we are mbs
humanityupdate
november 2018
our mission Mind Body Solutions transforms the lives of people living with trauma, loss, and disability and those who care for them by helping them integrate mind and body.
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Photo by Molly Bachman
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from our founder Mind Body Solutions will always serve people living with trauma, loss, and disabilities and their caregivers by helping them connect mind and body. We recognize that this means we ultimately serve everybody and we take that mission seriously. We will always work in innovative ways to expand our impact as widely as possible. We will always be faithful stewards of your support. We continue to teach adaptive yoga classes throughout the Twin Cities. We continue to train yoga teachers from the around the world how to teach ANY body, regardless of their level of ability. This year we partnered with Lululemon to offer 26 full scholarships to worthy candidates, including a recipient working on a peace initiative for kids living in Jerusalem, an occupational therapist beginning an adaptive yoga program for the underserved in South Africa, and a trainer serving the British military stationed in Kenya who is also bringing adaptive yoga to the native population. In addition, this year we have also mentored into existence Mind Body Connections Europe, a loosely affiliated organization that is sharing our break-through methodology all across Europe. There is more. This year we raised the initial money to train the workers at the Sexual Violence Center serving the Twin Cities. We have also continued to grow our Living ‘til the End program that shares mind-body techniques in-home for people living with a chronic diagnosis or receiving palliative care. We have also entered our third year of working with Gillette Children’s hospital and this year added in-patient adaptive yoga classes. More than that, Mind Body Solutions is now on the national and international maps for offering a groundbreaking mindbody approach to people living with trauma and PTSD. In June, I gave a keynote address at the renowned Boston Trauma Conference and began a collaborative relationship with the best-selling author and leading psychiatrist Bessel van der Kolk MD, including developing and teaching a section in his internationally revered and distributed online course on trauma and PTSD. Later this month, I will travel to London, Ontario and consult with leading clinician and neuroscience researcher Dr. Ruth Lanius and her team at Western University. The aim is to help pioneer new mind-body research and new clinical approaches for people suffering the effects of trauma. On top of all that, Mind Body Solutions has moved to a new location more central within the Twin Cities to better serve our core demographic. In this new space, we have invested in expanding our capacity to provide more digital content and virtual learning opportunities worldwide. More on this exciting move later. Through everything we do, we strive to help people heal in unexpected ways. We strive to build a thriving community that spans the gap between ability and disability, between ailment and mind-body health. Most of all, we strive to earn your much needed support every single day. Please grace us with your generous donation and we promise to expand its reach tenfold. Peace and love,
Matthew Sanford Founder, Mind Body Solutions 4
Photo by Molly Bachman Photo by Molly Bachman
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our tribe The folks you will meet on the next few pages represent who we are and why we do what we do.
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mindbodysolutions.org
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meet polly.
A caretaker’s story of facing end of life with grace...
Last year we introduced you to our latest offering, Living ‘til the End, a program that helps people facing end of life - and their caretakers discover simple ways to find comfort, ease, and relief in this difficult period of life. Since we’re still in early days, we continue to raise awareness and work closely with volunteer ambassadors and participants in shaping this program. One of our most recent participants is Polly Posten, who we had the pleasure of meeting at Pathways this past spring when we led a 90-minute experiential partner session and introduction to Living ‘til the End. As a naturally curious person, Polly attended the workshop in hopes of learning how to apply a mind-body practice and approach to her life as a caretaker to Bill, her husband of more than 40 years who lives with stage 4 prostate cancer and other chronic conditions. At the Pathways session, Polly really felt how giving and receiving support can create a profound difference in one’s approach to living along with the benefit and joy found in playful
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movement. In her words, “Playing together... It is so simple and refreshing.” After learning more about our approach, Polly says that she immediately felt connected to MBS and the people she met at the Pathways event which led her to join the LttE program. Once enrolled in LttE, participants are matched up with a trained MBS ambassador for up to six in-home visits where together they explore simple mind-body practices that address grounding, expansion, balance, and rhythm. Depending on an ambassador’s personal experience and interests, they may also incorporate other elements during their sessions such as reading, meditation, and breathwork. Polly’s ambassador, Kathy Dahl, is a voracious reader so it only felt natural and appropriate for Kathy to share passages from some of her favorite authors such as David Whyte. Polly really enjoyed this personal touch and found great comfort when Kathy would invite her to lay down during the final moments of their sessions and read to her. Polly recalls these moments as being some of the most insightful. In the quiet
space, she felt she was able to come home to herself. “It was so opening and welcoming. As I lay there, I felt open to good things. I could come right into me...” As Polly wraps up her six visits and time in the program, she says she will continue to weave these practices into her life and in the time she spends with Bill. Though he didn’t directly participate in LttE, Polly believes that he too absorbed some of the practices. She sees him sitting taller and can’t help but notice him expanding into the space around him. She also notes that in just a short time, he has become more spontaneous, intimate, and open. One can’t help but wonder if these transformations have actually occurred because of Polly, who by all accounts has always been curious, open, and full of life… But, she gives credit to Living ‘til the End and MBS in helping her discover greater joy during this period of her and Bill’s life. As Polly says, “All of our days are numbered but we all have the capacity to see and feel the lovely focus of the moment.”
polly is mbs. mindbodysolutions.org
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meet todd. Changing the story of healthcare...
In pursuing our mission of transforming trauma, loss and disability into hope and healing, we have come to learn that sharing practical mindbody practices in the healthcare sector deepens the reach of our work while creating a positive, lasting impact for patients and healthcare workers alike. Healthcare professionals who come from a range of specialties have trained with us on our approach and feedback tells us that our content is innovative, meaningful and truly has the power to change the delivery of healthcare. Todd Dalberg who serves in pediatric palliative care and as medical director for pain and integrative care at Gillette Children’s attended a weekend intensive training with Matthew Sanford several years ago and left with a newfound energy and perspective in how to improve patient outcomes. He discovered new tools and way of working that helped him in being able to connect with patients and their families. He explains that the workshop revealed concepts “in a way that was never part of my training which included a residency and two fellowships.”
