Paraplegic Yoga Instructor Discusses Wellness Among the Disabled

USINFO Webchat transcript, November 27,2006


Matthew Sanford, a leading advocate for the development of wellness among the disabled, shares his story of living with paralysis and how yoga connects mind and body for people living with disabilities in a USINFO webchat.

Following is the transcript:

U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE
Bureau of International Information Programs
USINFO Webchat Transcript



Disability and Ability: Mind and Body Integration

Guest: Matthew Sanford
Date: November 27, 2006
Time: 1:00 p.m. EST (1700 GMT)



Moderator: Welcome to today's webchat with Matthew Sanford, philosopher, yoga teacher, author and founder of Mind Body Solutions. Matthew shares his message that “connecting positively to one’s body is the secret to living life well.” Matthew uses his story of living with paralysis to emphasize the critical role the body plays in an individual’s energy level, ability to manage stress, sense of wonder, and even clarity of thought, and we thank him for joining us.

You may begin sending Matt questions at any time, and be sure to check back today between 18:30 and 19:30 GMT, for his responses.

Question [maryromania]: Please let me know how I could let somebody else know about this chat? Thanks.

Moderator: Dear maryromania,

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where they can sign up for webchats and read transcripts from past chats.

Matthew Sanford: First, I am honored to be part of this conversation - thank you all for joining me. As mentioned in the brief description, I am a yoga teacher and paralyzed from the chest down. I teach people living with all levels of ability - from the most physically fit to the least, from the most mentally ready to the least. I am especially a pioneer in adapting yoga for people living with disabilities.

I was in a car accident when I was thirteen. My father and sister were killed and (I) sustained - among a host of things - a spinal cord injury. It took me many years of trying to overcome my paralyzed body, to drag it through my life, before I started to practice yoga. I didn't start yoga until I was 25 and I am now 41.

Although my injury has a physical cause - a car literally bounced over my chest - and it also has had psychological and emotional repercussions, my injury is experienced every day as fundamentally a mind-body injury. Put another way, it is harder for my mind to be in my feet that someone who's spinal card has not been severed.

My approach in yoga is to try to spread my presence throughout my body regardless of whether I can flex muscles. There are connections between mind and body that are more subtle, more quiet but are crucial for people living with disabilities. My memoir, “WAKING: A MEMOIR OF TRAUMA AND TRANSCENDENCE” goes into this much more.

The healing is within the mind-body relationship other than curing. For my particular case, this means there is healing other than healing to walk again.

I also believe that we all live on a continuum of ability and disability - the aging process makes this inevitable. Everybody benefits working to stay more present within both their minds and their bodies, not just people living with disabilities.

Q [Mary]: I think it is amazing that you have adapted your body so well to the point of being a well known yoga instructor and writer. Your story is inspirational for us concerned about the disabled.

My question is: how is it that you teach yoga, a very physical exercise, to those who don’t share the same physical disabilities?

Matthew Sanford: Yoga is a phenomenon that occurs at the intersection of the mind's intent and the body's limits. That means that principles of yoga do not discriminate - they can travel through any body. Not every ones poses will look the same, but at core the spine is wakening regardless if disability.

If you think of the instructions of yoga as efficient ways of spreading presence through the body, then it becomes more clear how it is possible.

Q [Mary]: Do you only teach yoga to people with physical disabilities?

Matthew Sanford: No, I teach people of all levels of ability. That tells you something not so much about me, but about the principles of yoga, especially about the importance of alignment and precision.

Q [poudelg]: What is the difference between Indian traditional yoga vs. modern day yoga?

Matthew Sanford: That is a huge question and beyond where I am capable of answering in detail. A short answer is the type of yoga that I study originates in Pune, India from yoga master SRI BKS IYENGAR.

But “traditional Indian Yoga” is deeply embedded in the Hindu religion, “Modern day yoga” (hathayoga), I believe does not have the same religious undercurrents. At least in the U.S., it is a profound means of integrating mind, body, and spirit. This integration makes the practitioner more present and thus can add depth to whatever his or her particular beliefs are.

