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| Riding Twister at Instructor Clinic |
Teach what you know? Well that could be a very short lesson...and was when I was a new Centered Riding instructor, just over 3 years ago. Looking back at my blog from that time, it was clear that everything was unique, as it applied to riding and giving lessons, with the simple concept of breathing offering new and exciting possibilities. I was astounded at how much our breath could affect the overall tone of our body, the opposite being tension. Tense muscles, means bracing in the body that usually pulls a rider off balance, leading to disruption of fluid movement in harmony with the horse. The good news was, if you were able to tap into your brain's awareness of breathing and produce a release of tension, you could then bring yourself to a wonderful balanced, vertical, centered position and your horse would love you for it. Simple, right???
It's become abundantly clear to me that Sally Swift's philosophy, which she so beautifully outlines in the four basics, while simply put ,carries with it, so many layers. Peeling away the layers led to my discovery of, to name just a few, the Alexander technique, Feldenkrais, Tai Chi, Zen and Buddhism, natural horsemanship, classical riding and liberty training. Becoming a Centered Riding instructor has taken me to a new level of understanding of nature as well as my own strengths and weaknesses. It has changed my attitude and approach to medicine and healing, of which I have been a part of as a practitioner for over 25 years. Becoming an instructor has tapped into my natural aptitude for teaching and given me the confidence to communicate in simple explanations while allowing me to express myself with humor that makes the time with horses and students so much fun.
Along the way I've also expanded my knowledge of the nature of the horse. I am now able to share that knowledge with riders who, I feel, have a responsibility to the living, breathing creatures that allow them to sit on their back day in and day out. As the rider gains greater awareness of their own body, they are able to tune into the movements of the horse and the two mirror each other in what will hopefully be a beautiful flowing, harmonious dance. And to make sure, I like to play music during lessons to encourage the playful, natural rhythms to flow freely.
But...and this is the good news, bad news part of all of this. It takes a commitment and a discipline with lots of practice, to become a better teacher, a better rider, a better person. Centered Riding is not just about riding. It's about finding the true balance in your life-physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. It's about letting go of the need to make or force things to happen and LET the process evolve, giving it as much time as it needs. Horses, it is said, do not wear watches, teaching us instead, to live in the present. Each step in the process of becoming a better instructor has led me to people with more information and insight and creative ways of explaining "the basics". It means that even if we stick to the basics, we will bring to each lesson the combined knowledge of those who encourage and inspire us. The possibilities are endless and limited only by your own creativity at bringing it to life for your students. I've been fortunate enough to meet some of the top instructors in Centered Riding and I am proud to call each of them "friend".
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| Learning to Buttress Using Your Psoas with Karen Irland (R) and Suzan Seelye (L) |
Now when I walk into the arena and someone says, "teach what you know", I am able to honestly say "Oh, well let's just take a look at what you and your horse are up to today". Maybe we'll just spend time clearing the rider's mind of the stress of work and home with a simple shakeout , a few Tai Chi moves, and throw in a couple of yoga stretches for good measure. Beautiful music playing in the background sets the mood and after a few hugs for the horse after her own stretch and warmup, the rider is ready to mount. Today is not about what we accomplish in the lesson but whether horse, rider and instructor leave the arena feeling more centered and balanced....emotionally, mentally and physically, no matter how simple a lesson.
Yes, I do know a LOT more than I did over 3 years ago and yet I am just learning to bring the simplicity of Sally Swift's teachings to my life and prove that indeed less is more in everything we do. Thank you Sally. I am honored to continue the work that you so brilliantly began as a second career in the 1980s. Your life and work lives on in every one who dedicates themselves to the philosophy of Centered Riding and the simple but profound message in the four basics. Count me as one of the fortunate ones.
