Andy Lear
Program Coordinator and Yoga Instructor

At the age of 24, Andy sustained a severe spinal injury. For the next three years, he lived with debilitating chronic pain. After exhausting traditional therapies, Andy set upon an alternative healing path that eventually led him to Matthew Sanford. When he began to practice yoga, Andy’s pain not only dissipated, but he also felt the sensation of safety and CONTAINMENT — something he hadn't experienced since his accident. Andy’s success inspired him to help others develop their own sense of boundaries. He has been practicing Iyengar yoga since 2002 with Matthew and Momi Jhung. He began teaching in 2007. Andy teaches both traditional students and disabled students while drawing from his experience with traumatic injury and rehabilitation. He plays an integral role in Mind Body Solutions’ groundbreaking initiative to develop a mind-body approach within the rehabilitation process at Courage Center and with returning military veterans. He currently teaches classes at Mind Body Solutions, an adaptive yoga class at Courage Center, and speaks to various audiences on behalf of Mind Body Solutions and its mission.