Tag: Mind Body Solutions

Meeting Matthew Sanford – All Humanities Yoga Class, Part 2

Matthew Sanford's All Humanities class at Triyoga

“There’s going to be some controlled chaos,” announced Matthew as the class began.  There was, but the energy in the room noticeably shifted as he spoke thoughtful words of wisdom and guided us through our practice.  “My story is your story,” he said, as he explained how the inner sensations, or prana, he’d discovered whilst practising yoga as a paraplegic, were relevant to us all.  People often focus on the outer shapes of yoga, but what happens on the inside?  That’s what we were about to discover. Read More

Meeting Matthew Sanford – All Humanities Yoga Class, Part 1

Laura with Matthew Sanford

“Hey,” said Matthew, wheeling past me as I arrived at Triyoga.  I felt star struck.  I’d been re-reading his book, ‘Waking’, the night before; an intimate glimpse into a life I found so inspiring.  Now I was sitting chatting with Matthew, about to participate in his all humanities yoga class.

The description had made me tingle; ‘this class explores universal themes within asanas for all levels of ability and disability – from someone paralysed and confined to a wheelchair to the most advanced asana practitioner.  Asanas will be taught in a manner that reaches everyone simultaneously.  Participants will perform their own poses, help each other, and learn from each other.  When ability and disability authentically show up and share universal vulnerability, the releasing humanity is transformative and life changing.’ I had eagerly booked my place for Matthew’s class in London. Read More

Kiss My Asana – Week 4

Kiss My Asana

It’s the final week of my Yogathon. It’s been such a wonderful month. I’ve deepened my practice whilst raising awareness and funds for a very special organisation, Mind Body Solutions. Hopefully, I’ve inspired a few yogis along the way too.  The main thing I’ve taken away for myself is a fantastic reminder of how empowering flexibility can be.  I don’t mean the flexibility of being able to bend into an advanced asana, though of course that can feel fantastic, but the flexibility of approach.  Keeping an open mind, exploring what’s possible and being creative in making that happen is the key to so many doors. Read More

Kiss My Asana – Week 2

Kiss My Asana

I’m halfway through my Yogathon; raising awareness and funding for Mind Body Solutions, an organisation that helps people experiencing loss, trauma and disability, through yoga.  Week two has been interesting and varied.  My daily adaptive poses are gradually becoming more inventive and challenging, but I’m still reminded that sometimes the simplest of poses can have the most powerful effect on my mind and body. Read More

Kiss My Asana – Week 1

Kiss My Asana

It’s the end of the first week of my Kiss My Asana challenge. It’s a Yogathon I’m taking part in to raise awareness and funding for Mind Body Solutions, an organisation that helps people experiencing loss, trauma and disability, through yoga. My challenge is to practice a different adaptive pose each day. I’ve really enjoyed it so far. Not only has it reminded me that however my body feels, there’s yoga I can do, but also how refreshing it is to take yoga away from formal practice on the mat.Read More

Yoga for Every Body

Laura in Crow

“Oh, are you here to do yoga?” asked a lady at the yoga show, looking at me and seeing my wheelchair.  “Yes, and I can do Crow,” came my surprisingly quick-witted response.  She was a yoga teacher.  Her expression soon shifted from confusion to admiration, with more than a hint of embarrassment. Read More