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In addition to improved connection with patients and their caregivers, Todd has seen tangible results from applying mind-body skills in a practical way. In particular, he recalls a time when basic grounding instructions helped him with a patient that he felt would benefit from clinical hypnosis. After realizing the patient was experiencing anxiety about the treatment, Todd took a step back and brought in some simple mind-body language which allowed the patient to seamlessly transition into the clinical hypnosis. Todd explains “Without [the] training, I don’t believe that encounter would have been at all beneficial or successful.” While these techniques have clearly improved patient relationships, Todd has also found great personal benefit through quick mind-body practices. Especially in stressful times, one way that he calms himself is by simply relaxing the tongue and jaw. “I do actually practice mind-body techniques, and have found the tongue and jaw can really have a cascade effect on setting the tone and relaxing the entire body.” He continues, “This works really well before - sometimes during and after difficult encounters.”
Even when Todd isn’t at work, mindbody practices and yoga maintain a presence in his life. It helps that Todd’s wife, Julie is a yoga teacher (and one of MBS’ beloved adaptive yoga teachers!) who skillfully integrates yoga into their life, particularly sharing poses that ease aches and pains he incurs from intense weekend activities like biking for upward of 10 hours! Beyond practicing asana together, Todd describes how these practices have become part of their daughter’s life as well. “Now that we have a daughter, I’m often surprised that we unconsciously incorporate [mindbody] language and poses into our interactions with Reese, even though she’s an infant. Reese is also a natural and has taught us to slow down, become more aware of nature, feels the texture of leaves and flowers, be silent, and smile.” And that’s what it’s all about. Recognizing the simplicity of a moment, gratitude for the silence and the sensation of a smile and connection. Todd concludes, “We feel very fortunate that we have this skill set that works so well in each of our professional and personal lives.”
todd is mbs. mindbodysolutions.org
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meet sarah. Sharing a story of hope and healing with our nation’s veterans…
From the moment that Sarah Brindle first worked with veterans at a VA hospital during her graduate school studies, she knew she had found her calling. As a student of Counseling Psychology, Sarah was deeply interested in health psychology and found that working with veterans was complex and interesting, explaining that often medical and psychological issues often overlap and affect each other. Later in her graduate school career, while completing a pre-doctoral internship at Long Beach VA, she was exposed to working in the spinal cord injury unit and found this too was a complex area to work in, for similar reasons that she found in working with veterans. These experiences since then have become the foundation in all of Sarah’s clinical, writing, advocacy, and volunteer work with and for people living with physical disabilities. Today, you can find Sarah at Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center in Long Beach, CA where she works as a staff psychologist. She’s been in the Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) Service for 13 years and works exclusively with paralyzed veterans, many who were injured several years ago and are now aging with a physical disability. She has dedicated much of her life to serving people with disabilities and finds great satisfaction in serving veterans in this way, too. “I love working with veterans in particular because of the shared experiences of veterans, the camaraderie, and community that many of them find helpful, and the fact that everyone 12
I serve at the VA ‘signed on the dotted line’ to serve our country—whether they experienced combat or not.” Sarah first learned about Matthew through a colleague, and she immediately felt connected to his insights about awakening the link between mind and body. She explains, “I was hooked on the idea of connection to the whole body, even if a person can’t feel or move certain parts of their body, and I wanted to bring that to my SCI veterans. Very often, I see that people with paralysis, in particular, have lost that connection and sometimes simply ignore those parts where they have less sensation or complete lack of sensation. As a psychologist, I know that this has implications as well in terms of body satisfaction, pain experience, intimacy, and overall wellbeing.” Between her professional background and personal interest in yoga, she began lobbying for funding to attend Opening Yoga training at MBS. She was determined to attend and knew it wasn’t simply about modifying postures. “I knew this training was different—not just ‘oh, if you can’t do this pose, just do it from your chair,’” Sarah explains. Her persistence finally paid off and she was able to experience a transformative week with a group that mostly consisted of trained yoga teachers. She quickly realized after the training that she wanted to go deeper into this work and part of that journey was to deepen her understanding of yoga. She enrolled in a 200-Hour teacher training program at Be The Change in
Irvine, CA and calls it “another transformative experience.” Now with Opening Yoga Level I/II training and her yoga teacher certification in hand, she was ready to start teaching adaptive yoga classes. Even before she began her t raining, she had already spent a few years trying to gain support for offering adaptive yoga to veterans with spinal cord injuries and finally, in March 2018, Sarah taught her first class at the VA. Now, she leads two classes each week - one with a physical therapist that involves seated and floor poses, and a seated-only class focused on seated poses and meditation exercises. Since offering these classes, Sarah has experienced several standout moments with the students. She recalls a student who initially resisted the idea of removing his shoes then promptly fell asleep during the beginning centering exercise despite his chronic sleep issues, and another student that experiences major chronic pain yet makes special efforts to come to class because it’s just that important to him. Another woman with paralysis told Sarah she hadn’t gotten on the floor in over 20 years since her accident and that doing so in class was in itself a healing experience. While Sarah assisted the same student with a rhythmic reclining leg exercise, the woman exclaimed, “My lower back is saying ‘Where have you been my whole life?’” For Sarah, creating this healing space for veterans is a highlight of her work. She
explains, “It feels wonderful to create a space where these moments can happen. I think the experience of coming to a class that is not geared towards strict therapeutic goals, but where the individual is allowed to experience their whole body in a relaxing, supportive environment is unique and healing in its own way for people with disabilities.” Sarah continues to dedicate time to continuing education and recently returned to MBS for our weekend workshop, A Mind Body Approach to Trauma and PTSD. She’s excited to utilize the skills and insights she learned in her adaptive yoga classes and clinical psychology work. “I was blown away by some of the ideas that were presented and really feel that the mind-body connection is an untapped area in terms of trauma bodywork,” she explains. In the process of cultivating tools to help others, Sarah has also discovered techniques and concepts that have helped her become more present in her life. “In my work with adaptive students, I need to cultivate my own inner awareness to be able to teach well.” She continues, “Being able to give and receive support is essential to us as human beings and can happen in so many small, subtle, but important ways.”
