Finding connection once again
Last week, speaking to a client, we touched on the topic of balance and the fact that our horses always want to return to this state. Physically, mentally and emotionally. As we discussed her particular horse, a very handsome gelding I might add, who has also no doubts about him being handsome, it occurred to me that true balance cannot be achieved without connection of the entire being. Body, mind and heart/soul. Nor can true healing occur without it.
My girl Sassy - she was a master teacher on the subject of balance
Our horses know this instinctively. As do all other animals. We seem to be the only species who live life in a most unbalanced and disconnected way.
And yet, our horses are often asked to live and move and breathe in a way totally out of touch with their very basic needs. Be it the life style of being stalled for most of the day or turn-out without pasture mates, be it feedings that are too infrequent, tack that impedes free and flowing movement, or a training program that does not allow for adequate rest or variety in the work, our demands are endless. How often do we talk about shifting weight back towards the hind? Often! And yet, do we really know what we ask of them? Do we have an understanding that this seemingly simple concept requires our horses to not only develop their bodies, but also their minds to be able to do so? In our quest to achieve a particular posture, do we sacrifice balance and connection? Vitality and Health? Can we give it back by learning how to connect and listen?
I had my own lesson in this. My many years in corporate America and sitting at a computer all day had taken its toll. And even though my life changed considerably after leaving the "desk jockey" world, my body held on to the patterns of disconnection and strain. Every time we tire our body or our horse's body by asking it to hold a position for a long period of time or we prevent the body from moving, it starts compensating. Especially through the postural chain of tissues deep within the body. And that's also where we hold emotional and mental patterns, particularly in the fascia.
Finding a new point of balance while releasing tension deep within the groin
So I made the decision that I would get some bodywork for myself. I knew it would not only allow me to re-educate and re-balance my body, but also have a tremendous effect on my mind and soul. I understood it intellectually, but I had no idea how deep the work would go. I was blessed to find my therapist - she really has magic in her hands. Through skillful application of a variety of techniques, she is able to help me access deeply held tension. Finding a therapist you can trust so I could let go was important. We hold on because it allowed us to survive. But surviving isn't thriving. And I wanted to thrive.
As I started integrating experiences, my body started reconnecting in different ways that would be difficult to explain through anatomy alone. Yes, I felt my hips open up. Yes, my right leg no longer felt shorter. Yes, I stood taller, my knees hurt less. Yes, my psoas finally started letting go. But more than that, I am now able to connect to a deep part within myself, and as a consequence, my own power runs through me now, power I could not access before. Once this connection was made, I became much more aware of every part of my body, feeling it like a cord all the way from the base of my spine up to my head and into the very tips of my fingers and toes. It felt like a hum, a constant vibration - exquisite in its delicate nature yet strong, vibrant and most importantly, available to me at every moment. All I had to do was tune in. Connect to it. I really was in awe because I realized how amazing our bodies and their ability to heal really are. And as an added benefit, my stamina literally got blown out of the water! I had started an exercise program again and was struggling a bit. But it changed over night. I know this is hard to believe. I wouldn't either if I had not experienced it myself. By re-establishing the flow of energy, by removing blockages, tension and restriction, my body is now able to function much easier, with more flow, with more grace and fluidity. And this is what we want for our horses!
The ability to do what we ask them to do with more ease, efficiency, less strain, more grace.
Of course I wanted to bring this new awareness to my work! And as I did, I could feel so much more. The most subtle shifts in energy patterns, the rhythm of where the body needed to go in order to release tension, the still points where it needed to stop to let go, process and integrate. As my work and connection deepened, the horses became even more tuned into the work and the sensations through their bodies. Some got very quiet, some became even more clear on where they wanted me to work and for how long. And some even went through what is called "injury recall". It takes a tremendous amount of trust on the horse's part to let go of the cellular memory of trauma and as a therapist, we must be willing to stay with them during this experience.
“Only by means of reverence for life can we establish a spiritual and humane relationship with people and all living creatures within our reach.”
And that's the beauty of the work we do. It's not just about working out the knots and tension in muscles or increasing the range of motion. Yes, those are all benefits, of course. But it also is about providing a way for our horses to reconnect to their bodies, to integrate less than perfect living conditions, to let go and heal their minds as well as their bodies. To live life from a place of power and grace, vitality and well-being. A return to health and balance. And within that, we find a deeper connection to them and ourselves.
Would love to hear your thoughts on this!
Have a great day!