If you live life in alignment you attract like-minded people, I fully believe in that. That’s how I met Bara. She is a mindfulness mentor, creator of @mindandmonkey and her own podcast where she shares valuable mindfulness tips & meditations. Bara makes mindfulness approachable for anyone in a very down-to-earth way which I love. She just launched the MIND BLISS Masterclass, a four-week-program that will introduce you to the world of mindfulness & meditation and teach you how to tame your monkey-mind. Learn more about her and her daily rituals, routine and practices in our interview below!
Tell me about yourself.
My name is Bara and I am originally from Prague – but lived in California, Berlin, London and the Netherlands before landing in Zurich around 5 years ago to work for a tech startup.
I love all things psychology, beautiful design, true crime stories and have a weak spot for skincare.
Today, I am a mindfulness mentor, helping women and men understand their mind, manage anxiety & stress and help them regain control in their life by switching off their autopilot. In essence – help them live a more joyful, peaceful and more fulfilling life through mindfulness practice, meditation and overall holistic mind support.
What inspired you to become a mindfulness coach?
What inspired me to become a mindfulness coach/mentor was seeing that what mindfulness practice did for me is not something unique to myself. What I mean by that is – I have taken part of different mindfulness courses (for instance MBSR – mindfulness based stress reduction) and I’ve witnessed people from different paths of life have their present moment experience transformed by integrating mindfulness practices and more importantly by realising that whatever goes on in their mind is not their “personal pathology”. We all get anxious, we all got a monkey mind. We all lived on autopilot at one point or another – it’s just how our brains are made. Seeing in that room people from finance, sales, hospitality or full time stay at home moms struggle with the same, human predicament of stress, anxiety or postpartum depression and have mindfulness based practices improve their life quality…that’s when it hit me. It’s accessible to all of us.
What was your journey into entrepreneurship?
I’ve witnessed very closely how companies are built. Whether by observing my highly entrepreneurial father who next to his full time medical career is also a professor, researcher, book writer and much more – or by being part of a startup from its very early stages. At some point I have realized that I too have a sort of “calling” to pursue my own dream. That’s when I started to dip my toes in the entrepreneurial waters.
What have been the biggest challenges throughout your journey so far?
Dealing with my own limiting beliefs. It’s always quite ironic to see someone in the wellness space, or coaching or mentoring – someone who should have it all together (that’s what we often think) struggle with confidence and limiting beliefs. Well – just like you and anyone reading this, I am a highly imperfect human being with my own ghosts and fears. But I consider this to be a necessary part of the journey. Introspecting, looking in, working through your things so that you can shine.
Where do you see yourself in five years from now?
Running a mindfulness collective – a center/community for holistic health, bringing together experts on different topics and provide meditation classes, consulting and host events and retreats around the topics of self-empowerment, self-healing and conscious growth.
Where do you find inspiration?
In the world/people around me and in art. I love to observe what’s going on, I love early mornings at the lake and I love to listen to people’s stories. It allows me to peek into our shared humanity and uncover the common stories, the common themes – that we’re all aware of but sometimes we forge that there’s also a way out of those stories. When I say art, I mean both making art, and consuming art. I’ve always loved graphic design and photography and get a kick out of researching typography and color schemes. I also love to read and educate myself as much as I can – I haven’t read a novel in years. My kindle library is basically just educational books on the brain, psychology, mindfulness, our bodies and lately also spirituality. In this sense, I’m a bit like sponge.
Take us through a day in your life.
I wake up early in the morning, meditate and then get creative (creating content for @mindandmonkey). At the same time, I go through my e-mails and instagram messages to interact with the community.
I go and get a coffee (always iced americano, no milk) at my favourite coffee place in Zurich and get started into the work day.
My ideal day is split between a few hours of heavy weight working – researching and preparing courses – for example – and scheduling a few sessions with my mentees/clients in person or over the phone.
I try to ensure to have some space to ideate, as I am constantly on the lookout to create the best suitable content and materials for my community.
I have a light dinner, not too late and especially now in summer love to go for a quick jump into the lake in Seefeld to cool down.