sarah is mbs. mindbodysolutions.org
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meet tracy. The catalyst for Yoga for Intellectual Disabilities at MBS…
Tracy Dolliff could see the benefits of yoga for her daughter, Madison. Not only did Madison love it but it was a calming and relaxing experience for her. After Madison had practiced yoga at her high school a couple of times, Tracy tried to start a yoga program at her pediatric speech therapy nonprofit, The Madison Center. Unfortunately, staffing the class was a challenge yet the girls they serve at nonprofit center loved yoga so Tracy was determined to make something work. Living near MBS, Tracy says she had often driven past and eventually saw a flyer advertising our adaptive yoga classes, which are geared towards physical disabilities and mobile impairment. Seeing an opportunity, Tracy reached out to see if we might consider starting a class specifically for young adults with cognitive disabilities. Never shy about looking at
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ways to expand the scope of our work, MBS set out to come up with a plan to make this request a reality. After securing a teacher and agreeing on a trial period of the class with Madison and a group of her long-time friends, the class was underway. Now two years later and the class is proving to be a great success! Tracy says, “The classes are very popular and loved by the kids. I think it’s a calming space for them in a crazy world. They always enjoy getting together as a group and the social aspect is just as important. It’s time for them to be independent from their parents and have their own group.” The benefits of this class extend to the parents as well. Having an hour to catch their breath and re-group is incredibly important, says Tracy. Everybody also benefits from the
weekly schedule. This consistency means that both the parents and kids have an activity to look forward to each week. While Tracy admits she doesn’t practice yoga herself (but quickly adds that she should!) she remains grateful. “We are so grateful to MBS and the instructors for making this possible and having an open and accepting culture... the experience is wonderful for the group and for the parents.” These classes are currently offered on Tuesdays at 5 pm and Fridays at 9:45 am. Check out our adaptive yoga offerings here. All of our adaptive yoga classes are offered at highly subsidized rates in order to make this practice accessible and available to all, made possible through the generosity of our friends and donors.
tracy is mbs.
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meet jo, fredee, suzanne, an Mind Body Connections Europe - A story of faith, friendship, and a shared vision…
“What is happening might be more profound than you know. Cultivate the happening.” Those who have been part of our Opening Yoga/Adapting Yoga for Disability training will recognize this quote - and the feeling of something happening even if they can’t quite articulate it. What follows is the story of four passionate yoga teachers and students who all began as solo travelers on their MBS journey yet recall the way their individual realizations felt like something much bigger. They trusted the hours which eventually became Adaptive Yoga U.K. and has since evolved to become Mind Body Connections Europe. This story begins in 2010 when Jo Duffin had recently given birth and was seeking re-connection to her yoga practice before teaching again. She explains that having never been fully comfortable with adjusting students as a corrective measure, she signed up for a workshop with Matthew Sanford called The Art of Adjusting when he was in London. At the time Jo wasn’t familiar with Matthew but like many, she felt an instant connection with his teachings. “Something about the workshop really touched me,” she begins. “This was a different approach, everything about it felt both familiar
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enough to feel like home, but also completely fresh and new... it blew me away.” The following year, Jo gave birth to her second child and continued her yoga practice but it wasn’t long after that Jo found herself “wondering if that American guy ever came back to London…” Meanwhile, Frederique (Fredee) Sardais had met a woman who had served in the U.K. Air Force as a pilot. The woman jokingly asked Fredee if she might be able to teach yoga to pilots but on a more serious note, wondered if Fredee might be able to teach military personnel, particularly those returning home, some with new injuries and disabilities. Until this conversation, Fredee hadn’t even considered the possibility of adaptive yoga. “At this point the thought that any yoga approach existed in relation to working with mobility impairments had never crossed my mind,” she says. After this conversation, Fredee turned to Google to research the subject where she found Matthew’s work and book, Waking. She was fascinated and quickly made the decision that she needed to travel to the U.S. to study with Matthew when a colleague teased, “You don’t need to go so far. He’s coming to TriYoga [in London].” A month later, Fredee was experiencing her first adaptive yoga class and after just five minutes, she
was even more certain that she needed to dive deeper into this work. When she spoke to Matthew and said she’d be coming to the U.S., he laughed and joked, “You’re crazy!” But, even he could not have predicted how this story would continue to unfold. The following year, Fredee kept her word and traveled to Minnesota for Level I of Opening Yoga/Adapting Yoga for Disability, leaving with a new sense of purpose yet the pressure of building an adaptive yoga program by herself. “[After the training] I returned to the U.K., rich with new skills, dreams and huge nervousness about it all... At that point I’m the only one in the U.K. to have done [the training] and really I feel the weight of the [loneliness].” Around the same time that Fredee was pondering how she could possibly share MBS’ work and vision in Europe, Jo was checking to see if Matthew was going to be back in London and as luck (or fate, she wonders) would have it, he was offering another series of workshops the following month. This time she signed up for the full series and had time to share deeper conversations with Matthew. For her, this was a turning point. “That sealed the beginning of the journey… Without really being able to identify it, everything began to shift,” Jo says.
