Horse Around in an Equine Yoga Class

Horse Around in an Equine Yoga Class

Yoga is an ancient practice that engages our physical, mental and spiritual being through mindful poses and conscious intentions. It can strengthen the mind, body and soul. In recent years, classes have stretched far beyond the confines of traditional studio settings and facilitation. This includes the popular trend of outdoor yoga, featuring animals like goats, bunnies, kittens and now locally, horses.

Animals have always been an essential part of yoga—downward dog, cat-cow, cobra, pigeon and many other creaturethemed poses. Some believe that these asanas help us connect with nature and mimic the natural, strong mechanisms of our animal counterparts. Many people have taken yoga classes and practiced these stances, but not practiced alongside a motivating mammal such as a horse. Research shows that animals invoke positive health benefits for humans. Animal-assisted therapy is commonly used to lower blood pressure, reduce stress and stimulate overall well-being. According to Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International, comparable benefits are achieved via equine-assisted activities. Horses are now incorporated into an array of therapeutic environments for total body engagement. For instance, a person with cerebral palsy may gain core strength, a person with autism spectrum disorder may hone communication skills and a person with addiction or PTSD may learn to identify emotions.

“Animal yoga makes participants responsible for connecting with themselves before they connect with others,” says certified yoga therapist and horse lover Melissa Montilla. As the owner of Sanctuary Yoga, in Gainesville, she defines her teaching technique as “movement therapy” inclusive of diverse somatic practices beyond the yoga mat like dance and horseback riding.

According to Yogapedia, the horse pose is an intermediate asana that requires flexibility in the hips, as well as a strong core and resilient knees. The body resembles the face of a horse in this posture, hence the name. Montilla has partnered with the Wild Horse Rescue Center (WHRC), in Webster, to host Wild Horses + Yoga. This all-levels workshop will be held from 2 to 4 p.m., December 8. Montilla proclaims, “At our core, we are all wild things; and the horses at WHRC are incredible teachers to guide us toward a stronger relationship with our breath, balance and intuition.” She says that horses can physically impact our core strength, pelvic wellness, hip stability and ultimately allow us to feel taller and stronger. In a tranquil space, participants flow through three components: ground work, grooming and mounted movement. The initial steps focus on breath, centering movement and body language skills. Connection is then enhanced through grooming. “Grooming is a mindfulness practice… a moving meditation,” Montilla explains; and she also notes the impact of this body language: “In horse culture, grooming is a sign of affection and connection.” Next, participants can either mount with a saddle or bareback. Montilla asserts that this course isn’t about using the horse as a yoga mat; rather, “The way you breathe invites them to move in different ways. It becomes like partner yoga when mounted,” with the goal of building awareness through movement both on the ground and in mounted position. “On the horse, we’ll focus on placement of the pelvis, upper body work and lengthening and extending,” she says.

Priced at $85, Wild Horses + Yoga is also a fundraiser for WHRC, with 100 percent of event proceeds benefiting the nonprofit’s mission to the welfare, rescue and preservation of America’s wild horses—the mustangs. There are a limited number of available slots, but future Wild Horses + Yoga sessions are in the works. It is best for participants to wear long yoga pants and sneakers or a flexible paddock boots, and helmets are required for mounted riders. Location: 12103 SE 47th Dr., Webster. For more information, visit YogaGainesville.com. Call Montilla at 352-538-7537 or email Melissa@YogaGainesville.com.

Nancy DeVault is an award-winning writer/editor contributing to local and national publications. by Nancy DeVault

At our core, we are all wild things; and the horses at WHRC are incredible teachers to guide us toward a stronger relationship with our breath, balance and intuition. ~Melissa Montilla