Bonnette
11-13-2010, 03:23 PM
Marycsm turned me on to this wonderful book by paraplegic yoga teacher Matt Sanford. Matt became a yoga teach several years after his SCI in a car accident, and in this book he describes the circumstances and details of his injury and its aftermath, with a focus on his discoveries - through yoga - about the profound inner depths we human beings share. The book brought me to tears a couple of times, yet it isn't maudlin at all; it's simply so real, gentle, honest and understanding that it involves the reader in Matt's life to a surprising degree. We can really relate to him, especially those of us with SCI from any cause.
Matt's experiences at age 13 (and beyond) were absolutely harrowing, and are probably similar to those of many members of this community. I appreciate his candor and good humor in describing them, and for making it clear from the outset that his intention is not to present himself as some kind of spiritual athlete, but rather one who...like each of us...has healing dimensions within that go far beyond physical cure. He doesn't kid us about his physical disability; instead, he takes us on a journey through what he has learned in spite of, and even because of, his suffering and limitation.
I think that most people with SCI could relate to Matt's experiences, except perhaps those with intense central pain. Matt seems to have had periods of great pain, but he doesn't give me the impression that chronic pain or discomfort is part of his overall experience. I am not sure that people with everpresent central pain could reach the profound levels of meaning he finds in internal stillness, since pain on that scale has such a loud reverberating voice.
Thanks for recommending this book, Mary!
(You can learn more about Matt at his website. (http://www.matthewsanford.com/))
Edited to add: I have just learned from someone on the forum that the "loud reverberating voice" of central pain is in no way a deterrent to the realization of what is held in the inner silence; rather, such pain renders this intimate connection imperative. My thanks for that.
Matt's experiences at age 13 (and beyond) were absolutely harrowing, and are probably similar to those of many members of this community. I appreciate his candor and good humor in describing them, and for making it clear from the outset that his intention is not to present himself as some kind of spiritual athlete, but rather one who...like each of us...has healing dimensions within that go far beyond physical cure. He doesn't kid us about his physical disability; instead, he takes us on a journey through what he has learned in spite of, and even because of, his suffering and limitation.
I think that most people with SCI could relate to Matt's experiences, except perhaps those with intense central pain. Matt seems to have had periods of great pain, but he doesn't give me the impression that chronic pain or discomfort is part of his overall experience. I am not sure that people with everpresent central pain could reach the profound levels of meaning he finds in internal stillness, since pain on that scale has such a loud reverberating voice.
Thanks for recommending this book, Mary!
(You can learn more about Matt at his website. (http://www.matthewsanford.com/))
Edited to add: I have just learned from someone on the forum that the "loud reverberating voice" of central pain is in no way a deterrent to the realization of what is held in the inner silence; rather, such pain renders this intimate connection imperative. My thanks for that.