nd louise...
jo, fredee, suzanne, & louise are mbs. mindbodysolutions.org
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The year ticked over to 2013 and Fredee has made the pilgrimage back to Minnesota for Level II of Opening Yoga training. During her travels, she remembers dreaming and hoping for company to help her share this work. “More than ever in my thoughts and prayers I’m asking for a team to come together U.K. side to do this all with me... It’s too big for a single teacher.” Little did she know, her travel companions weren’t too far away... In the course of the year, as Jo felt things shifting and Fredee was still holding onto hope that she would find company in this journey, a yoga teacher trainee based in Italy named Suzanne Galfredi had been researching yoga for disability and the brain, which led her to Mind Body Solutions. Suzanne e-mailed MBS and wondered whether there were any teachers in Europe who had attended training or if there were any workshops planned for Europe. She found out that Fredee had studied with Matthew and MBS so Suzanne reached out to Fredee. She also learned that Matthew would be returning to teach in London and immediately signed up. At the London workshop, Suzanne and Fredee were able to finally con18
nect in person while Matthew introduced Jo and Fredee. Before long, Jo, Fredee, Suzanne and Matthew were out having dinner and this most certainly was another pivotal point in this story. Matthew saw an opportunity, potential - and realized this meeting was not just a coincidence. Fredee remembers his words to the group, “‘You should hang out together more... You should probably think about working together.” Jo could already feel that this connection was meant to be part of her journey. “Getting to know Fredee and Suzanne coincided with my process of realization, we were fellow travellers - company felt good,” Jo says. It would also seem that Fredee’s prayers were being answered. Fredee’s hopes continued to become reality when a new adaptive yoga student named Louise Edwards entered the fold in 2014. Louise lives with a form of cerebral palsy that causes hypermobility and very sensitive sound stimulus, which causes balance issues. Living in the busiest city in Europe was physically and mentally draining for Louise who had no choice but to spend a full day recovering when it came time to the weekend. Frustrated with the doctor’s solution of using
drugs to sedate her body, she began to investigate neuroplasticity and PTSD studies. Eventually she came across Waking, which resonated deeply with her experience. “The story so profoundly describes the yoga journey Matthew took that reconciled his body and mind after years of struggling with expectations of doctors, setbacks and disappointment. I wanted to have that kind of peace and sweetness, too... I wanted adaptive yoga but how?” Louise wondered. Living in West London, it was luck (or, perhaps fate at work once again?) that Louise found that Fredee was teaching adaptive yoga classes nearby. Of her first class, Louise says, “Attending my first adaptive yoga class was physically calming and enlightening but also an emotional thunderbolt, a homecoming at a very deep level.” As she continued practicing, she discovered the deep connection and support that arises from being with a group. “The weekly class gives me a space where I can be a disabled person, I can openly struggle and feel good about it, and I can unite mind and body in a peaceful way,” Louise explains. After four years of practicing yoga, she has felt improved balance, steadiness
when she walks, not to mention a more compassionate relationship with her body. She also notices a stronger ability to support herself through life’s challenges. A few months after coming to class, Louise approached Fredee about her desire to expand adaptive yoga offerings in Europe. The two sat in conversation and as Louise remembers it, “As the outside grew darker, our little spark of mutual inspiration for adaptive yoga grew stronger.” While their initial hope was to offer more classes, they quickly realized there weren’t enough trained teachers to fulfill this need nor could everyone invest the time and resources to travel to Minnesota for training at MBS. As this challenge arose, part of the solution was already in action as Jo and Suzanne were heading to MBS together for Opening Yoga Level I/II, this time for a whole weeklong training. Fredee and Louise both knew that there would be a place for them in their efforts and collaboration. In June 2015, Suzanne, Jo and Fredee led their first workshop together in Milan, Italy called “Know Your
Practice” which introduced Matthew and MBS’ work as well as the principles of teaching adaptive yoga. This workshop marked their first collaboration as Adaptive Yoga U.K. and the start of what they hope to share now as Mind Body Connections Europe. In the background, Louise is working to keep the formation of Adaptive Yoga UK in motion and the team has another big opportunity to co-teach a set of workshops introducing the principles of adaptive yoga at the British Wheel of Yoga Convention in 2016 (The U.K.’s largest yoga membership organization). Over the years the group had shared plenty of meetings around kitchen tables, forming a deep bond and friendship. In 2017, the group began to consider how they could expand their work, offerings, and ultimately, share the benefits of adaptive yoga and an awakened mind-body connection to more people in Europe. While the group had already led several introductory workshops, they felt they were ready to share the MBS vision in a deeper way. They just needed the permission, support, and insight from
the “MBS Mothership” in Minnesota. After hours of conversation with Matthew about their vision, it was agreed that the next step would be for the team to travel together to Minnesota for an Opening Yoga Level I/ II training in April 2018 to observe and pinpoint the key messages they would need to share back in Europe. After returning home, the group was burning with passion and a deeper commitment to share this work possibly more than ever before. In Fall 2018, they formally launched as Mind Body Connections Europe and hit the ground running. Having already presented at the Accessible Yoga Conference in Berlin and plans to return to Italy to lead teacher training, it would seem this is only the tip of the iceberg. Our mission of transforming trauma, loss and healing is spreading around the globe - and so, slowly, but surely the world becomes a better place.
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our programs
We also provide outreach via speaking engagements, demonstrations and classes throughout the TC Metro.
adaptive yoga opening yoga classes for everybody teacher trainings
a mind-body approach to trauma and PTSD
We adapt the principles of yoga for people in physically difficult and changing bodies. Our work is accessible to everyone, regardless of physical or neurological ability. Through our weekly yoga classes at our studio, at Tula Yoga and Wellness in St.Paul and Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Center, we unleash the best of humanity by improving the quality of life and providing hope and healing in unexpected ways.
