• The Alexander Technique is a process of un-learning undesirable, inefficient, and/or detrimental physical habits that get in the way of our achieving desired goals, especially in horseback riding, as athletes and in our everyday lives and replacing them with more conscious, harmonious biomechanics so we can experience improved harmony, economy and accuracy in our aids and in our lives.

• The body works as one connected unit, with each part affecting every other part. Alexander Technique and Body-Mapping offers us further insight into biomechanic cause & effect.

• With long term physical habits in place, we often do not accurately determine our true positions or body movements. Alexander Technique helps us have a heightened awareness of our misalignments and misuses and/or overuses of our instruments.

• A goal-oriented, or "end-gaming" attitude can prevent people from achieving their objectives and often cause hyper-focus, tension, stress, rigidity and pain. Alexander Technique, along with Centered Riding Basics of Soft Eyes and conscious breathing can help alleviate these obstacles to our achievement of the same goals. An "un-doing" of "doing" can often get us to our destinations far more quickly than "rigid doing."

• The core concept of the Dale's Cone of Learning is that there is 90% more learning retention via a "Learn By Doing Practice" (Discussion, Practice, Teaching.)This theory is arrived upon due to the nature that "Discussion/Practice/Teaching Others" will encompass all of the above aspects of the cone, therefore, in its being comprehensive, it is most successful. This is slightly different from the Dales Cone concept that all students will retain 90% of what they learn by teaching it to others.

• In our methodology, we value each individuals unique style of flourishing/learning styles, maintain an awareness of our own, and bridge these to create the most fulfilling lessons at our disposal.

• Centered Riding® is an innovative way of learning and teaching classical principles of riding, using body awareness, centering, and imagery. Centered Riding is not a separate seat or discipline, but encompasses all seats and styles of riding. It teaches a language that allows clearer communication between horse, rider, and instructor. Centered Riding was developed by Sally Swift, author of the best-selling book and videotapes, and is now taught by Centered Riding Instructors around the world.

• Centered Riding is based on a knowledge of human and horse anatomy, balance, movement, and on understanding how the mind affects the body and how both affect the horse. It uses centering and grounding techniques from the oriental martial arts, along with body awareness, mental imagery and sports psychology. Through increasing body awareness, inhibiting old patterns, and replacing them with a more balanced, free, and coordinated use of self, both horse and rider can move more freely and comfortably, and develop their best performance.

• Centered Riding teaches you how to help your body do what you need to do in order to ride well. Centered Riding techniques help promote suppleness, stability, and clearer aids, making riding more comfortable for both horse and rider. As you learn and experience the principles through your horse's motion and responses, you and your horse tune in to each other and work together in harmony. These techniques can increase confidence and enjoyment and release tension in horses and riders, making training easier. They also help people cope with old injuries or chronic conditions that cause pain during or after riding.

• Centered Riding is used successfully by riders and instructors of all ages, interests, and levels, from pleasure riders to international competitors, and in therapeutic riding. It can be applied to any type of horse or horsemanship. Most of all, it makes riding more enjoyable for horses and riders.

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USDF L Program

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• The traditional objective of the (Tadashi) Suzuki Method of performance is to develop awareness, core power and precise articulation via three crucial aspects of the performers' body. They are, 1) energy production, 2) breath calibration, and 3) centre of gravity control. We have found these same principles immensely beneficial to riders, who are themselves, performance athletes, in concert with a partner and/or multiple partners (fellows in exhibition, be it the hunt, parades, trail rides, working cattle, team penning/team roping, warm up rings at exhibitions, etc.) All can benefit from the discipline of knowing oneself better, having a developed awareness of our energy and clarity of our position, gestures, movements and aids.

• The method uses exercises that are inspired by Greek and Japanese theater and martial arts and require a great amount of energy and concentration. They result in the rider athlete becoming more aware of their natural expressiveness (energy regulation) and allow them to articulate and commit more fully to the physical and psychological requirements of riding.

• Click HERE to view Suzuki movements to imagine the training's benefits to the rider-athlete.

• Click HERE to learn more about HOW THE SUZUKI METHOD can hone a rider-athlete's senses for improved connection and improved clarity of the aids.

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