Yoga for Riders Principles and Postures to Improve Your Horsemanship by Cathy Woods
Billions of people around the world embrace the practice of yoga. Its lessons in breath control, simple meditation, and specific bodily postures are widely regarded as a means to achieving health and relaxation. Yoga teacher and horsewoman Cathy Woods says that’s not all: She believes the meditative, mindful breathwork and lifestyle aspects of the tradition, as well as the postures, can be profoundly helpful in our interactions with horses. Over the course of her 30-year career, Woods has created teachings that are accessible to everyone—new and experienced yogis, and riders of different levels and disciplines—giving them life-changing benefits, including empowerment, confidence, connection, and feel. Her unique program is presented here in the form of highly illustrated instruction, guiding you through the steps to achieving present moment awareness; finding body, breath, and energy awareness; breathing through challenges; listening to your inner voice; slowing down; and developing balance and symmetry in the saddle. All of these are key to better communication and improved partnership with our horses. In addition, Woods shares specific stretches for strength, flexibility, and balance, as well as postures that contribute to rider safety as we age. The result is a book that helps us become more aware and conscious riders while gently correcting our imbalances, resulting in a richer, more rewarding, more joyful horsemanship experience.
Cathy Woods is a long-time yoga teacher and retreat leader, having taught yoga to equestrians and non-equestrians since 1991 at distinguished locations such as Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, Yogaville Ashram, and Mount Madonna Center. An equine enthusiast and avid rider who loves exploring the natural world from the back of a horse, Woods combined her passions to create a program called “Body, Mind, Equine,” which focuses on the use of yoga principles and postures to improve horsemanship, from ground to saddle. She offers retreats and clinics at ranches, resorts, equine centers, and expos—including Equine Affaire, Southern Equine Expo, and Equitana USA—as well as for private equestrian groups. Woods has written for and been featured in numerous online and print publications, such as EQUUS Magazine, Western Horse & Gun Magazine, Yoga Digest, Forbes.com, Equitrekking, and Horsecity.com. Woods aims to impart an aware/mindful approach to yoga and horsemanship in order to make good horsemanship and true yoga accessible to everyone while promoting a more enriched and skillful life. She is based in the Great Smoky Mountains of North Carolina. Find out more at cathywoodsyoga.com.
Author Cathy Woods
Format: Paperback
Total Page Count: 216
Illustrations: 175 color photos
ISBN: 978-1-57076-971-9
