Local man to receive $100,000 community award

Matthew Sanford
Matthew Sanford was paralyzed from the chest down in a car crash when he was a teenager. He has since learned yoga and now teaches it at a studio he established.
Photo courtesy of Volvo for Life Awards

Matthew Sanford from the western Minneapolis suburbs will be awarded this week for his work helping disabled people learn yoga.

Matt Sanford was paralyzed from the chest down in a crash in the 1970's and has since formed a non-profit called Mind-Body Solutions.

He now teaches yoga, even though he'll probably never walk again.

Matthew Sanford
Matthew Sanford
Photo courtesy of Matthew Sanford

"Yoga is about integrating, making more conscious the intersection between mind and body - using alignment and precision and different physical positions to help you increase your awareness. That can happen through any body. Yoga doesn't discriminate," Sanford said.

The non-profit Sanford created will receive $100,000 as part of the award from Volvo.

Sanford said that money will help him in his next effort to help veterans who return from Iraq and Afghanistan with injuries or disabilities.

Create a More Connected Minnesota

MPR News is your trusted resource for the news you need. With your support, MPR News brings accessible, courageous journalism and authentic conversation to everyone - free of paywalls and barriers. Your gift makes a difference.