We offer an experiential approach in exploring how trauma and post-traumatic stress affect the mind-body relationship. Through guided experiential activities, group discussion, and creative problem solving, participants gain an intuitive understanding of how PTS affects a person’s sense of presence both within his or her body and within the world. In this workshop, professional caregivers, educators and yoga teachers discover our unique approach to helping, rather than simply treating, people with PTSD.
Our pre-eminent adaptive yoga teacher training is based upon the unique experience of our Founder Matthew Sanford, an award-winning author, nationally renowned yoga teacher, and paraplegic for the last 40 years. Our goal: We want a skillful adaptive yoga teacher in every community. We offer progressive levels of study in week long workshops as well as a Opening Yoga Instructor Certificate Program.
living ‘til the end The final stages of life can be filled with uncertainty. Mind Body Solutions’ Living til the End program is designed to nourish both the individual and their caregiver(s) during this difficult life transition. This program introduces participants to a mind-body approach that redefines the concepts of healing and living well. Using the universal principles of yoga and simple practices taught by trained Mind-Body Ambassadors, this program will help both patients and their caregivers find ease, relief, and connection in this time of shared uncertainty.
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Photo by Andy Richter
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our 2017 numbers A fraction of our impact last year and continued to grow in 2018...
10,000+
Adaptive Yoga Participant Hours
4,000
Newsletter Subscribers
3,000+
Facebook Likes
1,450
Email Inquiries
850+
Donations
47,012
YouTube Views
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Opening Yoga Scholarship Recipients
1,200+
Adaptive Yoga Teachers Trained to date
1,100+
Healthcare Providers Trained to date
Photo by Molly Bachman
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Photo by Molly Bachman
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our year In addition to offering 11 weekly adaptive yoga classes, community outreach, Opening Yoga teacher trainings, “Living ‘til the End” and new programs tailored for healthcare providers both on site and in our studio, we offered some exciting new ways to share our work and our mission this year...
opening yoga instructor
Over the past year, we welcomed another new batch of eager, thoughtful, and creative yoga teachers into a deeper level of MBS training - the Opening Yoga Instructor certification program. Each participant made the commitment to expand their teaching by taking part in a self-directed course of study. At their own pace within a three-year term, candidates complete two experiential courses, as well as additional studies under the guidance of MBS senior faculty. OYI graduates are able to teach anyone, including people living with neurological deficit, those suffering with PTSD, mental health conditions and the elderly. OYI Certificate candidates gain unparralleled insight into the nature of trauma, loss and disability while employing a method that derives from universal principles of the asana. These students are part of a unique group who are recognized for their exceptional diligence, creativity, and commitment to furthering the principles of yoga as they apply to people of all abilities.
Five years and counting! Our 5th annual yogathon started with a fun, full house of yogis at our kickoff event, led by founder Matthew Sanford! From there, yogis around the world launched their month to DO YOGA to SHARE YOGA and HELP OTHERS. In doing so, they raised $60K for our adaptive yoga program! Proceeds helped us fund our opening yoga training scholarship program, helped buy new props and equipment, and helped offer MBS staff additional PTSD training. Above all, it helped us continue providing 10,000+ participant hours of adaptive yoga here, and tens of thousands more nationally, to those living with trauma, loss, and disability. Part of the reason for our great success this year was due to radical generosity of yoga teachers around the country. We invited MBS trained teachers to get involved in the yogathon by offering a “Kiss My Asana” donation class in their community during the yogathon. Wow, did our tribe step up. Dozens of classes, events, and gatherings helped us reach our goal! THANK YOU!
“Magical.” “Powerful.” “Intense and well-planned.” “Fun and more wonderful than I ever could have imagined.” These are a few of the words and phrases participants of the 2018 Body. Mind. Story workshops used to describe their experience. Participants from coast to coast came to learn from and grow into their own story. Renowned storytelling trio Kevin Kling, Patricia Francisco, and Matthew Sanford led the brave storytellers through a ground breaking new approach to teaching storytelling. Participants also recognized the true healing power of a story shared - both for the teller and the listener. The goal was to help workshop participants explore the role of both mind and body in recognizing and telling the stories of their lives. The overwhelming response and success of this workshop enticed us to go big next year. 2019 Workshops dates: Janurary 17-20, May 2-5, August 8-11 and October 10-13. Come, join us!
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our future
Building off a solid foundation, we move into new possibilities...
a new space We have exciting news! After sixteen years at our beautiful Minnetonka location, Mind Body Solutions is moving into a new space in St. Louis Park. There are many reasons for this, but we want to stop, pause, and be thankful for all we have accomplished in Minnetonka and for the amazing community support that we have received. We are thrilled to be leasing space within the Yoga Center at 4212 Park Glen Road, St. Louis Park, MN 55416. From this more central location, we can better serve our core demographic in both Minneapolis and St. Paul. The move, however, also creates other exciting opportunities. We are increasing our digital capacity to meet our increasing national and international demand for our adaptive yoga expertise. Our new space will also have to capability to create a virtual classroom and online training opportunities and mentoring for teachers and caregivers alike. Our knowledge and expertise will know no geographic boundaries. Our new space will also be able to flex into a physical classroom and allow us to offer expanded programming that brings mind-body insights even farther into our everyday lives, like our Body.Mind.Story weekend and training on Yoga and Leadership (in development). Mind Body Solutions will slowly shift into a community education provider, creating a wide array of unique learning opportunities that emphasize a mind-body approach. MBS will no longer be offering drop-in yoga classes for traditional students, but many of our teachers, including our Founder Matthew Sanford, will teach traditional yoga classes at the new studio - through Yoga Center Retreat. We will, however, be offering our full schedule of adaptive yoga classes at our new locations beginning December 1st. Finally, our new space is also beautiful and it is embedded within a wonderful healing and transformational environment with other aligned organizations. Please come find us!
