At age 13, Matthew’s world turned upside down when a devastating car accident killed his father and sister and left him paralyzed from the chest down. Advice from his doctors to “forget his lower body,” however, was what really crippled Matthew, leading him to ignore his once-athletic body, until at age 25 he discovered yoga and the healing power of the mind-body connection.
Now 57 and still paralyzed, Matthew is not only the founder of Mind Body Solutions but also a nationally recognized yoga teacher, public speaker, critically acclaimed author, and leading voice in the integrative health movement. He has inspired and enhanced the lives of thousands.
Matthew’s pioneering work began nearly 20 years ago when he began teaching an adaptive yoga class for people living with a wide range of disabilities. Always the visionary, Matthew realized his unprecedented work was leading to simple, yet profound teachings applicable to all. So in 2001, he founded Mind Body Solutions to serve the community at large.
Matthew has received numerous awards, including Yoga Journal’s Karma Yoga Award, the Judd Jacobson Memorial Award and KARE-TV’s Eleven Who Care Award. In 2008, Matthew was recognized as a national hero with a Volvo For Life Award. His inspirational story and life’s work has captured the attention of national media, including NBC’s Today Show, People Magazine, Natural Health, and American Public Media’s Speaking of Faith.
Matthew shares his philosophy on the importance of the mind-body relationship in his award-winning book WAKING: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence.