JULY 2006 • VOLUME 11 • ©HORSES For LIFE™ Magazine

Improve your Side-bending to Improve your Balance in the Saddle

Feldenkrais® Movement Lesson for Riders

By Mary Debono

Sit on a hard or firmly cushioned seat. A tack trunk often works well. Sit on the forward edge, resting your hands on your thighs. Your feet should be flat on the floor, hip width apart. Feel how your weight is distributed over your seat bones. Is one side heavier?

Put your right hand on the top of your head. With the help of your hand, slowly tilt your head toward your right shoulder a little bit. Do not turn your head - you will be facing forward, with your nose straight ahead. Just bring your right ear toward your right shoulder.

Do not stretch or strain! Do very small, slow movements. The idea is to feel how you do the movement. Range of motion will increase automatically as you learn how to do the movement effectively and easily. Let comfort be your guide. There should be no pain or strain at all. This may mean making a very tiny movement!

As long as you are comfortable, gradually let the movement get bigger, but continue to do it slowly. Pause in the starting position between each movement. Repeat each movement several times (about five to ten times). These directions apply to all the following movements.

As you bring your right ear to your right shoulder, feel how the ribs on your right side get closer together and the ones on your left side get farther apart. Can you exhale as you bring the ear toward the shoulder?

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