By Andrea Steele on
1/22/2010 2:21 PM
By Andrea Steele and Gillian Belnap
You hear that phrase all the time, but do you really know what it means to “be in the moment” or “stay in the moment” or why it is so important for equestrians to “ride in the moment”?
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By Andrea Steele on
11/4/2009 10:32 AM
By definition, (physical) relaxation is the lengthening that characterizes inactive muscles. Equestrians, however, like most athletes, must maintain relaxation within an active body in order to perform with the necessary precision required by their sport. A balance between relaxation and tension must be achieved. This “balancing act” is even more complex for riders because both rider and horse need a high degree of relaxation in order to move in sync with each other.
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By Andrea Steele on
10/12/2009 5:46 PM
As riders, we have all been told to breathe at some point in our lessons. It is easy to simply stop breathing while concentrating on an instructor or on the horse. But breathing correctly is not something most riding instructors are prepared to discuss in any substantive way – and this explains why advancement for many riders takes a slower path.
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By Andrea Steele on
9/14/2009 11:52 AM
When I came upon the writings of tai chi master Yang, Cheng-fu (1883–1936), I was once again reminded of why tai chi is less about being strictly an exercise program and more about being a way of life—in the same way that having horses is not only about riding but a way of life. Like many others, I’ve always lost interest in any exercise program long before any benefits could be felt. What made practicing tai chi immediately different for me was the mental connection I was able to see between tai chi and riding. Having that positive mental connection, I could patiently wait for the physical results to come, which was surprisingly soon.
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By Andrea Steele on
8/10/2009 6:32 AM
A few years ago the BBC aired a TV show called “Faking-It.” The premise was to take someone from one walk of life and teach them the skills for a different discipline. At the end of thirty days, the person had to compete against people experienced in the new field and be judged by professionals to see if the “faker” could be exposed.
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By Andrea Steele on
6/24/2009 7:14 PM
Simply put, the Chinese character chi represents the energy that resides within all living things. In Chinese culture, the practice of tai chi and qi gong (chee kung) evolved, in part, as a way of mastering the flow of chi within the human body.
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