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our support
We’d like to recognize the following organizations who hold us up everyday...
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In addition to the steadfast support we receive from hundreds of individual donors every year, we have been fortunate to also have the backing of a few key foundations and progressive organizations who believe that transforming lives in big and little ways is a wise investment in everyone’s future. Thank you.
2017 Corporate and Foundation Support
Pro-bono support
Give Back Yoga Foundation Jonathan Schwartz Family Foundation Lakewinds Natural Foods Medtronic The Calmenson Foundation Twin Cities Orthopedics
Abdo, Eick, & Meyers Barre Bliss Google for Nonprofits Nemer Fieger Tula Yoga & Wellness mindbodysolutions.org
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2017 ANNUAL FUND DONORS: Ronald Adelman Martha Albrecht Vicki Allen Michael Amy James & Ann Amy Martha Anderson William Ankeny Molly Bachman Lori Bakken Eleanor Bathe Sue Benson Cathy & Ron Benton Elsa Bross Laney Brown Janit Buccella Colleen Canning Diane Cassady Gabrielle Chambliss Dick Comben
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David Conkey Julia Conlee Gene Cooper Jane Cowles Terese Coyne Kris Cramer Alyce Cranston Diane & Tomas Cullumber-Flores Kathy & Hod Dahl Calleen De Oliveira Gary Diamond Dave Diehl Jo Duffin Susan Dulin Rosemarie Dwyer Todd Dybul Barbara Engle J. Marie Fieger Sheila FitzPatrick Fitz & Mary Pat FitzPatrick
Daniel FitzPatrick LindaFrank Kathy & Hazen Graves
Laurie H.Greeno Karen Greer Sarah Haberman Ron Halverson Jayne Halvorson Amy Hanson Juli Heath David Hedlund Maureen Helgren Sarah Henderson Mary Higgs Joel Hodroff Marla Horwitz Jeff Hovanec Nancy Hutchinson Bethany Hutchinson Charles Hutchinson Juanita Jahnigen Laurel Jung
Siobhan Kaliher Ellen Kane Kyoko Katayama Roxann Keyes Maia Kikerpill Sara Kochanowski Katie Kohlbeck Sandy Krzyzanowski Renee LaRose Matt Lee Michael Lenarz Carol Lenhart Elizabeth Levine Michael Ley Robert Ley Janna Lindoo Kris & Mark MacDonald Jane Magurie Cheryl Mahin Jo Ann Manthey Pam McDonald
Russell Melzer Jackie Miley Mary Miller Peter Mitchelson Melinda Moos Liza & Andrew Morgan Sharon & Dick Mrocek Kevin Murphy Steve Murphy Sylvia Nasla Lisa Nelson Ann Nye Donna O’Rourke Erin O’Rourke Carolyn Olsen-Smith Nancy Otos Colleen Pelkey Therese Prittschett Miriam & Al Rickert EdwinRitchie
Suzy Robertson Cindy Rogers Beth Rosenberger Paula Sanford Mary Saul Lillah Schwartz Linda Schwegman Peter Seals Susan Showalter Jane St. Anthony Carol Suggs Jane Sullivan Jeff Swegarden Jane Tadsen Morgen Thomas Karol & James Thomas Katherine Thomas Jan Thome Claire Thometz Madge Thorsen Tamara Trulson
our donors
Our biggest thanks to these hundreds of friends who supported the work of Mind Body Solutions in 2017-18.
Nina Utne Karen Vizyak James Voci Peggy Wadman Karen Walker Cheri Walter Jim & Jennifer Weichert Mark & Mary Werner Dale Widman Jen Wightman Kimberly Zismer Jo & Mike Zukovich 2018 YOGATHON DONORS: Bryan Aaker Michelle Aalbers Karen Abele Noelani Abrams Anne Adams
CatherineAhlinHalverson Wendy Alan Miriam Amelang Michael Amy Christine AmyKneiszel Therese Anderson Sharon Anderson Martha Anderson Kari Anderson Cary Anderson Soma Angelus Amanda Arens Judy Atrubin Johanna Audette Joan Autrey Bonnie Baca Katherine Baidel Barbara Bair Jennifer Baker-Jones Sue Baldwin
Elizabeth Barnes Rachel BassGuennewig Eleanor Bathe Tom Battley Roseann Becker Jennifer Behnke Bret Behnke Catherine Bender Jane Benjamin Megan Bennett Sue Benson Jeanine Berlocher Danielle Berres Jennifer Best Rachel Bird Anderson Denise Bisanz Kelsey Black Jason Bliss Tracy Bloomfield Shayla Boger
Elizabeth Boo Marla Bookhout Michael Borg Ellen Boschwitz Amanda Bourgeois Halen Bower Sarah Bowlin Dawn Boyle Nancy Bray Lindsey Breier Rebecca Briggs Sarah Brindle Wendy Brom Meghan Brown Renee Brown Aaron Brown Carol Bruess Catherine Bryans Jane Buettemeier Cara Buettner Kirsten Cadieux Nancy Caira
Margaret Callahan Susan Calmenson Bridge tCameron Camio Yoga Colleen Canning Robert Carlson Mike Carr Gudrun Brooks Kim Carter Michelle Cavallaro Ed Cerier Louise Chalfant Gabrielle Chambliss Julie Champ Shin Chang Leanne Charlesworth Anu Chathampally Perl John Chavez Elizabeth Christensen
Jill Claphan Jennifer Colletti Megan Collins
