards children about rest and relaxation before bedtime.”

“I hope that this resonates with everyone at home. I try to reach a wide audience. Some may need meditation, others prefer stretching, etc. It can be very calming especially during a pandemic causing so much stress.” Bernice Parent is proud of the result: “If the pandemic continues, I am even planning on offering sessions on Zoom.”