The Columbia Law School Mindfulness Program invites you to a retreat for CLS students, staff, faculty, and alumni at the beautiful Garrison Institute in Garrison, NY, the weekend of January 31-February 2.
Join us for a weekend of guided meditation, silence, community, and reflection on the role of mindfulness in legal practice and law reform. The retreat will be led by Dr. Home Nguyen and Caroline Voldstad (CLS '18) (bios below).
To reserve a space for the weekend retreat, we kindly ask for a $50 deposit to be made. If requested, and you attend, this deposit can be returned following the retreat's conclusion. (If even paying the $50 fee up front is a financial hardship, then you can write to J.C. White to request a fee waiver.)
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me at [email protected] or Professor Elizabeth Emens at [email protected].
Further Details:
-Food and rooms are included in registration. The Garrison Institute is located in beautiful Garrison, NY, in a converted monastery. It is minimalist in provisions; many rooms are shared or dorm-style. If you're interested in upgrading your room to a private room, please contact us.
-Transportation to and from the Garrison Institute is not included; participants are responsible for their own travel. Peak fare between Grand Central Terminal and Garrison on Metro North is $20.00 one-way, while off-peak fare is $15.00. A shuttle will run between the train station and Garrison Institute for limited hours prior to the start of the retreat. Please see the schedule, which will be circulated to retreatants prior to the first day of the retreat, to plan for a spot on the shuttle. You are not guaraunteed a place on the shuttle, and at all other times you will need to walk or take a taxi from the train station, located approximately 1.5 miles from the Garrison Institute.
-The retreat will involve long periods of silence. Teachers will offer guidance for periods. However, retreatants are asked to maintain silence and respect it for others, outside of the designated periods for discussion (mostly on Sunday) and Q&A sessions with the teachers.
-Participants will be asked to turn off their devices. There will be an emergency contact phone number. If you need to contact someone, like dependents, you will be asked to do that in specified locations that will not disturb other retreatants.
-The food at Garrison Institute is simple (though typically well-liked). If you have dietary restrictions, we encourage you to let us know.
-If any disability or religious accommodations would help you to participate fully in this event, please contact J.C. White at [email protected].
To register, please follow the link below.
Dr. Home H.C. Nguyen is a professor of leadership, and an advisor to leaders, entrepreneurs, and educators. He is the founder and CEO of MindKind Institute and has coached mid-level and C-suite executives of Fortune 200 companies and numerous start-ups. He has taught and facilitated courses on Self-Awareness Training, Interpersonal Group Dynamics, and Adult Learning and Leadership Development at Columbia University and Yale School of Management. Dr. Home helps his clients to overcome fears and distractions, get clear on why they do what they do, and develop mindfulness and practical wisdom to exert greater influence. A certified executive coach, Home received his Doctorate of Education in Organizational Leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University.
Caroline Voldstad, CLS’ 18, is a litigation associate with Quinn Emanuel and has been teaching yoga and meditation for over a decade. She has led classes and workshops in mind-body practices for a variety of audiences at educational and nonprofit institutions. She has also created and led organizations dedicated to promoting yoga and meditative practices at her own educational institutions including The College of the Holy Cross, Harvard Divinity School, as well as here at Columbia Law School. At CLS, she was involved in building the Mindfulness Program while a student and co-led the program’s first off-site weekend retreat at the Garrison Institute in the Spring of 2019. She has also offered mindfulness and meditation guidance for youth in various capacities and for populations involved in the criminal justice system. Caroline has participated in a variety of yoga and mindfulness trainings and attended several silent retreats. She is certified as a 500 hour experienced Yoga Teacher and, most recently, she has completed her foundations training in Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction. Caroline believes deeply in the power of contemplative practice to shift individual consciousness and create the possibility of a more connected and caring world.
