This is That: Practicing Law and Guiding Yoga

I'm committed to making the law as accessible as possible. This takes a serious amount of unlearning on my part because my legal education subconsciously trained me to uphold invisible and unspoken barriers between "us" (attorneys) and "them" (our clients).

Recently, I was working on a memo to a client and decided to take the time to explain the context in which I was making my recommendations. I wanted to make clear that:

• I understand my job as an attorney to be one of providing advice.

• This advice is informed by my legal training and experience, professional judgment, and perspectives. (Let's come back to the perspective element – it deserves its own piece.)

• The client remains the ultimate decision-maker.

Holy shit, I thought. This is just like guiding yoga through a trauma-conscious framework.

This is relevant because in addition to practicing law, I guide yoga. I've completed two hundred hours of yoga teacher training (RYT-200) and additional training in trauma-conscious instruction. I'm also currently studying a lineage of yoga called Kriya in a three hundred hour teacher training program.

In my understanding, guiding yoga through a trauma-conscious framework means recognizing that I am simply a guide: Everything is an invitation, not an expectation. I encourage each student to listen to the wisdom of their own body on the yoga mat – and ultimately, in life – because the reality is we are each experts on our own bodies and lived experiences. I can offer various physical poses and breathwork options but, if it doesn't work for you, it doesn't work for you. It's all good. You do you.

See the similarity between providing legal advice and guiding yoga? My approach to both is grounded in autonomy and empowerment. I am simply a guide.

As one my yoga teachers likes to remind me, "This is that."