All Humanity Newsletter | May 2021
Greetings...
Assume Curiosity
In my book Waking, I used the term “yoga backwards” to describe my process of learning a yoga pose. I was faced with a conundrum: I couldn’t do all the physical aspects of the postures that I wanted to experience. So if I assumed that the finished pose was a destination after a linear, physical process, then I could never get there. BUT if I assumed that the destination (or the subtle sensation created by the finished pose) was already accessible to me, then I could work backwards, guided by that sensation, to learn the ‘feelings’ underpinning those physical actions. Put another way, I reverse engineered my yoga process. Yoga backwards.

Assuming the destination and working backwards is a potent strategy for many endeavors in life. It helps alleviate the stress and ongoing sense of failure associated with constantly striving for achievement. It might even be the key to self-confidence. Regardless, I know that it is a key to ‘finding’ a sense of peace within our busy, tumultuous lives.

In the coming months, don’t wait for the world to make you curious and fill you with wonder. Assume curiosity and wonder and then work backward into your no longer ordinary life. There is nothing ordinary about the spectacular green of the emerging spring. Feeling it is up to you.
Matthew Sanford | Founder, Mind Body Solutions
Pose of the month...
Yoga Backwards
The adage “practice makes perfect'' applies to many skills, but it doesn’t relate to the practice of an adaptive yoga student. Unlike the follower of a traditional path, the adaptive student’s practice can be characterized as “yoga backwards.” They tackle the hard stuff first. As was required in some ancient yoga traditions, students initially spend time in observation. 

For those that live with unique bodies (nervous systems), steadily settling into oneself before practice is essential. “Patience” is their middle name. Without the traditional benefit of repetition, students must learn to find and calibrate the right asana for their body. Their learning curve is steep, forcing them to quickly discover the insights of an advanced practitioner. The experience, not the appearance, is the goal. They realize a form of mind-body integration by aligning their body with subtle adjustments and finding a balance between effort and ease. Adaptive students are prop gurus and are experts at receiving all manners of support. Just like enlightened practitioners, adaptive students are grateful and patient to the bone!
Options: 

  • Observe asana practice or any bodies in motion. When do they expand or recede?

  • Initiate practice with a subtle softening of the organs of perception and opening.

  • Practice seated in a chair. If available, place a yoga block or similar item between the knees with a strap cinched just above the knees keeping the block in place.

  • Notice the effects of using or not using props and of subtle shifts in alignment.

  • Practice with a partner, mindfully giving and receiving assistance.

  • Focus on the experience, not the appearance. 
 
  • Practice with no expectations.
Benefits:

  • Observation cultivates perception, wisdom, and possibly injury prevention.

  • Settles the nervous system 

  • Insight into the effects of slight changes in gravity

  • Builds greater body awareness and enhances the balance between effort and ease 

  • Cultivates receptivity

  • Facilitates the experience of grounding and going inward followed by expanding outward 

  • Gratitude and patience may pervade

From the Bookshelf...
For your reading pleasure
This summer, we thought it would be fun to share a few of our beloved bibliophile Kathy Dahl's favorite picks. Enjoy!
A Gentleman in Moscow ~ Amor Towles
Every sentence is simply a joy to read and savor.

The Prophets ~ Robert Jones Jr
The story of a forbidden union between two enslaved young men on a plantation in the deep south.

Wintering ~ Katherine May
A beautifully written book and so helpful for anyone going through a difficult period.
House Made of Dawn ~ N. Scott Momaday
This Pulitzer Prize-Winning book was one of the first to explore the effects of war among Native Americans.

The Five Wounds ~Kirstin Valdez Quade
Spanning the first year of a baby's life as various members of this unforgettable family struggle to parent children they may not be equipped to save.
Studied with us before?
Join us!
Our online Continuing Studies is here again! Matthew's theme this year is "Realizing a Sense of Direction in asana – a deeper dive into a fundamental tenet for sharing yoga from inside to out for students of all abilities."

This interactive training promises to renew and expand what's been shared in our Level I/II trainings. Each day includes an asana class, discussion, opportunities to teach each other, and of course, a deeper dive into the matrix. 

Topics include insights into teaching the subtle body, the differences between mind, brain, consciousness, and movement, and finally, helping people living with pain.

June 8-10 / 12pm-4pm Central Time via ZOOM
MBS on a mission...
We did it!

Our 8th Kiss My Asana yogathon was a resounding success. Thanks to the 150 yogis around the world who dedicated a week of practice with purpose.

So, thank you for showing the love of the practice - your practice. Together, we raised $51,000 to support our life-affirming adaptive yoga program.

THANK YOU!