In the evening, I spend some time letting the day fade away on my balcony and have some down time from my phone and social media.
I’m in bed very early as I’m a big sleeper.
What does self-care mean to you?
Listening to my needs and wishes and honoring them.
What does your morning routine look like?
When I am disciplined:
It starts with sleeping early – I need my 7-8 hours. And I’m an old lady when it comes to staying up late.
Waking up around 6:30-45
6:40ish Morning meditation up to 30 min
7:15ish Shower (quick one – im a fast shower-er)
7:20ish Light breakfast – Lemon water, fruits, or yoghurt with cocoa nibs (current fave). I take my morning supplements (Ashwagandha, Swedish Bitters, Vitamins) and I apply my prescribed Happy Hormones oil blends
7:30: Content creation for @mindandmonkey : I find myself to be the most creative and productive very very early
8:15: Get ready (Quick make up – I keep it light)
8:30 off to work
What is your evening routine?
Phone on plane mode around 9:30pm
Skincare routine to clean the face after the long day
Glass of water (to not wake up thirsty at night)
TV Show (currently watching Good Girls) or reading my Kindle
Applying Happy Hormones again and using the Olio e Osso Balm. n.0 on my lips because I love the cooling minty feeling for sleep
— aaand Sleep
What kind of exercise do you do?
I won’t lie – I’ve had more active phases in my life. I grew up playing tennis on a high level, and when I quit, finding my way to physical activity was a bit rocky. Currently, I work with a personal trainer and do mostly body weight training and a lot of active stretching.
What is your approach to nutrition?
Also a mixed history. I am on a mission to eat way cleaner and more intuitively. I have learned that food has indeed an insane impact on our bodies – when I “treated” my cystic acne by cutting out all dairy and became plant-based for around 4 months, I felt extremely good. And then re-integrated everything again. However, as I am currently aware of different hormonal imbalances I may be experiencing, I am also trying to find a balance through nutrition.
What is your clean beauty non-negotiable?
Deodorant! I’m still on a desperate search for a clean and functioning deodorant. I’ve become very sensitive years ago and after I discovered what conventional deodorant chemicals do to our body (and having a history of breast cancer in my family) I said…nope.
How do you bring mindfulness into your day?
Through formal practice of mindfulness meditation – where I teach myself over and over and over again to be the observer, connecting to my breath and to befriend my mind rather than antagonising. And then of course in every day interactions – which I would say comes as a result of a regular practice. The ability to respond rather than react, to not have each little inconvenience completely throw me off. Finally, sometimes I just sit and try to bring awareness to whatever is around. The feeling of touching a fabric, mindful eating… A sort of mini mindfulness practice that I can pick up anywhere instead of drifting off with my mind into…the abyss. Of course – I am human and sometimes it just doesn’t go as planned.
What are you grateful for?
Life and all it brings – and the people in it!
What brings you joy?
Very early mornings at the Zurich lake – and being close to water (Water sign in the house).
What little things do you do in your life in order to make a difference in the world in terms of sustainability?
I try not to consume single-use plastic, I recycle (still getting great at it) and also use cleaner products – not only because of my own health but because of them ending up back in nature (detergents, dishwasher tablets, soap..).
What was the last book you have read?
The body keeps the score – by Bessel van der Kolk
Favorite podcast to listen to?
I do not follow any podcast religiously, but I do cherry pick episodes from these (also because I do not necessarily subscribe to all the ideas throughout all the episodes)
- Sakara Life Podcast
- Tony Robbins Podcast
- Goop Podcast
- Mind Body Green Podcast
- Armchair Expert
Favorite app?
The Pattern
Favorite clean beauty product?
Cannuka Skin Balm (with CBD) and Olio E Osso balm n. 0 and anything from Greenlane in Zurich.
Favorite dish to cook?
Salty: Aglio e Olio or butter lemon pasta with white wine, sweet: Moelleux au Chocolat (lava cake)
Favorite indulgence?
Food: Truffle Pasta, stuff: Boy Smells Candles
