“It took a devastating car accident, paralysis from the chest down, and dependence on a wheelchair before I truly realized the importance of my body.”
Matthew has dedicated his life to sharing the fundamental importance of the mind-body relationship. For him, mind-body integration is not just a personal health strategy. It is a movement of consciousness. To take hold, it must be both practical and spiritual, both inspirational and pragmatic. He works on a variety of fronts:
Author
Matthew shares his personal story in Waking:
A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence (Rodale:
June, 2006) his critically-acclaimed memoir that received
the Reader's Choice Award at the Minnesota Book Awards
and a Northeastern Book Award. It is due out in paperback
May 2008. "I wrote a memoir, not to tell you
something about me, but rather to teach something
about the mind-body relationship."
Public Speaker
Matthew uses his inspirational story to speak about the fundamental importance of the mind-body relationship, “Deepening the mind-body connection is one of the secrets to living well.” Matthew speaks to a wide range of audiences including:
- Rehabilitation/Disability
– Clients include: American Physical
Therapy Association • Sharp's Hospital-San
Diego • International Association of Rehabilitation
Professionals • North Carolina Rehab Professionals
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Center-San Diego
• Michigan Assisted Living Association
- Integrative Health
– Clients include: Donna Karan's Urban Zen
Initiative • The Mayo Clinic • Bravewell
Collaborative • Abbott Northwestern's Institute
of Health and Healing • University of Minnesota
Duluth Medical School • St. Scholastica •
Integrative Healer's Consortium • MN Psychological
Association
- Inspirational/Corporate
– Clients include: General Mills
• Guidant Corporation • American Express
• Carlson Companies • Target Corporation
• Cargill, Medtronic • American Institute
of Architects • Virginia Commonwealth University's
Crossing Boundaries Lecture Series
Yoga
Teacher
Matthew
teaches yoga to people of all abilities but he is
a pioneer in adapting yoga for people living with
disabilities. “We all live on a continuum
of abilities and disabilities,” he says.
“The principles of yoga apply to all people,
to all bodies.” He teaches traditional students
at his yoga studio in Minnetonka, Minn.
Founder of Non-profit
In 2001, Matthew founded Mind
Body Solutions, a 501 (c)(3) charitable organization
dedicated to the simple and practical notion that
minds and bodies work better together. “The
mission of Mind Body Solutions,” Sanford says,
“is to transform trauma and loss into hope and
potential by awakening the connection between mind
and body.” Mind Body Solutions reaches healthcare,
corporate, yoga and general audiences nationwide.
Sustainable Investor
Matthew believes that sustainable investing (investment
practices that balance financial returns with social
and environmental impact) is an essential and practical
expression of mind-body integration. Therefore,
Matthew has been an active member of the Investor’s
Circle since 1995. Please visit them at www.investorscircle.com.
Hear Matthew
interviewed on Speaking of Faith
http://speakingoffaith.publicradio.org/programs/bodysgrace/index.shtml
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