Over 15 years ago my partner (we are a bit like Dharma and Greg) “requested” that I take an eight-week mindfulness course and willingly joined me. It entailed daily homework, felt awkward, and some of the modalities were difficult for me. The simple body scan exercise actually resurrected my “scan anxiety” from having spent way too much time and years in those noisy cavities. Yet it was a very well organized class with techniques from different types of meditation, yoga, tai chi, Qigong, breath work, body scans etc. The folks who attended were accomplished, creative, successful, and those who chose to share (still not my style) certainly had experienced real trauma, serious health issues, relationship termination, career loss, or were just open to being healthier, grounded, less type A etc.
Over the years I have neglected to keep up the practice but remember the kind and skilled instructor’s admonition “It’s better to learn and develop these habits now before you’re in the midst of a real crisis.”
Yesterday I was reminded that mindfulness-based interventions that focus on both stress reduction and cardiovascular health may have even bigger benefits. Carrie Dennett’s well researched article shows “How mindfulness can help reduce risk of cardiovascular disease.” www.seattletimes.com/life/wellness/how-mindfulness-can-help-
reduce-risk-of-cardiovascular-disease/ it’s endorsed by the American Heart Association.
Additionally, it can lower blood pressure; reduce stress, rumination, and cravings; help us become less reactive; lower depression/anxiety, provide more ease, make better lifestyle choices and become more desirable to be around.
A fellow former high-power attorney, also from New York City, Jon Krop started “Mindfulness for Lawyers” in 2015 (after studying and practicing it since 2006). Jon has taught it nationally at premiere law schools and firms. His mom and I have been friends since high school and it’s been gratifying to watch Jon’s non legal mindfulness practice flourish as he’s studied with teachers from around the world including psychologists, neuroscientists, and traditional Buddhist masters. My own partner, after a long national corporate marketing career, also took years to train and transition into helping others through body work (somatic movement), breath work, meditation and Qigong.
Bottom line: Find (even by experimenting) some pathways and practices that you can truly incorporate into your daily routine that calm and ground you and provide better physical and mental health, resilience, wellbeing and even gratitude. We can’t always get what we want, but if we’re willing to try different pathways, we might get what we need.
Michael Goldenkranz, is retired and serves as a full time curmudgeon and frequent pro bono volunteer. Being silly with his grandkids and physical exercise helps to ground him. But he’s got a long ways to go/grow!
Additional Resources:
www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-
support/wellness/group-sessions/mindfulness-
groupdditional Resources:
www.wsba.org/for-legal-professionals/member-
support/wellness
www.americanbar.org/groups/lawyer_assistance/resources/lawyer_wellness/
https://www.teamflourish.com/
What Is Breathwork? A Beginner’s Guide
