Hey gang,

Change is easy to talk about, hard to do. There are always reasons to resist, always things that seemingly stand in the way. And yet, life knocks on everyone’s door and demands change. The quality of our lives depends upon our ability to adapt.

I deeply resisted the digitalization of our offerings at MBS. I imagined too much would be lost. I told myself that mind-body integration couldn’t be meaningfully facilitated without sharing physical space.

I was wrong. Truth be told, something is sacrificed in a digital format. But something is also gained, something unique and important. Change is a demanding but wonderful teacher.

MBS’ classes and content are now offered exclusively online. We even gave ourselves a new nickname, MBS Online, and a fresh logo to boot. The gains have been remarkable, and we are just getting started. Digital breakthroughs have increased the accessibility of our classes exponentially. Our adaptive yoga classes are no longer geographically exclusive….they are literally accessible around the country, around the world, and in the homes of the people we serve.

This means we are connecting people and experiences in a way never before possible. A global community is forming, supporting the experience of disability from body to mind. This expanding community cuts across a wide range of disabilities and conditions. It is an open-armed community that realizes we are all only temporarily abled. We realize that the experience of disability is not something to simply overcome. Rather, the universal experience of disability creates a wisdom that everyone needs.

So check out a class or come to an online gathering or both! Reacquaint yourself with MBS Online. Consider joining or donating to our 10th annual Kiss My Asana® Yogathon. This amazing week of shared yoga is the primary fundraiser that supports our changing, more accessible, and expanding digital adaptive yoga community. It’ll be fun.

We are better together.

Community Happenings

EVENTS & LEARNING at MBSOnline

• Yoga, Disability, & Transformation: w/ Matthew Sanford. 90 minutes of live conversation, insights, and yoga. Created for people living with disability and is open to everyone. MAY 3 / Breathing & Disability READ MORE

• Live Adaptive Yoga Classes Monday - Saturday. All seated or floor-based adaptive yoga. Meditation is offered every Friday. All offerings are no-cost for participants. SEE SCHEDULE



• Sandbox Sessions / Monthly meetings for adaptive yoga teachers! It's a fun, no-cost gathering place to meet, learn, and share ideas about teaching everyBODY. READ MORE

YOGATHON 2023 - A Virtual Fundraiser

April 22-28th! Join a global community practicing with a singular purpose — to help improve the lives of people living with trauma, loss, and disability. 

The Kiss My Asana Yogathon is a one-week, self-paced yoga or meditation practice. It's our biggest awareness-building / fundraising event of the year. The yogathon is virtual -- practice where you are, at a pace you set. Set a goal if that suits you (10 down dogs a day?), or commit to raising awareness and resources for MBS. It ALL helps!

When you join or donate, you show your love of yoga and why you believe it should be shared with everybody. All proceeds help keep MBS adaptive yoga offerings free and accessible for all!

REGISTER or DONATE TODAY!

Pose Play!

Play with EXPANSIVE DOWNWARD DOG

Can you believe my human pretends to be a dog? ~ Bode

As Bode’s expression and quote demonstrate, dogs are smarter than humans, especially when it comes to energizing and nourishing the spine. The human version of downward-facing dog is but a poor imitation of what dogs often do naturally when rising from a nap or when coaxing a peer into play. 

So let’s play with two versions, a more traditional one (like in the photo) and a seated or standing version at table.

But first, let’s quickly explore what is essential to both….

READ MORE

The Teacher's Lounge

MBS TEACHING METHOD INSIGHTS

We're getting ready to unveil a BIG project for 2023 -- the MBS Teaching Technique video library! Conveniently housed on our website, our library will feature specific teaching demonstrations with teachers and students, and insights about the MBS approach from our founder, Matthew Sanford. And for your listening pleasure, we're preparing a playlist of audio files where Matthew takes deeper dives into the nature of disability and yoga. Stay tuned for updates!

In the meantime, be sure to join us live via zoom each month in the MBS Sandbox, where we share an hour together and play around with ways to teach adaptive yoga! Check out the current library on our website.

ICYMI

(In Case You Missed It) Recent MBS social media posts

March 5 / Judith Heumann's activism transformed the experience of living with a disability. Because she fought for a ‘place’ for disability within our society, she brought so many of us out of the cold. Because of her tireless work, as people with disabilities, we are able to feel better about ourselves and about our lives. Her work transcended structures and institutions. She revolutionized our sense of value and personhood. In the deepest sense of the word, she was a revolutionary. She will be missed.

Here's a clip from PBS' "Brief But Spectacular" take on disability rights. We think she says it best in her own words. Thank you, Judith.

WATCH

Jan 21 / MBSOnline held our first teacher gathering of 2023 yesterday, and rest assured this motley crew is ready to roll! We have 11 Live Adaptive Yoga & Meditation Classes each week -- all waiting for you!

We missed a few teachers in this photo. Read about all our teachers on our website.



Come find us!

Feb 4 / Saturday AM Yoga - Compassion is Not a Burden "Maybe the essence of compassion is that the edges have to be softer. And maybe wonder isn't judgmental. And in a "simple" yoga pose, I'm using some will, some effort and clarity; but it's in service of wonder." ~ Matthew Sanford WATCH 60 minutes

Feb 22 / Peace with what is... with Nancy Tibbetts Boler

"When we turn our attention to this experience of breathing, we naturally release the focus on our thoughts and our stories. Words decrease and there is a sense of being open with the body as it is." WATCH 44 minutes