By Bradley T. Bald
“When you lose touch with inner stillness, you lose touch with yourself. When you lose touch with yourself, you lose yourself in the world.” —Eckhart Tolle
Yoga has been a therapeutic tool for the legal profession for decades. The benefits of yoga have become so mainstream that we even have CLEs dedicated to yoga and its impact on lawyers’ mental and physical well-being.
But yin yoga, a subset of the traditional yoga flow practice, is a more niche form of practice that is not as well known in the legal profession. Often defined as “still and contemplative yoga,” yin is a slower-paced and more meditative style that has the ability to teach additional, practice-oriented skills to lawyers.
What is yin yoga?
Many yoga practices today focus primarily on building strength and balance through active and sweat-inducing routines. Yin, on the other hand, works the deep fascial connective tissues in the body with slower movements and a larger focus on building connection between the mind and the body.
Although this style of yoga may appear lethargic and passive, yin can be quite challenging. Yin shapes can be held for upward of five minutes at a time, truly testing our patience muscles. These shapes gently stress connective tissues to allow for more oxygen into the muscles, thereby increasing blood flow throughout the body. Most notably, yin teaches us to be present in uncomfortable and fidget-worthy moments.
Lawyers and impulsive behavior
We all know that lawyers love to talk and argue—often feeling the need to assert their opinions into conversations. Lawyers are sometimes guilty of rehearsing “comeback” arguments in their heads before someone else even finishes their sentence.
Moreover, if a lawyer thinks that they are being verbally attacked (or worse, trying to be proven wrong), they may be tempted to react impulsively and say things that they will likely regret later. Any principles of active listening get thrown out of the window. The idea of pausing for reflection is not always in our repertoire, as it can be rewarding for our egos to be quick-witted.
The power of the pause
Yin introduces us to the power of the pause—allowing the body and the mind to be content in moments of silence and discomfort. A common methodology in practice is the principle of reaching your edge—the sensation in which the body feels the tension but also recognizes when to be still before it reaches the point of pain.
By understanding our edges in real life, we become more cognizant of our emotional triggers in conversations. When we feel the body get tense in a heated discussion with an opposing counsel or a colleague, we may benefit from taking a deep breath (or two).
Instead of feeling the need to respond immediately, we should challenge ourselves to be patient in silence, so we can process another person’s point of view. In doing so, we are more adept at engaging in healthy and productive conversations.
Dragon and energy channels
One of my favorite positions in yin is the dragon shape, which works the outer and the inner legs, as well as the spine. It resembles a kneeling lunge and can be a game-changer for those who sit behind a desk with tight hip flexors.
According to Mary Beth Harding, a certified 500-hour yoga teacher, “Meridians, originating from traditional Chinese medicine, form an integral energetic network of channels that stress and illness can often block or disrupt. Dragon shapes engage several of these channels, particularly those connected to the stomach and spleen meridians—areas closely tied to rumination and anxiety. Additionally, they can benefit the tissues often dehydrated by long days at a desk. By gently manipulating these specific channels and tissues, we can encourage the nervous system to release built-up tension and stress, as well as promote greater clarity of thought.”
While traditional yoga flow certainly has its benefits, the unique practice of yin yoga should not be overlooked. Consistent yin practice can teach lawyers to be patient in uncomfortable moments—no matter how intense a conversation may be.
Bradley T. Bald is an attorney in Nashville, Tennessee, where is associate general counsel for Lifestyle Communities, a national multifamily developer, investor and operator. He obtained his 20-hour foundations of yin yoga training in February 2024.
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