Hey gang,

The strength of community has a rippling effect. It is more than resilience. Community strength often lies dormant until needed. Never has this been more apparent than in Minnesota’s response to the federally backed invasion by ICE agents. Our underground strength was revealed, a nonviolent demand for humane treatment and due process. 

Minnesota’s community strength was shown in more than chanting slogans in sub-zero temperatures. We beat drums, played musical instruments, and sang songs. We made casseroles and walked our children to school so they could feel safe. We handed out tea, coffee, and hand warmers. We delivered groceries, drove people to needed medical appointments, and stocked food shelves. We cared for each other. We cared for our neighbors. We collectively resisted the attempts at oppression. I have never been prouder to be a Minnesotan. 

Minnesota’s community strength, our invisible commitment to each other, was made more explicit by external circumstances. Every community has this strength. It may run underground, but it runs deep. Minnesota just represents an initial splash. We all can express its rippling effects.

If the ICE invasion revealed a dormant strength in all of our communities, what can spring bring? How can we continue to grow?

Spring offers important lessons about such expanding ripples. Spring transforms unseen energy into new buds, sprigs, and sprouts. It sets the stage for color bursts, scent bombs, and succulent produce, reminding us of the necessary groundwork to reap the bounty of summer.

We all have our small gardens to tend and plots of community to nourish. Read on to see what MBS grows each month. 

Cheers,

Matthew

Echoes of Irish storyteller Clare Murphy's gorgeous voice linger in the loveliest of ways. Earlier this month, Matthew Sanford and Clare shared 90 (which felt more like 9) minutes of wisdom, talent, and STORIES in our first Yoga, Disability, and Transformation session of the year.

They shared how stories do not give us answers, but rather, an enormous capacity to engage with your own beliefs, how myth predates literacy by a long time, and that story lives in the body first and when you can be in your body more, your body will authenticate the story.

For those who couldn't attend live, click HERE to register (free) for upcoming YDT sessions and to access to this special recording.

Remember back in 2020 when isolation became the norm for safety?  While new for many, this loneliness was all too familiar to people living with disabilities, where isolation is often part of daily life. 

While the world was sheltering in place during the pandemic, MBS teachers, students, and staff leaned in and turned that familiar feeling of isolation into a supportive community. A place unlike any other. We wanted to continue offering connection, support, insight, and hope to the people we serve, and the only way to do that safely was online. We could not have imagined the ripple effect it would have on people living with disability around the world. 

Our adaptive community took a major growth leap. First came monthly meetings to explore topics relating to disability entitled Team Adaptables meetings, then the Circle a social media platform that allowed for continued interaction for our students. Soon, we had students leading short yoga practices for each other in bi-monthy online huddles.This momentum led to the creation of a monthly chat space where students could hang out and talk, in real time, about real issues. From there, a bookclub, a substack, and a creative makerspace for artists to flourish soon followed! 

These combined efforts form the ripple effect of MBSOnline Student Spaces. These spaces are created by people living with disability, for people living with disability. 

Although we miss the in-person classes from six years ago, we are now able to serve more people, in more places, and in more ways than we could have imagined. Read on to glimpse into the uniqueness of each group and how we've created space for everyone. 

Team Adaptables

Living with a disability takes a certain kind of superpower, requiring elite levels of strength, stamina, and silliness. Our superheroes unite monthly in hour-long student gatherings. We laugh, tell stories, share ideas, and get to know one another better. Matthew typically leads the discussion, often beginning with a "two truths and a lie" icebreaker. Sometimes there's a general theme like, "the sensation of hope" or, "how yoga helps stabilize us in tumultuous times" and sometimes we simply show up and let the ideas and conversation meander. First Wednesdays at 1PM CT. Learn more.

The Circle

The Circle is on online (non-Zoom) platform where students can share ideas anytime in a form beyond monthly meetings. In this friendly and fun online community space we share all sorts of things, including, class insights, artwork, lots of Yoda memes :), and so much more. The platform allows for more connection between fellow MBS adaptive students or to watch a recording of a huddle practice or Team Adaptables meeting. It’s free and accessible from a computer or if you download the Circle app to keep updated on posts, comments, and more.  Learn more.

The Huddle

Our students are becoming amazing teachers! They are are leading for each other a short practice every third Wednesday at 1PM CT. Whether it's a meditation, a series of sun salutations, or a sweet asana practice woven into the reading of a children's book, our students truly are answering the bell. Join in and see/feel it for yourself!  Learn more.

Chat Amongst Ourselves

Our students have their own meetings. They may even have a secret handshake, but we wounded know because MBS staffers are not allowed to join. There are two requirements - you must be an MBS student and your must live with a disability. Yes, the group is exclusive, and yes, it does have its privileges. We do know that it fun, friendly, safe space for people to hang out and be just exactly who you are. If you qualify :) , sign up!  Learn more.

Mind Body Reads

Mind Body Reads is a bookclub where we let stories deepen the connections within and among us. We welcome everyone to join us each month to explore, together. We discuss a wide-range of titles, from books centering disability ("Being Heumann" by Judith Heumann) to epic adventures ("West with Giraffes" by Lynda Rutledge) and everything in between. Students, caregivers and friends are welcome to join whether you have read some, none or all of each month’s selection! Mark your calendars for the last Saturday of every month, from 11:30-12:45 Central Time, and JOIN US as we share humanity through literature. Learn more.

Mind Body Creates

Mind Body Creates is a "makerspace" to explore what creativity really means to each of us. Somewhere where we can share without judgment, a place to process through art, writing, or whatever form your creativity takes. It's led by MBS students who offer a creative prompt each month, then facilitate a gathering on the third Sunday of each month on Zoom to share the work. Mind Body Creates is a place where people can metabolize the experiences of living with disability through creative expression. This space is open to anyone who wishes to join. We want to grow this community together by sharing and listening to each other. Read more here.

Live Support Hour

Every Monday from 8:45-9:45 AM CT, the MBS "helpline" is open for business! It's a time for students, donors, friends we haven't met yet to ask us anything, face to face, via Zoom. No question about MBS, yoga, or our community offerings is too small! The "room" is open and staffed, usually by our beloved Bethany, who is always eager to help in any way. You can find the link on our website under the Online Adaptive Yoga tab.