Here’s a link to Matthew Sanford’s new YouTube channel. Matthew is an Iyengar Yoga Teacher who is paralyzed from the chest down. In these videos he demonstrates how a mind body connection that can be developed through yoga can help those living with a disability find comfort and peace in their body.I studied with Matthew in Boston, and he is truly amazing and inspiring.
Sandhills Doulas (aka Ashley and Amber) got a little press this weekend in the Mother’s Day issue of the Pilot. Check out the link below:
Marie Thorne-Tomsen and I had a fun photo shoot with photographer and yogi Rachel Garrison last week. Here is what you can expect from Thai Yoga or Therapeutic Yoga session:
PRANA: from the root pra “to fill” full. Prana is the notion of a vital sustaining life force, one of the 5 organs of vitality that is shared by every living creature: our breath. In yoga, it is considered the link between the spiritual and material self.
YOGA: to “yoke”, or to “harness”. To bring the body and the mind together into one beautiful, harmonious life experience.
The practice of yoga dates back more than 5,000 years. Yoga was born out of the desire for personal freedom, good health, and self-awareness. As can be expected with a tradition this old, yoga has evolved into uncountable subdivisions and variations. In the United States, yoga continues to grow in popularity as a form of low-impact physical exercise. It is exciting to live in time where you can find a yoga class everywhere you go!
In addition to a form of physical exercise, yoga today is used for meditation and as alternative medicine. Yoga has been used as alternative therapy for conditions as diverse as cancer, diabetes, asthma and AIDS.
How does this work? In short, Yoga asanas, or postures, stimulate the flow of prana. This combination of breathing and movement, when done properly, can promote not just strength and flexibility, but proper function of the body systems and mental wellness. The practice can improve the quality of life for cancer patients. For those living with a disability, yoga can bring awareness to the subtle energy moving through your body. Both the physical exercise and the meditation techniques are healing for those suffering from depression. Whatever your condition or life situation, yoga can offer a more relaxed attitude, more balance in your daily life, and a deeper connection to the spirit.