My first brush with meditation came in high school, when a seminary teacher closed each semester with a body scan. The doctrine didn’t resonate, but the practice lit a spark. By 20, I was a group fitness instructor who stumbled into a yoga continuing ed class, beginning a 30-year journey as a “western” hatha yoga and movement teacher in gyms, rec centers, and community spaces—bringing contemplative practices to everyday people.

As a Criminal and Family Law attorney, I’ve seen the human mind-body under extreme pressure. And, while working as a prosecutor, I stumbled upon a TED Talk on Vipassana for life-sentenced prisoners and drove to my first retreat a month later – I left committed to a lifetime of exploration of this jewel.