Whoa, Nelly! Yoga on horseback in Pa.
By DAN KRISTIE Daily Local News
Posted: 07/31/2010 12:01:13 AM EDT
WEST BRANDYWINE, Pa.—When her horse stopped for water during a ride through the woods several years ago, Tina Smith, feeling a bit tight and stiff, wondered if it would be possible to execute a few yoga moves while still on back of the animal. So, her legs wrapped around her horse, she moved her upper body into Warrior One, and then into Warrior Two—two moves commonly taught to students of yoga.
Smith, a lifelong horse rider who began practicing yoga in the late 1970s, said that doing yoga while on the back of her horse relieved the tension that had accumulated during the ride. She said she got into the habit of performing a bit of yoga whenever her horse stopped to rest.
She soon realized that doing yoga on horseback not only relieved her muscle tension—it also allowed her to better connect with her horse and appreciate the time she and the animal rode together.
"You become one with the horse," Smith said. "You are two spirits, riding together. It's like a dance. The horse is your partner."
Smith decided she wanted to share the yoga-on-horseback experience with others. So, about five years ago, she started a business and called it The Yoga Pony.
When clients arrive for a Yoga Pony class, Smith takes them to her studio and leads them through a series of yoga poses, which are designed to open and lengthen their spine and limbs. Then, she takes her clients out on one of her two horses, Apache, an appaloosa, and Geronimo,
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a quarter horse. During the ride, Smith has her clients stop their horses and, while still in the saddle, perform yoga moves. Smith said the yoga helps clients—especially those with little experience riding horses—remain relaxed and open to the full experience of being on a horse.
"You know that old saying that horses can feel the fear in you?" Smith said. "Well, there's not going to be that fear. The horse doesn't feel the tightness, the shallow breath and the ride is nicer."
After the horse ride is over, Smith takes her clients back into the studio and leads them through additional yoga moves, as well as guided meditation. Then, the session is over.
Smith lives on several wooded acres on Lafayette Road with her husband Stephen Smith, an entrepreneur who has owned finance, real estate and marketing companies.
Her yoga studio is in her backyard. The studio, once a chicken coop, now contains carpet, yoga decorations and props, and high windows that make artificial lighting unnecessary.
Smith said she teaches horseback yoga to both adults and children. And, she said, she teaches yoga classes and horseback riding classes separately, for those who like one but aren't interested in the other.
One of Smith's favorite things to tell yoga clients is, "You are only as young as your back." By this, she means that if a person's spine becomes worn and unhealthy—if the fluids that travel through it become stagnant and if the cartilage wears out—the person begins to feel old and stiff. Yoga, she said, is a good way to rejuvenate the spine.
By DAN KRISTIE Daily Local News
Posted: 07/31/2010 12:01:13 AM EDT
WEST BRANDYWINE, Pa.—When her horse stopped for water during a ride through the woods several years ago, Tina Smith, feeling a bit tight and stiff, wondered if it would be possible to execute a few yoga moves while still on back of the animal. So, her legs wrapped around her horse, she moved her upper body into Warrior One, and then into Warrior Two—two moves commonly taught to students of yoga.
Smith, a lifelong horse rider who began practicing yoga in the late 1970s, said that doing yoga while on the back of her horse relieved the tension that had accumulated during the ride. She said she got into the habit of performing a bit of yoga whenever her horse stopped to rest.
She soon realized that doing yoga on horseback not only relieved her muscle tension—it also allowed her to better connect with her horse and appreciate the time she and the animal rode together.
"You become one with the horse," Smith said. "You are two spirits, riding together. It's like a dance. The horse is your partner."
Smith decided she wanted to share the yoga-on-horseback experience with others. So, about five years ago, she started a business and called it The Yoga Pony.
When clients arrive for a Yoga Pony class, Smith takes them to her studio and leads them through a series of yoga poses, which are designed to open and lengthen their spine and limbs. Then, she takes her clients out on one of her two horses, Apache, an appaloosa, and Geronimo,
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a quarter horse. During the ride, Smith has her clients stop their horses and, while still in the saddle, perform yoga moves. Smith said the yoga helps clients—especially those with little experience riding horses—remain relaxed and open to the full experience of being on a horse.
"You know that old saying that horses can feel the fear in you?" Smith said. "Well, there's not going to be that fear. The horse doesn't feel the tightness, the shallow breath and the ride is nicer."
After the horse ride is over, Smith takes her clients back into the studio and leads them through additional yoga moves, as well as guided meditation. Then, the session is over.
Smith lives on several wooded acres on Lafayette Road with her husband Stephen Smith, an entrepreneur who has owned finance, real estate and marketing companies.
Her yoga studio is in her backyard. The studio, once a chicken coop, now contains carpet, yoga decorations and props, and high windows that make artificial lighting unnecessary.
Smith said she teaches horseback yoga to both adults and children. And, she said, she teaches yoga classes and horseback riding classes separately, for those who like one but aren't interested in the other.
One of Smith's favorite things to tell yoga clients is, "You are only as young as your back." By this, she means that if a person's spine becomes worn and unhealthy—if the fluids that travel through it become stagnant and if the cartilage wears out—the person begins to feel old and stiff. Yoga, she said, is a good way to rejuvenate the spine.