While a Naturalist for ACES (The Aspen Center for Environmental Studies in the late 1990's) Matthew encountered Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati who invited him to her gathering that evening. It was there that he was first introduced to the teachings of Neem Karoli Baba, Ram Dass and the book Be Here Now. A month or so later while driving back to college, flipping radio stations he landed on a Public Radio interview with Ram Dass. Becoming familiar with him through Ma, Matthew intently listened to what would be an interview he would mail order and listen to dozens of times thereafter…. Not long after Matthew attended his first Dances of Universal Peace gathering led by Timothy Dobson and was introduced to American Sufism and the teachings of Hazrat Inayat Khan.
Blessed to sit at the feet of numerous notable spiritual teachers and yoga masters including Aadil Palkhivala and wife Savatri, Sri Dharma Mitra, Ana Forrest, Dr. Richard Miller and Eva Shaw among many many others. Matthew's first Hatha teacher was "Yoga Danny" Danny Poole in 2007 www.football.yoga. Matthew's received guidance from Gwen Lawrence of Power Yoga for Sportstm, Sage Roundtree, Jaeger Sports tm, Kat Roberts and countless others regarding Pro Positive Yoga. Has been quoted, mentioned or a subject of numerous MLB.com articles, most notably when Yogi Berra's granddaughter Lindsay Berra wrote about the Seattle Mariners and their specific work with Pro Positive Yoga. Matthew's been noted in articles and social media from NESN to Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal (LiveBeYoga) to the Houston Chronicle on baseball and yoga. He was encouraged to begin teaching by Mark Whitwell in 2017.
He continues to work as a consultant/liaison to teams at all levels and has become uniquely qualified in creating Yoga Day "NamaStadium"tm events throughout ballparks across America. He also created the first event of its kind within the National Hockey League (Colorado Avalanche 2018/2019, 2019/2020 seasons). Matthew began using his platform in baseball to advocate for yoga and mindfulness after the suicide of 1st MLB player diagnosed w/CTE, Ryan Freel; henceforth Pro Positive Yoga. Throughout the year (via Zoom) he leads baseball specific meditation and yoga for numerous baseball programs throughout the United States. Being named the Director of Yoga and Mindfulness for the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (June 2020) he is able to further his alignment with the game he loves and the practice of yoga. For this Matthew is eternally grateful.
Blessed to sit at the feet of numerous notable spiritual teachers and yoga masters including Aadil Palkhivala and wife Savatri, Sri Dharma Mitra, Ana Forrest, Dr. Richard Miller and Eva Shaw among many many others. Matthew's first Hatha teacher was "Yoga Danny" Danny Poole in 2007 www.football.yoga. Matthew's received guidance from Gwen Lawrence of Power Yoga for Sportstm, Sage Roundtree, Jaeger Sports tm, Kat Roberts and countless others regarding Pro Positive Yoga. Has been quoted, mentioned or a subject of numerous MLB.com articles, most notably when Yogi Berra's granddaughter Lindsay Berra wrote about the Seattle Mariners and their specific work with Pro Positive Yoga. Matthew's been noted in articles and social media from NESN to Yoga Alliance and Yoga Journal (LiveBeYoga) to the Houston Chronicle on baseball and yoga. He was encouraged to begin teaching by Mark Whitwell in 2017.
He continues to work as a consultant/liaison to teams at all levels and has become uniquely qualified in creating Yoga Day "NamaStadium"tm events throughout ballparks across America. He also created the first event of its kind within the National Hockey League (Colorado Avalanche 2018/2019, 2019/2020 seasons). Matthew began using his platform in baseball to advocate for yoga and mindfulness after the suicide of 1st MLB player diagnosed w/CTE, Ryan Freel; henceforth Pro Positive Yoga. Throughout the year (via Zoom) he leads baseball specific meditation and yoga for numerous baseball programs throughout the United States. Being named the Director of Yoga and Mindfulness for the Association of Professional Ball Players of America (June 2020) he is able to further his alignment with the game he loves and the practice of yoga. For this Matthew is eternally grateful.
Pictured with Sarah Bonsall and Daniel Rāma
Yoga on the River w/ Cheryl Deer and Root Yoga 2013
Tyrone Beverly class at Lowery AFB credit Yoga Journal