Occasionally the internet leads me to new ideas and this spring was particularly productive. Facebook suggested a webinar with Liz Koch via Yoga Journal, and noted her specialization in the study of the human psoas muscle, particularly as an organ of proprioreception. "Tell me more!", I thought. While I didn't join the webinar, I did read a few of her books. I accompanied them with my good old Atlas Of Human Anatomy by Dr. Frank Netter. Koch's writings referred to Stanley Rosenberg's work studying the Vagus nerve, which led me to his book, as well as Continuum Movement, Rolfing, and Feldenkrais, all of which I hope to learn more about soon.
The psoas is the 'filet mignon', and is not something we can control voluntarily. It tells our brain how our body is placed in space, and so is affected by our posture. It curls us into the fetal position when we feel threatened, and is part of the seam between the core and legs. Ride with your jaw centred over your pelvis, and your hipbones shining up over your horse's ears, and your psoas can help relay valuable movement information to your brain.
Mammalian physiology is such that our nervous systems have more in common with eachother than differences, so it wasn't really surprising to see Youtube suggest Horsemanship Trainer Warwick Schiller's interpretation of how this information relates to horses:
The psoas is the 'filet mignon', and is not something we can control voluntarily. It tells our brain how our body is placed in space, and so is affected by our posture. It curls us into the fetal position when we feel threatened, and is part of the seam between the core and legs. Ride with your jaw centred over your pelvis, and your hipbones shining up over your horse's ears, and your psoas can help relay valuable movement information to your brain.
Mammalian physiology is such that our nervous systems have more in common with eachother than differences, so it wasn't really surprising to see Youtube suggest Horsemanship Trainer Warwick Schiller's interpretation of how this information relates to horses:
Udo Burger's book "The Way to Perfect Horsemanship" might seem like the outlier in this collection, especially since it was written 60 years ago, but there are many passages about the muscular and nervous function of horses, and how that can be affected by correct and incorrect training.
I applied the knowledge first-hand while working with a young, reactive mare for her owner. We seemed to start every session with her in a very reactive 'fight or flight' mindset, and I needed to establish natural movement in relaxation while setting boundaries. By staying present in the moment, aware of my own state of mind, and showing the horse that I was calm and confident and sensitive to her needs, we slowly made progress of longer and longer periods being engaged with eachother.
I applied the knowledge first-hand while working with a young, reactive mare for her owner. We seemed to start every session with her in a very reactive 'fight or flight' mindset, and I needed to establish natural movement in relaxation while setting boundaries. By staying present in the moment, aware of my own state of mind, and showing the horse that I was calm and confident and sensitive to her needs, we slowly made progress of longer and longer periods being engaged with eachother.
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