Dick Comben David Conkey Gene Cooper Lori Coutts Fraase Natalie Cowell Terese Coyne Bob Crum Ellen Crump Michelle Cullen Marla Cumming Kathy Dahl Hetal Dalal Emily Davidson Hilary Davidson Betsy Davies Erika De La Cuadra Mona Dembs Gwendolyn Derk Golda Deutscher Ronda Diegel Tina Doering Patrick Donlin
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Mary Donohue Matthew Dooling Ginger Doughty Shirley Doyle Samantha Drost Jo Duffin Mekea Duffy Michelle Duffy Megan Duley Lisa Dunkley Rosemarie Dwyer John Dyer Cathy Edstrom Andrea Eisenberg Sonja Elias Jeffrey Ellingboe Katherine Elliott Nancy Ellsworth Evelyn Emerson Matt Erb Carol Erickson Susan Erickson
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Sandra Evans Lori Evert Judy Farniok Kim Farrington Karen Fee Michael Felix Angela Fern Sarah Fesler J. Marie Fieger Susan Fink Kaia Fink Erika Finkler Joe FitzPatrick Tim FitzPatrick Brian FitzPatrick SheilaFitzPatrick Mary Pat FitzPatrick Daniel J FitzPatrick Trisha Flaherty Viktoria Ford Renee Forst Karla Forsyth
Gary Foti Mark Francis Linda Frank Diane Frea Katie Frentz Stacy Friedlander Christine Friend Fusion Yoga Lorie Gail Colin Garstecki Jenny Gaul Patti Gerety Leah Getsinger Deborah Gillikin Michael Gilliland Susan Glander Julie Gleason RachelGlowacki Megan Gohlke Liv Gold Ilene Grace Jane Gramling
Laurie H. Greeno Barb GreenwaldDavis Karen Greer Lenice Gregory Amy Griffith Julie Gronquist Sandy Gross Meghan Grossman Katherine Grussing Heather Hackett Deborah Hannasch Loren Hanson Rebecca Harkman Mary Harris Kathryn Hasledalen Deborah Hastings Will Hathaway Jane Hatlevik Barbara Hauger Anne Haus Marianne Hayek
Les Hazelton Rita Healy Elizabeth Hearne Juli Heath David Hedlund Lecia Heinen Maggie Heisterkamp Sarah Henderson Alexandra Hett Mary Higgs Sherrie Hill Cheryl Hillstrom Sara Hoerner Lori Hoerner Barb Hoffman Cynthia Holtz Cathy Homeszyn Annadelle Hopkins Julia Horgan Brian Horgan Cindy Horgan Amy Horgan
Ella Horgan Diane Horgan John Hotz Amanda Houle Kelly Howard Lester HughesSeamans Denise Humphrey Lisa Huntley Bethany Hutchinson Daniel Hutchinson Ellen Hwangbo Randall Istre Iyengar Yoga Inst of Champaign-Urbana Victoria Izquierdo Kathleen Jackson Sandra W Jackson Nicole James Karen Jankowski Julie Jasper Dawn Jenkins
our donors
Your donations help us help others. Thank you.
Kathleen Jewett Allison Johanson Amanda Johnson Lina Jonuskaite Meagan Juedes Christine Justice Siobhan Kaliher Ellen Kane Brenda Kellen Patricia Kennedy Sandra Keon Tony & Pat Kerick JeanneKitzman Gary Kjos Diane Klimowicz Matthew Kluck Heather Knott Michael & Martha Koch Kishori Koch Audrey Kohlbeck Katie Kohlbeck
Heidi Kopacek Beth Krakow Tamara Kuenster KulaYoga & Wellness Jena Kulenkamp Gerry Large Tesa Laskin Matt Lee Kathleen Lee Michael Lenarz Margaret Lester Minna Levenkron Michael Ley Emily Ley John Ley James Ley John & Mary Lou Ley
Robert Ley Desmond Lim Vickie Lind Jana Lindberg Mary Linde
Dennis & Andrea Linman Tom & Mary Linman
Sara Lee Litke Brad Litton James Lorenzen Michael Loscheider Katherine Low Todd Lowther Debra Lubberts Jenna Lucas Deborah Lumendal Rebecca Lyons Elizabeth Lyons Mark MacDonald Julie MacRae Jane Maguire Cheryl Mahin Linda Makowski Maria Maldonado Catherine Mamer Jo Ann Manthey
Krista Margolis Richard Marlatt Elaine Martin Cathy Mathews Denise Maxwell Molly Maxwell Sally Mcateer Karen McDougall Mary McGreevy Sharon McLaughlin Mary Pat McManus Mona McNeely Karmen McQuitty Joseph Merkl Sharon Meyers Catie Michaelson Natasha Milanoski Robert Miller Corrine Miller Allison Miller Anna Miller Michael Millios
Kelli Moberg Bridget Molitor Moon River Yoga & Wellness Emily Moore Denise Morrisette Sara Mountain Kate Moynihan Sharon & Dick Mrocek
Kathy Mulier Stephanie Mullaney Trinity Muller Chris Murray Cynthia Muskin Teruki Nakano Francesca Nelson Robert Nelson Sally Nelson Sarah Nelson Joseph Nesser Jamie Nichols Kristin Nilsen
William Nolan Jessica Nordin Elizabeth Nordstrom Mary Norlander Ann Nye Erin O’Brien Mike O’Halloran Patti O’Leary Lorrie O’Neal Josh Odom Shawn Ogden-Waters
Erika Olson Jerilynn Ommen
Elizabeth Oppeheimer
Jennie Orchard Barbara Osadcky Michael Oscarson Nativida Osland Michelle Pagitt Cody Panozzo Sandra Parks Barbara Parsons
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Christine Paul Judith Pazol Bill Pelton Heather Perkl Susan Perlman-Chavez Rosanna Pesicka Colleen Petroff Iglika Petrova Anjana Petsch Mellodee Phillips Stefanie Phythian Kathy Pierce Michelle Pietrzak-Wegner Deanna Plant Mary Plese Cynthia Pratt Terese Pritschet Caitlyn Pulitzer Sharon Radd Julie Railsback Mariangie Ramos Rodriguez Sharon K Randolph Francois Raoult
