SEALS Conference Reflection -- Mind, Soul, and Body?

Last month, I was able to attend the SEALS Conference for the first time in a few years. It was good to see a number of old friends and meet some new ones. And I really enjoyed the many discussions on a wide variety of legal topics. 

While most academic panels are understandably focused on the mind, it was interesting to see a number of discussions focus on soul-related issues, including a couple on mindfulness/meditation and a few focused on religiously affiliated law schools. 

Traditionally, legal academics do an excellent job sharpening the mind. “Think like a lawyer” is a phrase even my colleagues across campus know. The soul gets much less attention at most schools, but that seems to be changing a bit, especially with increasing concerns for lawyer well-being. 

The body, however, seems almost entirely neglected both at the SEALS Conference and at law schools nationwide. Yes, there were tennis and pickleball tournaments, but I don’t think there was a single panel related to the physical health of our students, faculty, and staff.

At the undergraduate level, many universities have one or more required fitness classes, but I don’t know of any law school with similar requirements. And most law schools, frankly, require so much time devoted to mental exercise that they leave very little time for physical fitness. I probably wouldn’t advocate for requiring fitness classes at law schools, but I do think they could make more effort to reduce friction and create opportunities for physical health. A few possible examples:

• Healthier food than pizza and doughnuts at campus events (of course these have the benefit of ease and relatively low expense, but law schools could (and sometimes do) make a more conscious effort to order more nutritious snacks and meals). 
• Encourage walking office hours (often there is no need to sit during these meetings)
• Promote intramural teams (I know some law schools have softball and flag football teams).
• Corporate challenge 5K teams for the law school (we have one at Belmont, which competes against area nonprofits and businesses).
• A gym on or near the law school campus (even if just a few treadmills and hand weights. Just the friction of going across campus can deter exercise, especially when pressed for time.) 
• A pickleball court near the law school.

What other examples? Or do folks think that law schools are best to stay out of the business of promoting physical health for faculty, staff, and students?