Sanford to speak in Duluth on Tuesday

November 23, 2009 by Howie · Leave a Comment

Matthew Sanford (pictured), award-winning author, public speaker and nationally recognized yoga teacher, will present “Waking Both Mind and Body” at 7 p.m. Tuesday, in the Mitchell Auditorium on The College of St. Scholastica campus. The event is free and open to the public.

At age 13, Sanford was paralyzed from the chest down after a tragic car accident that killed his father and sister. At 25 he discovered yoga, along with a mind-body connection healing power that has helped him overcome many obstacles.

Today, at 43, Sanford is still paralyzed, but is an inspiration to thousands of people nationwide through his work in alternative healing.

Sanford shares his philosophy of the power of the mind-body relationship in his book, “Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence.” He chronicles his story and sheds light on the body’s inner capacity for survival, grace, acceptance and healing.

“I want the world to know that healing is possible, even when curing is not,” noted Sanford.

He began teaching yoga 13 years ago to people living with disabilities at Courage Center, a rehabilitation facility in Minneapolis. He later founded the non-profit facility Mind Body Solutions in 2001. The Minnetonka-based facility offers people with a wide range of mobility disabilities adaptive yoga classes and workshops. It is becoming a leader in the adaptive yoga industry in its work to redefine ability and disability.

As a public speaker, Sanford reaches a variety of audiences nationwide. He speaks at national yoga conferences and studios, and presents seminars to major corporations and health care organizations. His accolades include Yoga Journal’s Karma Yoga Award, the Judd Jacobson Memorial Award, and KARE-TV’s Eleven Who Care Award. In 2008, he was awarded the Volvo For Life Award.