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Judy Ratliff Sandra Razieli Judith Razieli Barbara Redstone Marjorie Reed-Schmid Lucille Rehm Michelle Reichert Shalynn Reick Shalynn Reid Tom Reid Sarah Renner Nicole Reuter Maryann Reynolds Gaye Reynolds-Gooch Amber Richman Anne Jocelyn Ritchie Rolland Robertson Nancy Robinson Paige Robinson Serina Robinson Cindy Rogers Jennie Ross Susan Roth
Lisa Rubin Myra Rucker Julie Sabo Sally Sales Mary Salisbury Alan & Lucille Samson Amy Samson-Burke Tullika Saraf Frederique Sardais Mary Saul Deborah Saul Thomas Saylor Courtney Schaefer Heidi Schaefer Shelley Schanfield Rebecca Scheig Maureen Schlobohm Karl Schlotterbeck Liisa Schmitt Carol Schreier Matthew Schroeder Kelly Schultz Vicky & Tim Schumann Susan Schuster
Jennifer Seiff Diane Senjem Sally Serna Sarah Sheehan Ian Shiroma Margaret M. Shulman Jessica Siers Mary Sievers Carey Sims Erica Sitton Peggy Slater Christine Smalley Winifred Smith Susan Smith Jessica Smith Andrea Smith Teresa Sokol Cyndi Soter O’Neil Soul Flower Sarah Spence Jane St. Anthony Molly Stafford Tamara Statz John Steiner
Mary Steiner Molly Steinke James Stockschlaeder Donald Stone Jennifer Storms Ann Strong-Schmitz Cheryl Sulerud Jane Tadsen Becky Taurog Abby Thies Sarah Tholen Morgen Thomas Jan Thome Claire Thometz Lynn Thompson Sarah Thorsen Madge Thorsen Shannon Tingle Kati Toney John Trulson Sherrie Turcotte Suzanne Tuttle Elaine Twamley Dustin Urban
our donors
Your donations help us help others. Thank you.
Suzy Valek Marianne & Hal Ley Vittone Karen Vizyak Judith Voight Vienna Volante Lisa Volk Andrea Volker Peggy Wadman Trudy Wagner Cindy Wagner Michael Walsh Shaun & Michelle Ware Stephanie Warne Terra Watts Leslie Waugh Konstanze Wegman Jim & Jennifer Weichert Julie Welle Chuck Welle Evan Welle Jeannine Welton Linda Westerberg Jan Wetzel
Shawn Whelan Tom Whelan Laurie White Terri Whitesong Julie Whitted Kim Wier Kristen Wilfahrt Jennifer Wilking Wink & Bonny Willett Margot Willett Tom Williams Rhonda Willsher Aaryn Wilson Rebecca Winterling Beth Wischman Samanth Wolf Patrice & Greg Wolff Deborah Wolk Betsey Woody Ben Worsley Robert Wyffels Liza Xanthopoulos Anna Yager Jenny Yetzer
Doris Yoshitake Janet Zens Madonna Zimmerman Kimberly Zismer
From all of us, at MBS, thank you...
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our volunteers Thank you for your time, energy, and commitment. Together, we transform lives...
Brigid Alseth Julia Anderson Gretchen Austin Karen Ba Diane Bearman Roseann Becker Marla Bookhout Ellen Boschwitz Halen Bower Wendy Brom Sonja Brown Ashlyn Cahill Deborah Cohen Linda Crable Kathryn Dahl Deborah Dalebroux Chandler Domian Ommen Melvin Donaldson Angela Fern Patirck FitzPatrick Mary Pat FitzPatrick Colin & Lydia Garstecki Jake Gau Rachel Gustin Paige Haber
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Nan Hagg Bethany Hutchinson Mandy Jensen LaurelJung Talia Kramer Kayla Kronfeld Anna Marie Landis Michael Lenarz Robert Ley Allison Locey Gini Loch Lara Lovhaug Chona Maglasang Michele Maurer Nancy McKay Lorrie O’Neal Christine Paul Lynn Penney Paula Picard Sharon Radd Becky Rees Lucille Rehm Anna Rice Julie Riff Jennie Ross
Carrie Shogren Katya Skogen Roca Soria Miller Becky Taurog Rebecca Cerra Tishman Ken Ujifusa Jon Vaughan-Fier Susan Vaughan-Fier Julie Welle Shawn Whelan Aubrey White Marcia Willett Emily Zoltai
Interested in volunteering for MBS? Please email kathy@mindbody solutions.org. We’d love to add your name to the list!
our staff The cast and crew of Mind Body Solutions.
founder, visionary Matthew Sanford
director, programs Amy Samson-Burke amy@mindbodysolutions.org
director, development Molly Bachman molly@mindbodysolutions.org
director, business strategy Robert Ley rob@mindbodysolutions.org
office manager Kathy Dahl kathydahl@mindbodysolutions.org
development coordinator Katie Kohlbeck katie@mindbodysolutions.org
social media / admin assistant Bethany Hutchinson bethany@mindbodysolutions.org
board of directors Kathy Graves, President Matthew Sanford, Executive Director Rob Ley, Secretary Julie Champp Jane Cowles J.Marie Fieger Patrick FitzPatrick Ken Riff, MD
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4212 Park Glen Rd, St Louis Park, MN 55416
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