Mindfulness Training Program for Hopkins & Carley

Overview of Program

This program is designed to offer an opportunity for the attendees to practice meditation and gain the many benefits that comes from it. Each session (except the introductory session) will be 30 minutes long. Please arrive on time—we’ll start promptly at 12:00 PM and end at 12:30 PM. Attend as many sessions as possible. You’ll only gain the benefits of meditation practice through regular practice.

Dates

San Jose

  • Introductory Session August 9, 2016 12:00 – 1:00 PM (Lunch will be provided)

Drop-in Guided Meditation Sessions 12:00 – 12:30 PM

  • August 31
  • September 13, 27
  • October 11, 25
  • November 3 (new date), 21
  • December 7, 20
  • January 4

Palo Alto

  • Introductory Session August 18, 2016 12:00 – 1:00 PM (Lunch will be provided)

Drop-in Guided Meditation Sessions 12:00 – 12:30 PM

  • September 6, 19
  • October 6, 20
  • November 1, 14
  • December 6 (new date), 13
  • January 5

 


Format

You’ll be introduced various meditation techniques during the drop-in sessions. You can use these meditation techniques during your daily practice. 

Drop-in session timeline (approximate)

00:00 – 00:10 Check-in, questions, logistical issues
00:10 – 00:25 Guided meditation
00:25 – 00:30 Discussion

The guided meditations will be recorded and posted on the bottom of this page. You can use the audio for your individual practice.


Practice Tips

  1. Commit to a regular practice. Meditation, like the practice of law requires—practice. It’s natural to have thoughts or concerns about doing meditation correctly or perfectly. These thoughts and preoccupations are perfectly normal. Don’t let the perfectionist tendencies stop you from engaging in the practice. Commit to a daily practice, and simply commit to doing the practice.
  2. Start with two minutes. There’s no need to commit to a long meditation session. Start by committing yourself to a few minutes per day. Try two minutes during your first week then reevaluate.
  3. Come as you are. There will be days where you’ll show up to your individual or group meditation session distracted, feeling hurried, anxious or stressed. There will be other times where you show up relaxed, happy and content. Regardless of what your emotional state is (or what your day is like), show up for the practice. This is a come-as-you-are-party.
  4. Have a Beginner’s Mind. Approach each meditation session as though you are a scientist, studying your own mind. Let go of judgment about what your practice should look like. Be gentle with yourself, and remember to adopt a mindset of curiosity and openness.
  5. Set an intention. It’s helpful to spend some amount of time considering the intention behind your meditation practice. Your initial inclination may be something like—I want to reduce stress. This is a great starting point. However, you may want to look below that initial desire. Explore why this is important. Perhaps a deeper motivation behind wanting to reduce stress is because you recognize when you’re stressed, you don’t make the best decisions. Therefore, you want to be able to better manage your stress so that you can be more present for your clients, respond from a place of calm and clarity so that you can be the best attorney possible.

Useful Apps

The only “tool” you need to engage in a meditation practice is your mind. However, there are some apps that you may find to be helpful. These apps has guided meditations that you can use during your individual practice. Additionally, the apps will track data about your practice—for example, time, and duration. Insight app also has a journaling function which you can use to jot down any insights or thoughts after your sitting practice.

There are many other apps available for meditation.


Questions? 

If at any point during this program, you have questions or feedback, I encourage you to email me. I can be reached at [email protected]. You can also review my bio here.


Introductory Video

Watch an introductory video on mindfulness and meditation.

 

Guided Meditation Recordings

Recordings will be posted approximately 2 days after the drop-in sessions. 

  • August 18 — Palo Alto

  • August 31 — San Jose

    • September 6 — Palo Alto

  • September 13
  • September 19
  • September 28
  • October 6
  • October 11
  • October 20
  • October 25
  • November 1
  • November 8
  • November 14
  • November 21
  • December 7
  • December 13
  • December 20
  • December 28
  • January 4
  • January 5