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T'ai Chi and Riding Horses |
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 T'ai Chi is fundamentally a study of posture, balance and movement; everything that is relevant to moving harmoniously. Pure T'ai Chi can be likened to a moving meditation whereby each step, or movement, flows into the next; posture, breath, balance and suppleness all add up to a whole that is greater than the sum of its parts. Whilst it is not necessary to learn T'ai Chi in its pure form, its principles and practises are relevant and highly informing to the rider.
Fundamental to T'ai Chi is the lower dantien. This is the area which resides in the lower abdomen. T'ai Chi-ers talk about this as the centre or beginning of all movement, it is where the body energy and power resides. Being empowered through the lower dantien brings you to your core strength and balance. |
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Qigong is even better for the rider! Qigong is a direct cousin to T'ai Chi and is the study of posture, energy and breath in a simplified form. If you ever wanted to know about the energy system and how to develop and use it then this is one of the best starting places.
Riders know about the highly perceptive and truly reflective nature of horses; riders are keenly aware of subtle nuances in their posture and how shifts in held tension can affect the horse's way of going either positively or negatively. By tapping into our own energy system and that of the horse, we have a language that is subtle and powerful and generative.
Jo has studied these martial forms of T'ai Chi and Qigong for over 15 years, and taught 'pure' classes for over 5 years. Together with her 20 yrs of professional experience with horses, riding, teaching and competing, she is able to bring to you a cohesive, understandable and direct experience of how to use your body and mind with greater ease. |
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Movement and Riding Horses |
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The mind, body and breath are all equally relevant. If horse and rider reflect each other in a negative spiral then things can go from bad to worse. Equally they can create a virtuous cycle whereby the natural collection, poise and balance of each informs the other.
We take a direct look at energy and movement, flow and harmony, release of tension and enhancing suppleness and freedom. We take the body's biomechanics into consideration but do not get stuck in physicality; the body is a dynamic instrument where we can tap into all elements.
Working on the ground has so many advantages for a rider so that they might concentrate on their own straightness and balance without the influences of the horse's movement. By creating a clear blueprint for yourself which literally anchors you in to a balanced, calm, supple frame will provide the desired transmission to the horse encouraging the horse to match and mirror likewise. Absorbing the horse's movements is an art form in its own right where the breath and mental intention are of equal relevance as the physical posture.
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Lying Down and Riding Horses! |
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Oh yes! We will do lots of exercises while lying down! Can it get better?
When we are not working against gravity we can start to observe and learn about the body, free of the usual tensions that we generate when we try to remain upright. There is lots to learn about the hips, pelvis and spine from this position where we can free up and join up the body in a new and dynamic way. |
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