5 Ways That Yoga Can Improve Your Riding

Yoga and Horseback Riding are so complimentary. Both focus on proper alignment of the spine and finding a sense of balance between "effort" and "ease" whether you are in the saddle or on the yoga mat. Below are 5 ways that Yoga can help you find this balance in the saddle.

1)  Yoga helps improve your BALANCE.   When we focus on balancing poses in yoga, it helps us to become aware of asymmetries we have in our bodies.  As our balance improves on our yoga mat, we can transfer that to an improved balance in the saddle.

2)  Yoga helps develop STRENGTH.  Yoga poses (asanas) tone the muscles of the body.  As we hold the poses it helps to build strength and endurance. As the muscles develop more strength, they are better able to support and protect the joints. 

3)  Yoga can increase FLEXIBILITY.  What do they say?--"motion is lotion".  If we keep the body moving it helps maintain and possibly increase flexibility.  That is what most people associate with practicing yoga--being more flexible.  But actually, especially with riding, we need to find the balance between flexibility and stability.

4)  Yoga can helps us maintain AGILITY.  A definition of agility is:  "the ability to move quickly and easily in response to a change or challenge".  Everything we do in riding requires agility--whether you are jumping a fence or riding a flying change or staying in the saddle during a spook!  This also includes things out of the saddle--climbing in and our of horse trailers or haylofts or just being able to get up when we are seated on the floor or ground.  

5)  Yoga helps with FOCUS in and out of the saddle.  Yoga is about "being in the present moment".  And so is riding.  If you are thinking about something else while you are in the saddle, you may not stay in the saddle long!

The practice of yoga can help you be more aware of imbalances that you have in and out of the saddle.  This body awareness helps to improve your position in the saddle and your communication with your horse.

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