My Horses, My Teachers
Alois Podhajsky
The benefits of Equine Assisted Therapy seem obvious, fresh air, open spaces, and horses. Certainly, those are wonderful benefits, but the significant benefits of equine-assisted therapy are subtle to explain.
Be fully in the moment, open yourself to the powerful energies dancing around you.
Ernest Hemingway
We know that our posture impacts how others see us, but did you know it also may impact how we feel about ourselves? We know that a change in facial expression such as a half-smile can lighten our mood. Amy Cuddy’s research supports the idea that intentional changes in our body posture impacts our physiology, thus changing how we feel about ourselves.
Here is a short clip of Amy Cuddy’s Ted Talk discussing the impact of body posing on physiology.
If you are so inclined here is Amy’s Ted Talk in its’ entirety!
Amy Cuddy discusses power poses in this video.
Practice using a power pose(s) throughout your day to move yourself to an emotional space of confidence, peace, power, and contentment. Does it change how you feel? Are you a powerful, peaceful person? Yes? Would you like to be even more powerful, present, and peaceful? If so, let me know!
I spent a day with the incredible, executive coach, and friend, Karen Davis. After we had played for several hours with my horses, and had a relaxing lunch, we made the hour drive to Tonto National Forest where we hoped to located and view one of the wild herds of Salt River Horses. As clear intention, or wonderful luck would have it we found, first a small band of three stallions, and then a larger herd with a stallion, mares, and babies.
I am always awed by the sight of these horses. They tolerate humans watching, and photographing them in stride. Yet they keep a reasonable distance. About 19 months ago these horses were destined to be rounded up, and most likely destroyed by the federal government, however the horses were saved by many individuals, and organizations that stood, and spoke up in order to save them. The state of AZ has acted to protect the wild horses. The people have requested that the Federal Government follow suit.
When I stand among these wild horses, I am flooded with the feeling that these horses know that the people that come to see them, saved them, and they are grateful. Perhaps it is my own gratitude that flows out for these beautiful horses, in this amazing national land that has been preserved for us by those that stood up, and demand the right thing be done.
In those moments when I was full of being present to myself, the horses, to the land, to the connection that goes between the people, the land, and the horses something greater moved, and moments of oneness with all of it occurred for me. When I become still, and quiet with horses in nature the incredible occurs, and I find my peace, and place in the world.
Where do you find your peace? Where is your place in the world? Can’t find it, feeling lost? Contact me, I can help you find it.
Love, Marsha
PS. For more incredible BreathWork & Horses consider our October, Power of Your Presence Retreat!
PSS. Coming soon information on Yoga & Horses Retreat also in the beautiful Sonoran Desert November!
Marsha Ferrick Coaching
The feminine energy of the mare pulls the herd. The masculine energy of the stallion pushes the herd. In concert, they keep the herd fed, watered and safe. They interact as a community. The energy of the lead mare and the stallion are different. She prefers to be followed. She is ahead of the group. She determines the forward momentum. The stallion follows his herd. He keeps them together, and he is the first line of defense, if a predator threatens the herd. He is typically bold in comparison to the wariness of his lead mare who trusts slowly, and approaches cautiously, if at all.
Last week I hosted a group of twenty + from around the globe to experience the power of Equine Collaborated Coaching at Full Circle Ranch B&B in Cave Creek, AZ. This is what Dave shared with me after he returned home from the event.
“I had a chance to use it as soon as I got home. Making lunches in my house has been a HUGE fight for years as we ask our kids, ages 7 and 9, to do it themselves. It usually involves lots of yelling, threatening, and then eventually me doing it for them.
After our work with the horses, I realized that my son responds well to pushing (masculine or yang) energy and my daughter pulling (feminine or yin) energy. So, when it came time, I told my son he needed to make his lunch and then pushed my energy towards the fridge with him in front of me. When he started to wander off, as he always does, a few minutes in, I just stepped in front of him and gently pushed my energy back toward him and his lunch. He went so easily!!!! Lunch was made, no problem.
With my daughter, we usually push and push with no response. So today after telling her it was time and she didn’t respond I just said, ‘Hey Scarlette, I’m just going to go ahead and do it for you,’ and started pulling things out. She immediately stepped in and did it all herself.
My wife was floored.”
What David did so adeptly was to generalize the herd dynamics he had learned in the Equine Collaborated Coaching session to social interactions with others, in this case his children. Once he understood the energy dynamic in his children, he could manage his internal energy in a way that guided his children to make their own lunches without drama, and in a cooperative manner. Voila! Peaceful family lunch-making time!
Where do things fall apart for you in relationships? Are there times and situations in which you are puzzled by the dynamics that occurs between you and others? Do you have difficulty with certain people? If so, consider your energy. Do you push people or pull people? How about the individuals around you? What energy do they put out? How do you manage your energy with others?
If this sounds interesting to you, and you would like to discuss it contact me.
Love, Marsha
PS. Our April, Power of Your Presence Retreat is already full, so hold your space in our October Power of Your Presence Retreat now!
What are the benefits of equine collaborated coaching? Besides being in the arena with truly awe inspiring animals? First, you learn exactly who you are when you are in an arena with a horse. Why? Because horses don’t believe your words if your body language tells them differently. They create a mirror for you of your strengths and growing edges. They read and reflect your subconscious thoughts via your body language. Your words mean little to them if your actions, behavior, posture, and tone differ from what you are telling them with your body. You can lie to yourself and even to other humans but horses are not as naive as we human beings. Horses listen and attend with their whole body, and heart to the whole person. They do not listen for what they want to hear, they trust their internal intuition, their own sense of knowing, and thus they see us even when we cannot see ourselves.
Second, you can learn very quickly who you can be with a horse. When you face even the quietest unbridled, unhaltered, untethered 1200# horse in a 10m x 10m arena you can be moved out of your comfort zone quickly. However, with instruction you learn to maximize your range of connection and boundaries in a short span of time. I have been amazed at the immense changes that occur in people within a 45-60 minute session when they work with my horses.
Below I am moved out of my comfort zone when my young 2 year old Andalusian stud colt stands on his hind legs about 3′ in front of me to play. He forgets he outweighs me! Needless to say he is not quite ready to use with clients yet! Copyrighted 2014