|
Monday, May 11, 2009
|
Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence |
|
|
|
 My teacher says that it is almost always some type of pain that brings us to yoga. Whether it’s physical, mental, or emotional, it is pain that leads us to the path of self-discovery. Pain is the sign of disconnection and division between our bodies, our minds, and our hearts. Matthew Sanford’s case was no different in that respect. After a tragic car accident that left him paralyzed from the chest down at thirteen, Matthew spent years trying to heal the physical, mental, and emotional pain that stemmed from the accident. Waking is the story of how he coped with this life altering event and ultimately found peace in the practice of yoga.
Waking explores Matthew Sanford’s journey into and through paralysis in a candid and sometimes graphic way. Matthew includes the reader on the journey from his initial accident and recovery through the ongoing experiences he encounters as he adapts to his life after the accident. The story is at times heartbreaking and at others unnerving. It is an homage to his family and a memorial to the concepts of paralysis that he was encouraged to take on in the process of “recovery.” As is often the case in devastating injury, the tragedy began with the accident and continued for a long time afterward. But through his poignant and sometimes brutal honesty, Matthew shares the raw experiences that led him to his renewed life and the practice of yoga. This story of paralysis is not one of overcoming in the way that many others today are described. Matthew Sanford has not won any wheelchair races or any gold medals in the Olympics. Rather his accomplishments have been on a much more subtle level, working to heal the rift between his mind and his paralyzed body. His insights are profound, and in many ways, contradict the traditional approach to therapy and paralysis. Matthew’s patience and persistence is inspiring, and though his story pulls at the heart until the very end, it is uplifting. Through the practice of yoga, Matthew Sanford has found the light within an immense darkening of this body and mind, and is sharing it with the world. Buy Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence by Matthew Sanford 0 Comments
Write comment
You must be logged in to a comment. Please register if you do not have an account yet.
|
Our Sponsor
"Summon Your Soul" using one of the hand-crafted malas from Japa Mala Beads
|
| Free Newsletter |
|---|
| Premium Content |
|---|
| Our membership site is chocked full of detailed yogic information and deluxe features. Take our membership tour to find out all of the benefits of joining. |
| Spread the Love |
|---|
|
Add this page to one (or more!) of your favorite social bookmarking sites: 
|
| New Users |
|---|
| To get the most out of our site, we suggest you take some time to explore before jumping into the practice. Browse our yoga 101 section for general info on the history and types of yoga, then start exploring asanas the physical postures used in hatha yoga. Remember to breathe and always start your yoga practice with a brief meditation. Questions? check out our yoga message board. If you are new to yoga, please read our Yoga for Beginner's page |
| Yoga Scholarships |
|---|
| To encourage and support the development and training of great yoga teachers we have created a Yoga Scholarship program. If you need financial assistance for your 200+ hour yoga teacher training please apply for our scholarship. Partial scholarships are awarded twice a year to qualified candidates. |
| Yogic Wisdom |
|---|
|
It is important to expect nothing, To take every experience, Including the negative ones, As merely steps on the path, And to proceed. Ram Dass |
| Our Most Popular Pages |
|---|
| RSS Syndication |
|---|
 Subscribe to our RSS feed to keep informed on all new updates to YogaBasics.com.
In order to use our Newsfeed you need to cut and paste the URL into a RSS reader or use your browser's RSS "subscribe" button.
|
Ahimsa, the yogic practice of non violence must be adhered to when engaging in the practice of hatha yoga. Respect your body's limitations and inner wisdom, if something feels wrong or dangerous, please do not do it.
Please consult your health care practitioner before starting a yoga, pranayama or other exercise program.
All contents copyright 2001-2012 Timothy Burgin and Yogabasics.com. All rights reserved. Om shanti peace.
Please consult your health care practitioner before starting a yoga, pranayama or other exercise program.
All contents copyright 2001-2012 Timothy Burgin and Yogabasics.com. All rights reserved. Om shanti peace.
