One might not think that yoga and horseback riding have a lot in common. Yet both disciplines require strength, flexibility, good posture, balance, a sense of calm focus, and ultimately the goal of oneness. In horseback riding you become one with the horse. In yoga you become one with your body, mind, and spirit.
Riding a large animal presents many challenges. Take balance, for instance. In order to sit properly in the saddle one must keep the torso upright and lifted with the pelvis level and the shoulders directly over the hips. If you lean one way or the other, you must use your legs to hold you on the horse, which means tightening your hip joints and leg muscles. Thus, creating tension in both your body and the horse’s.
In yoga there are a number of poses that deal squarely with balance in the seat. For instance, Swastikasana, or Simple Crossed Legs, teaches one to sit correctly with the spine erect, hips and pelvis balanced, sternum lifted, floating ribs in, and sacrum descending. This is the same posture required to keep the lower back, hip joints, and legs, soft and relaxed while in the saddle.
As a rider, you not only need balance, but freedom of joint movement, elasticity of muscles, centered control, and total awareness of the unity of the horse and rider. Yoga practice develops the physical qualities necessary to ride gracefully. It also brings the body, mind, and spirit together so that you feel your connection with the universe around you.
Read what equestrian yoga students have to say about their experience.
“Yoga has been quite beneficial in my relation to riding horses. Through yoga I have kept my body feeling young and healthy, strong and flexible, balanced and focused, all qualities that assist me when I ride my horse”.
-Gayle
“Yoga teaches me how to focus and keep my attention centered on my body and its movements. It also keeps me calm. These things help me connect with my horse when I ride”.
-Sara, age 20
