Greetings!

Welcome to the first quarterly e-newsletter of Mind Body Solutions. Our goal is to share brief highlights of our progress. You are an important part of the work we are doing.

For additional up-to-date information on our events, news and projects we encourage you to visit www.matthewsanford.com and www.mindbodysolutons.org. As we continue to grow, our e-newsletter will expand to include resources, links and more. Stay tuned~

For now, we thank you for your ongoing support and interest in our ever-evolving story.

In this issue:

Brief 2007 Wrap-Up/Project Highlights for 2008

Without question, 2007 was a transformative year for Mind Body Solutions. We have a new, refined mission statement: To transform trauma and loss into hope and potential by awakening the connection between mind and body. Claudia Dengler (former VP of Programs for the Wilder Foundation) led us through the process of completing our two-year strategic plan. We also undertook a very successful fundraising campaign with the help of Lori Jacobwith of Apporté. We offer our deepest gratitude to all those who made this possible and who generously contributed. Such support has allowed us to begin work on important projects which include:

Many resources are still needed. If you are interested in donating, please visit www.mindbodysolutions.org for more information.

For those who attend classes at Mind Body Solutions Yoga in Minnetonka, we send a special thanks to Mark Boon from Dutch Painting and Restoration for donating his time to paint the interior of the studio.

Matthew Wins Volvo For Life Award--$100,000 Donation Made to MBS

Thanks to your overwhelming support and online votes, Matthew not only advanced to the semifinals of the 6th annual Volvo For Life Awards, he was selected by a panel of judges as the winner in the Quality of Life category. With that, Volvo is making a $100,000 gift to Mind Body Solutions.

Matthew will receive his award on March 19th during the awards ceremony at New York City’s world famous Cipriani’s 42nd Street.

For more information, visit www.volvoforlifeawards.com.

Matthew To Appear on the NBC Today Show & KARE 11 Saturday

With the Volvo for Life Award and the May 27th paperback release of Waking, we continue to generate both local and national media interest. This is one of the ways we bring our message of hope to a much wider audience.

Matthew is currently scheduled to appear on the NBC Today Show, Wednesday, March 19th. The actual time is yet to be determined. Matthew's appearance will either be sometime between 8-10am CST or 11am-noon CST. Matthew will also be a guest during the first hour of the KARE 11 Saturday Show this weekend, March 15th.

Matthew’s work and story will also appear nationally in the March/April issue of Positive Thinking, the June issue of Natural Health and the spring issue of Yoga Samachar. Matthew is also mentioned in the March issue of Yoga Journal. Some upcoming Minnesota media interviews/stories include the Minnesota News Network, Lake Minnetonka Magazine in May and Disability Viewpoints in July.


Mind Body Solutions Leads Pioneering Pilot Program at Courage Center

In partnership with Courage Center and Dynamic Systems Rehabilitation, Mind Body Solutions is leading a groundbreaking pilot program to create a mind-body based rehabilitative model. We have created the revolutionary curriculum that makes this possible.

Inspirational DVD for Patients and Families Being Developed

Mind Body Solutions is producing a 12-minute DVD to inspire patients and their families who are undergoing trauma and loss. We want them to know the profound impact that a mind-body approach can have on long-term recovery. Our goal is to distribute the DVD through rehab centers, integrative healthcare organizations, hospitals and related support groups.

If you have contacts within such organizations, we need your help. Please send your suggestions and ideas to info@mindbodysolutions.org.

We also plan to offer this inspirational resource to returning veterans.


Matthew at Boston Yoga Journal Conference May 16-19th

Matthew continues to share his pioneering work with yoga on a national level. He will offer workshops and serve as a keynote presenter at the Yoga Journal’s Boston conference May 16-19th. Donna Karan and Dr. Dean Ornish, among others, will also be offering all-day intensives and workshops.

If you or someone you know is able to attend, please sign up today. In order for Matthew’s teaching to continue at such pivotal conferences, his classes and adaptive yoga training workshops must be well attended. You can help by spreading the word about this conference and others.

For information about the May conference, visit www.yogajournal.com.
For more of Matthew’s events, visit www.matthewsanford.com.


WAKING Released in Paperback May 27th

With its success as a hardcover, Waking: A Memoir of Trauma and Transcendence will be released in paperback this spring. The paperback will include a new Afterward that highlights the work of Mind Body Solutions. It will also include comments by such notables as Louise Erdrich, Krista Tippett and Donna Karan.

Matthew had the opportunity to work with Donna Karan when he was invited to be a keynote presenter at her Urban Zen Initiative last May, a New York forum that brought together renowned leaders in integrative medicine and healing therapies.

Many wonderful things are happening at Mind Body Solutions. We are very grateful. Thank you again for your continued support.

If you know of someone who would like to be added to our distribution list, please have them visit www.mindbodysolutions.org to join our new online community!