The Magic of Breath- Part 1

We take our breath for granted. We breathe in and out without really thinking about it. Thank goodness for that, because if we had to remember to breathe, most of us would not be here. When we hold our breath, the affect on our horse is apparent.
· Your body begins to tense and the tension is transferred to your horse
· Your horse’s head raises two or three inches
· The movement through your horse’s body is restricted
· You cannot maintain fluid movement and you are disconnected from your horse
· When jumping, you cause your horse to be imbalanced in the air and on the landing.
· Prior to a transition, you lose your rhythm and your timing is left to chance

But what if we did think about it, and by becoming aware of our breath and deepening it we could feel our horse change underneath us? No verbal commands, no reins, no spurs, just our breath as the aide. It can happen just like that, and it does seem like magic!

For more information about my work visit www.shawtaichi.com

James