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This article from Horse Illustrated provides a guide to yoga postures specifically designed for riders. The author, Cathy Woods, emphasizes that yoga should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age or fitness level. She highlights three key physical traits that are important for equestrians: flexibility, strength, and balance. Woods recommends the Standing Forward Bend pose for flexibility, the Standing Goddess Pose for strength, and the Tree Pose for balance. She also offers general tips for practicing yoga, such as listening to your body and being gentle and accepting of yourself. The article includes photos demonstrating the poses and their benefits. [Extracted from the article]

This article discusses the concept of "groundwork for the human" in relation to horse training. The author explains that just as groundwork is important for horses, it can also be beneficial for humans. The article focuses on two aspects of personal groundwork: physical and mental. Through yoga and meditation, individuals can improve body awareness, alignment, and self-correction, as well as develop focus and mental clarity. The author provides exercises that can be practiced on a yoga mat or while mounted to enhance personal groundwork. Ultimately, the article emphasizes that when the body and mind are integrated, individuals become better companions for their horses. [Extracted from the article]

This article from Horse Illustrated discusses the concept of the "monkey mind" and how it can interfere with our ability to be present and focused when spending time with horses. The article provides several exercises and techniques to help improve mental focus, such as becoming an observer of the mind, using breath and bodily sensations, widening your gaze, and taking mini-meditations. The author also suggests practicing mindfulness in calm situations, working with a coach, and using programs specifically designed for equestrians' mental needs. The article emphasizes the importance of being gentle with ourselves and our minds as we work to harness the monkey mind and improve our connection with our horses. [Extracted from the article]

Yoga is an awareness practice; as we become more aware through yoga, we naturally begin to carry that heightened awareness off the mat and into our time with horses. MAKING THE TRANSFER By practicing authentic yoga on the mat, you will become more in tune with the fact that the teachings apply to both yoga and horsemanship. When I say yoga, I mean the whole of yoga, not just the postures, which is what most people think of when they think about yoga, but yoga principles as well. [Extracted from the article]

You practice groundwork with your horse, but here you'll learn how you can apply the same principles to yourself to become a more confident, effective rider in the saddle. When [...]

Columns The start of a new year is the perfect time to reassess our wellness regimens, as well as determine how we'd like our horsemanship to look in 2023. Breathing with horses at Cathy Woods' Body, Mind, Equine clinic. It can be easy to buy into the media- driven version of what fitness, wellness, and horsemanship should look like, but it's important and enriching to create your own experience by listening to your inner voice. [Extracted from the article]

A mother recounts her experiences with her son who was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). He realized exercise was a wonderful means to control his condition, and exercises like kickboxing, ju-jitsu, running and weight training, combined with maturation have changed him for the better.

Like everyone else, I have been grappling with the ways the pandemic has disrupted my life. Even where I live, amid the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina, the realities [...]

The article focuses on the significance of a teacher in a yoga classroom. Accordingly, there are yoga instructors who instruct classes and postures. A true teacher must have attained a high degree of spiritual development before serving in the guru capacity. A guru is merely a representative of the guru within, an assistant in expediting the process of growth toward self-realization or enlightenment through guidance, energy transmission, and lineage.