Chantal Valle: Living in the present moment

As thefive-time national champion head coach of the University of Windsor Lancers women's basketball team, Chantal Valle has found the key to managing her stress is practicing mindfulness, or as she calls it"living in the present moment."

With pressures on the court and on campus, Valle has spent a lot of time acting as a coach and a counsellor to her student athletes.

In thelatest installment of her ongoing series onCBC'sWindsor Morning, she shares her advice on how people can manage stress in their own lives.

• Chantal Valle: Lessons from the lobster

• Chantal Valle: Sharing the key to self confidence

The 'Present Moment'

One of the most intriguing teaching points that successful NBA coachPhil Jacksonusedwas having players find themselves in the "present moment."

During a game, players were told not to worry about what willhappen in the future because this causes stress and anxiety.

They were also told not to dwell on the past as that causes guilt or regrets because of mistakes.

It's easy to see how this relates to everyday life. How may of us go through life carrying immense guilt and rehashing past conversations orevents? How many of us experience anxiety because we fearthings that haven't happened yet?

Mindfulness comes in many different ways and like every other good thing, it is a skill that needs to be developed and practiced. There arethree things I try to keep in mind.

A Decision of the Mind

First, I want to find myself in the present moment. I focus on what is in front of me and immerse myself in what is happening right now.

A State of Gratefulness

Second, I am thankful for the life and perspective I have. I am grateful I am breathingand that I am healthy.

A Pause

Third, try to pause. It doesn't have to be long. Meditation and breathing techniques are very effective to calm our bodies. When the body is racing, the mind cannot stop and rest.

Breathing exercises also help me to focus on the present moment andto get my body and mind to rest.

Just like every other human, I get anxious about the future, and often feel guilty about the past. So I breathe!

Be present this week!

Valleappears every other Wednesday at 7:30 a.m. on Radio-Canada's Matins sans frontieres 105.5 FM and 1550 AM and at 8:10 a.m. onCBC'sWindsor Morning, 97.5 FM.