| An easy way for horse riders to become supple and | | | | 1. Stand tall and straight with both feet on the ground. |
| balanced is through practicing a few yoga poses each | | | | 2. Inhale and lift one foot up and place on your |
| day before going horseriding to stretch and balance | | | | opposite thigh (or knee or calf). Exhale and hold that |
| ourselves. I have chosen five of my favourite poses | | | | position. |
| that have given me most value to improve my horse's | | | | 3. Inhale and lift your arms up into the air with your |
| suppleness and balance. | | | | palms together. |
| I am not a yoga teacher though I have been using | | | | 4. Hold for a count of 5 in that position. |
| yoga to improve my riding over the last 5 years with | | | | 5. Exhale, lower your arms and place both feet back |
| great success. Invest 10 minutes of your day to do | | | | on the floor. |
| these exercises for the horse rider so you can really | | | | 6. Repeat with the other foot. |
| enjoy your ride. | | | | Horse Rider Exercise # 4 Rishis Pose |
| Horse Rider Exercise #1. Stand and stretch mountain | | | | This is another pose that flexes the spine with some |
| pose | | | | twist through your trunk and the lower back. Thus it |
| In this pose, you feel a stretch all the way through your | | | | combines the stretch as well as a check of how even |
| body from your feet firm on the ground to your hands | | | | you are. Is one side easier than the other to do this |
| pressing skywards. | | | | stretch? If so, do an extra stretch on this side. Never |
| | | | strain though. |
| 1. Stand very straight with your hands by your sides, | | | | |
| with your legs together. Feel that you are centered | | | | 1. Stand straight with your feet about 3 feet apart. |
| and connected to the ground through your feet. | | | | 2. Inhale and stretch up with your arms in the air. |
| 2. Interlock your hands together in front of you looking | | | | 3. Exhale, lean forward, keeping your legs straight, and |
| at the back of your hands. | | | | reach for your left foot with your right hand. |
| 3. Inhale and stretch your arms up above your head. | | | | 4. Inhale and lift your left hand up and reach for the |
| Exhale. Imagine you are pushing the sky a little higher. | | | | sky. |
| 4. Count up to 5 in this position, then inhale and unlock | | | | 5. Exhale and return your arms toward your body'. |
| your hands, exhale and lower them back to the start | | | | 6. Inhale and lift your arms back up to the sky. |
| position. | | | | 7. Repeat the exercise on the other side of your body. |
| 5. Repeat the exercise with the hands intertwined with | | | | Horse Rider Exercise #5 Leg and toe balance |
| the other thumb on top! | | | | This pose is great to check and strengthen your |
| Horse Rider Exercise #2. Head to Knee Posture | | | | balance. You can progress through bent knee, hand |
| In this pose, you feel a stretch through your legs and | | | | supporting knee to holding on to your toe with a fully |
| back. Because one leg is forward, it eases the back | | | | extended leg. Certainly a challenge! |
| and allows more stretch of the spine. Feel if you are | | | | |
| even through the stretch by comparing how you feel | | | | 1. Stand straight with your legs together. |
| with one foot forward compared to the other. | | | | 2. Inhale and lift one leg with a bent knee with hands on |
| | | | hip or supported by your hands underneath the leg. |
| 1. Stand straight with your legs together and your | | | | 3. Exhale and bring the leg closer to your body. |
| hands by your side. Put one leg forward about 2-3 | | | | 4. Inhale and as you exhale, move the leg around to 90 |
| feet. | | | | degrees from out in front of the body to the side of |
| 2. Inhale and lift your arms above your head. Keep the | | | | the body. |
| palms of your hands together. | | | | 5. Inhale and bring the leg back to the front. |
| 3. Exhale and stretch your arms and hands forward | | | | 6. Exhale and return the leg to the ground. |
| so that your hands reach down onto your legs. | | | | 7. Repeat the sequence with your other leg. |
| 4. Aim for your head to rest on your thighs! | | | | These 5 horse riding exercises are an easy sequence |
| 5. Inhale and as you exhale, stretch and reach your | | | | to commit to memory. Feel the rhythm of your |
| hands further down your legs without straining. Count | | | | breathing and how it helps you in the poses. As you |
| up to 5 in this position. | | | | improve, you can increase either the time or number of |
| 6. Inhale and return to your start position. | | | | repetitions to develop so you are more supple and |
| 7. Repeat the exercise with the other leg forward. | | | | balanced. There are many more yoga poses that you |
| Horse Rider Exercise #3 The Tree Pose | | | | could add as you progress. |
| This pose will start you thinking about how balanced | | | | In traditional yoga, the session is completed by deep |
| you as rider really are! Are you able to do this pose on | | | | relaxation. This can be achieved in this short session |
| both sides evenly? If not, perhaps this is why your | | | | by standing or sitting quietly with your eyes closed and |
| horse feels one-sided when you ride - because you | | | | fingers touching in a circle on each hand, and listening |
| are one-sided! | | | | to your breathing in and out for 10-20 breaths. |
| | | | Enjoy and have a great ride! |