On the Mat

Integrated Riding begins on the yoga mat.  Students are invited to name their individual experience in each pose while beginning to release habitual patterns of holding in the body.  Yogic breathing offers a centering tool to stay connected with the bodymind, while allowing the play between the physical, the mental, and the emotional states of being to come into awareness.  Yoga practice may allow for greater nurturance of the self to unfold, trusting in our own essence. We explore ways of moving by lengthening and creating spaciousness in the body, rather than by creating muscular contraction.  We recognize the importance of our core as it relates to moving with the horse’s center and we look at human and horse anatomy as it relates to movement patterns in both species.

In the Saddle

Integrated Riding shifts to a movement practice with the horse as our tools for self-discovery grow from our yoga mat experiences.  We begin with groundwork activities, learning how to access underlying emotions and thought patterns, and creating congruency with the bodymind.  As a partner, the horse helps us in recognizing our communication patterns, learning assertiveness without aggression and voice without passivity.

As we move into riding, we explore the influence of our physical and emotional body upon the movement of the horse. We learn to release tension and holding in our body.  We look for ease and comfort in moving, in riding, in being. This ease allows horse and rider to move together with fluidity and grace. As we release tension and practice stress-reduction techniques while riding, we are able to see a discernable difference in the energy, emotion, and movement of the horse and in ourselves.  The horse becomes a clear mirror reflecting a clear, centered being astride his/her back.

Copyright 2006 Ashvana
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