Another lawyer turned yogi: The last one I posted about probably would not appreciate this one

Recently I wrote about Justin Wiltshire Cohen, lawyer now yogi, who is not pleased with the way many people in the US now practice what they call yoga. Kimberly Fowler, the subject of my next life-after-law story, is probably exactly the kind of person who gives Wiltshire Cohen such displeasure. Clue: Fowler's book is titled No OM Zone: A No-Chanting, No-Granola, No-Sanskrit Practical Guide to Yoga.

Fowler has written an article detailing her journey from the law to yoga entrepreneurship at WomenEntrepreneur.com. From "When Change Beckons, Embrace It":

I'm president of YAS Fitness Centers, a growing chain of yoga and indoor cycling studios. I founded YAS in 2001 in what was for me a major career transition. I also head YAS Yoga & Sportswear, YAS Productions and YAS Franchises Inc., all of which are outgrowths of YAS. They qualify as next steps. And in what is the biggest career change of all for me, I've become recognized as a leading yoga and fitness expert.

Talk about transitions -- I started my professional life as a lawyer.

Fresh out of law school -- and right after a successful battle with brain cancer doctors said I wouldn't survive -- I began practicing law in Houston. I was a litigator. Within the decade, I was practicing international business law in Monaco and had to master a very different type of law. I managed the change by replying "No problem" anytime someone handed me something I had no clue about. Then I'd do my homework and get a clue, fast.

Click to read the rest of Fowler's story. More about her here and here [pdf].

The subject of my last two life-after-law posts have very different approaches to yoga, don't they? Night and day, yin and yang, om and nom—Justin and Kimberly. There is room for all.

Click here for more life-after-law stories.

 

Comments

[Rebecca]

As a lawyer-yoga teacher (I still plan to practice law), I have to say that I am much more on the path that Cohen follows and not this one. In fact, this DVD irks me like no other. I have actually been teaching stress management CLEs that focus on yoga and meditation to help people move beyond the belief that yoga is purely a physical asana practice. That being said, I'm teaching the physical asana practice at the Contemplative Lawyers Conference in two weeks. ;)