Category Archives: horses, dogs & more

Oct6

embodying with horses

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Pam White and Apache in an Embodied Horsemanship clinic at The Equus Effect

We had a great day at The Equus Effect yesterday!  Wonderful human-horse connections happening during the workshop.  For me, it was a beautiful opportunity to share and connect the improvisational movement work that I have been doing with humans for years, to the discovery of a deeper sense of embodiment and presence with the horses.  At one point in the early afternoon, I looked around the round pen and saw everyone in a moving, connecting, breathing dance with themselves and their horses – this quality of joy and curiosity.  And what a beautiful location!  Surrounded by the golden trees in the hills of Sharon, CT.

A big thank you to Jane Strong and The Equus Effect for hosting us and lovely horses Apache, Dutch and Tango for joining us.  Watch for more workshops coming this spring!

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Sep9

this moment

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Photo:  Pam White

Nikita is a cat of the moment.  He is a cat who savors, who to my eye is completely, deeply a part of everything.  I was going to say that he is fully immersed, but that feels wrong because it implies that there is a body of water and another body.  Watching Niki does not feel like there is any separation.  He sleeps outside the garage, which makes me nervous, but also gives me many opportunities to see him during the day as my study is just outside of the garage.  He is a seamless part of the space and the time, and his breathing feels to me like the breathing of the moment.

Yesterday he slept almost all day on the horse blanket that I had washed and laid over the chairs outside to dry.  It was windy, and each time I walked by the blanket had changed shape, wrapping and folding Niki – who did not move –  in different ways.  He was not disturbed.

Maybe that is the lesson from this lovely, steady being who has lived with us for sixteen years.  Do not be disturbed.  The wind will blow and your sleeping place may not always be peaceful, but be still.  Settle, breathe, rest.  All is well.

Aug31

mark your calendars!

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Embodied Horsemanship Workshop!

Sometimes the reason we were first drawn to horses gets lost.  In our hurried lives, we can lose touch with the playful, joyous part of simply being with our horses.  We can get automatic and fragmented in our relationships with them. The rush of preparation, the push of riding goals and the pressure of competition sometimes comes at the expense of our first and most precious desire to savor and enjoy their incredible grace, strength and beauty.

Learning to slow down, focus our intention and become more present not only improves our horsemanship, but we can recapture that original dream.

This workshop will also show you how to:

  • Keep your horse ‘tuned up’ mentally, emotionally and physically
  • Prevent injury by stimulating the natural flow of oxygen in your horse’s body as well as your own.
  • Enhance flexibility, softness and resiliency in your horse and in you…no matter what disciplines you want to master.
This workshop is for those who would like to become more attuned, mindful and improvisational in their relationship with their horses on the ground.   We teach a simple-six step practice that you can use with your horses on the ground and in the saddle. 

 

 By expanding mindfulness, embodied consciousness, softness and authenticity, and learning basic movement awareness and listening skills, you will create greater physical and emotional balance and ease for you and your horse.  AND…we believe you’ll discover how this practice can bring a greater sense of attunement, harmony and presence to your relationships with the other four and two-legged creatures you have in your life.

 

This is an unmounted workshop for those with all levels of experience.

SIGN UP HERE

Aug19

workshop!

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a workshop with

Paula Josa-Jones MA, CMA, RSMT

Saturday, October 5
9:30-1
at The Equus Effect*
37 Drum Road, Sharon CT

$75

information:  860-364-9313
josajones@gmail.com

Sign up here

Sometimes the reason we were first drawn to horses gets lost. We lose touch with the playful, joyous part of being with a horse. We become automatic and hurried – fragmented in our attention. Slowing down, focusing intention and being present are often the biggest missing steps in horsemanship.  They can get lost in the rush of preparation, the push of riding goals and the pressure of competition.
This workshop is for those who would like to become more relaxed, confident, aware and improvisational in their relationship with their horses on the ground.  This is an unmounted workshop for all levels of experience. 
  • Building feelings of confidence, mindfulness and a spirit of improvisation
  • Expanding mindfulness, embodied consciousness, softness and authenticity.
  • Learning basic movement awareness and listening skills on the ground.
  • Learning basic Tellington TTouches.
  • Creating physical and emotional balance for you and your horse.

Paula Josa-Jones is a Registered Somatic Movement Therapist and Tellington TTouch Practitioner.  She teaches an intuitive, improvisational approach to the human-horse bond through movement and touch.  For the past fourteen years, she has been creating dances with horses.  www.paulajosajones.org

What a gift to horsemanship and consciousness! I can’t wait for Paula’s next class. She provided great practices and tools for transforming the foundation of our relationship with our horses – as well as any other living creature. Such a shift will bring more grace, ease and joy into the lives of all. I will enjoying being present with my four (and two) legged partners more and simply noticing the “problems/challenges” disappearing.
Louise Dobish, Michigan