My work with my non-profit Mind Body Solutions (MBS) does not just focus on yoga. We do work within rehabilitation practices, delivery of healthcare, even managing stress in the workplace. The tagline for MBS is simply that minds and bodies work better together. I believes this is especially and important truth for people living with disabilities. So often we are encouraged to overcome our bodies and try to fit into life as if we were not different. I think this is a mistake.

Q [qarabaqi]: Matt, I regard you and admire your determination. You show that human being is able and (s)he is able to gain what (s)he wants.

We have many people in my country (Iran) who have injury and disability because of previous Iran's war against Iraq (Saddam). Our injured are real champions. We have many sport champions amongst them.

I wanted to ask is there different support for war-disabled and ordinary-disabled? I mean in USA.

Matthew Sanford: Yes, in theory. In the U.S., we have a Veteran Administration that is intended to meet those precise needs. That being said, there is much more that could be happening, both form the private and public sectors.

I hope that my work will help support veterans. I believe that a mind-body approach can help not only the physically disabled, but also help with post-traumatic stress. We need to do everything we can to help these people.

I am married. I also have a son - he is 6. I have had very supporting friend and family. Trauma and disability does not just happen to one person, nor even to one family, but to a whole community. I too am grateful for all the support I have received.

Q [Jimmy]: How has your work helped corporations? Is yoga the key to improving efficiency among lackadaisical workers?

Matthew Sanford: It does not have to be yoga. The work that most of us are doing is not like physics, nor are most of us lifting thousands of pounds per day. What is happening is that the way we are working is dulling the mind-body relationship. Not only does this make for a lackadaisical workforce, but it contributes to rising healthcare costs. We need to realize that presence within the body is an under-utilized asset. That living more vibrantly through the whole body, even while working, helps deepen one's sense of well being. Presence within the body also helps the clarity of one's thought process and on and on.

Q [Martha]: Have you had to deal much with discrimination?

Matthew Sanford: In what context do you mean? With regard to just living with a disability within the U.S. culture, I would say I have experienced my share. With regards to yoga, I find that people begin as a little incredulous when they find out that I teach yoga. But all it takes is them being in my class a little while.

But generally, I find that people mean well and most have good hearts. They might limit me with the judgments but that is a fact about them, not about me.

Q [Mary]: What is Iyengar yoga?

Matthew Sanford: Iyengar yoga is a method developed by BKS Iyengar. It emphasizes alignment and precision within each individual poses. It uses props to aid practitioners with more difficult mind-body relationships. It breaks the poses down into parts more. All of this leads to it being the best method for someone to practice if they live with a disability.

Q [notallshinisgold]: I want to know more information about bedsore. Would yoga help me with this?

Matthew Sanford: Once you have a bedsore, the best, best way for it to heal is to relieve the pressure. In general, however, yoga can improve the quality of your skin at a systemic level. It can help you feel generally more healthy. It also will make you more aware of body positions and the need to move and change position. This of course will help you prevent sores from forming.

Q [Jimmy]: What inspired you to begin yoga after living so long as a paraplegic?

Matthew Sanford: I missed my body. I had given more of me that I needed to. It is possible to be present within the body without flexing muscles and I set off to explore that truth. There is freedom that comes with being more present within the body rather than less. This truth has kept me practicing all these years.

Q [qarabaqi]: Well, dear Matt, I want to ask a question which is a little private! I think any kind of social support is not enough for disabled person. Though people are good-hearted, but they are not able to understand exactly what a disabled person wants. But a kind wife, or parents, share a big part in their life. I wanted to ask: Do you marry? And do you think your wife (and your parents) has helped you in your successful life? I (as a disabled man) want to say how thankful I am to my wife.

Matthew Sanford: I am married. I also have a son - he is 6. I have had very supporting friend(s) and family. Trauma and disability does not just happen to one person, nor even to one family, but to a whole community. I too am grateful for all the support I have received.

Q [qarabaqi]: Thank you Matt for all the hopes which shine in what you say. Best wishes.

Moderator: Thank you for participating in our webchat with Matt Sanford. We would like to thank Mr. Sanford for his time and expertise.

Please visit our Ability and Disability eJournal.

A transcript of today's chat will be available on our webchat station within one business day. The webchat is now closed.

(Guests are chosen for their expertise. The views expressed by the guests are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the U.S. Department of State.)






Created:27 Nov 2006 Updated: 27 Nov 2006





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