National Public Defense Virtual Conference 2021

If a person could do only one thing to increase their health and happiness, expressing gratitude might be it. Martin Seligman, a pioneer in the field of Positive Psychology, has remarked "when we take time to notice the things that go right -- it means we're getting a lot of little rewards throughout the day." In this session, we will discuss the benefits of practicing gratitude and how that practice can not only benefit your mental health but can also benefit your legal practice. We will also go through short gratitude exercises together, including but not limited to: meditation and journaling.

A gentle way to begin or take a break from the day, chair yoga is for every body.  Both the seasoned yogi and the "I can't/ don't do yoga" friend is welcome here!  We will begin the session with a breathing exercise to soothe the nervous system and to help us arrive in the present moment, and then will cultivate gratitude for ourselves just for showing up. We then will move through a series of gentle yoga poses, using our chair and the space around it.  This will be a trauma-informed practice, and will meet each person right where they are.  No other equipment necessary.

In this session I will present an introduction to meditation and contemplative practice. We will discuss the whys and the hows of it , with space for questions, and then we will practice.  I will lead three or four different short meditations, each using a different style or approach.

Vinyasa flow for all-levels.  You will enjoy this session whether you are new to yoga or an advanced practitioner.

I am a lawyer, yogi, cancer-thriver, and amputee. Even after losing my left leg to a rare bone cancer when I was 8 years old, I have never let my prosthetic be a limitation. I firmly believe that yoga is for everybody and EVERY BODY. In this all-levels vinyasa flow we will connect breathe to movement to find stability, flexibility, and strength. No props are required but a blanket may be a good option for your knees or seat during the flow. Excited to share this space with you all!

I have been a criminal defense lawyer for over 25 years. Like many of you, I pour myself into my work as a defender. In 2006, I moved from Massachusetts to Seattle, WA to begin a new job with the Seattle public defenders. It was a challenging transition and I was feeling a bit burnt out. I met an inspiring spiritual leader who introduced me to yoga and meditation. My yoga practice has become an integral part of my daily self-care because if I am taking care of myself, I can take better care of my clients! In 2017 I got my 300-hour yoga teaching certificate and I have been teaching classes for public defenders in CO now via Zoom! Yoga has made me a better – more effective- lawyer/mother/partner/friend.

I will start the session with breathing exercises and some gentle stretching. I will then go through Sun A and Sun B postures (with some nice Warrior and Goddess poses) and will end with a relaxing savasana and sound bowl closing. I integrate an intention throughout the class to help center and inspire the class participants. It will be a fun, gentle flow- a lovely way to start your day.