Yoga for Riders

The book to help riders become more aware and conscious in the saddle and on the ground while gently correcting imbalances through the practice of yoga.

1. The Yoga/Horsemanship Connection

a. The commonalities of both practices

b. How these complement each other

c. For a richer yoga and equine experience


2. What is True Yoga?

a. What yoga is and isn't

b. Clearing up common misconceptions

c. Yoga means to yoke or unite

d. Beyond postures

e. The other 7 limbs of yoga, meditation, breath-work etc.

f. Important aspects of complete yoga

g. Yoga should be accessible to everyone, regardless of age, life-style or spiritual belief


4. The Yoga of Everything

a. Brining integrated awareness into all that you do

b. How you do anything is how you do everything

c. Yoga on and off the mat


5. Practical Parallels - From the Mat to the Saddle

a. These apply to any discipline, style or level of horsemanship from ground to saddle, to arena to event, to show, to trail

b. Applying yogic metaphors to horsemanship

c. Present moment awareness.

d. Body, breath and energy awareness

e. Breathing through challenges

f. Listening to the inner voice

g. Slowing down

h. How these parallels can be used/applied to daily life as well

Note: I could see a chart in this section. Perhaps even a pull out that can be hung in a barn or yoga space as a quick reference


6. What Makes a Good Rider

a. Attributes/characteristics/qualities - i.e.: awareness, skill, common sense, courage, good intuition, resourcefulness etc.

b. Becoming an aware and conscious Rider

c. What riding with awareness looks like

d. Balanced in the saddle, weight symmetrical in hands, seat, legs, feet etc.

e. Using Yogic tools -the parallels and metaphors


7. Intentions

a. Setting and using intentions as a tool for yoga, horsemanship and life


9. Not an "Airy-Fairy" Approach

a. Applying yoga principles to horsemanship is not a "mystical" method

b. The yoga of horsemanship does not mean throwing practical horsemanship skills out the window

c. This is not a replacement for practicing safety, boundaries, discipline, training, skill or good ole common sense when working with horses


10. Detecting Energy

a. We have the ability to detect energy and do so all the time, whether consciously or not

b. Awareness of your own energy, the energy of our equine partners and the energy around us.

c. Noticing when energy shifts

d. Detecting the ambiance of a situation and adapting accordingly


11. Collection and Groundwork with Ourselves

a. We use collection and groundwork with our horses. It is also beneficial to do this type of work with ourselves.

b. Working on the mat with our bodies and minds

c. Learning how to become collected energetically. Getting familiar with what that feels like vs. scattered energy

d. As we become clearer, right thought and right action come spontaneously

e. This helps us to become more skilled human beings

f. Improves our intuition


12. The Spirit of The Horse

a. Equus shows up in almost every mythological writing and folklore

b. Horse medicine/horse totem/the message of the horse


13. Yoga Postures for Riders

a. Good stretches for riders for staying strong, flexible and balanced (this would include images of yoga poses on a mat)

b. Good stretches in the saddle (this would include images of stretches that can be done in the saddle)

c. Riding more safely into older age


14. Breath-Work

a. Yogic breathing techniques for use on the mat, in the saddle and anywhere

b. Instruction on breath-work such as the complete breath, alternate nostril breathing and similar

c. The direct link between breath and emotions


15. Meditation

a. The value and benefits of meditation

b. Meditation methods/techniques/instruction


16. Embodying the Practice

a. There is no end game; continuing personal growth-a forever practice

b. Understand

c. Committing

d. Internalizing