Classical
Dressage
and
Yoga |
|
Each
of us
who
is
interested
in
dressage
as a
serious
endeavor
has
given
time
and
effort
to
the
learning
of
certain
methods
and
how
to
correctly
apply
them
into
our
riding.
Through
a
lifetime
of
riding
horses
with
diligence
and
conviction,
great
masters
of
dressage
were
brought
to us
who
demonstrated
incredible
skill,
awareness
and
intuition.
Unfortunately,
most
of
them
are
no
longer
with
us.
Our
perception
of
what
defines
perfection
has
changed
...
having
been
influenced
by
the
superficial
lifestyles
and
mediocrity
that
are
so
prevalent
today.
WHAT
MAKES
A
RIDER
"CLASSICAL"
?
A
rider
who
wishes
to
exhibit
a
horse
in
"classical
fashion"
will
find
that
this
is
not
possible
-
unless
...
his
mind
has
been
trained
for
extraordinary
awareness
...
and
his
body
is as
gymnastically
developed
as
that
of
the
horse.
|
There
are
many
ways
to
shorten
the
length
of
time
required
to
gain
the
kind
of
experience
needed
to
approach
"oneness"
with
the
horse
as
did
the
old
"masters".
At
 ,
the
methodology
used
to
gain
some
of
that
perfection
is
rigorous
yoga
training.
Dedicated
yoga
practice
enables
the
rider to
achieve
beyond
average
suppleness,
awareness,
breath
control,
concentration
and
meditative
absorbing
qualities.
This
allows
him /
her
to
grasp
the
inner
and
outer
reality
of
the
horse
;
bringing
about
the
perfection
of
skill
and
understanding
that
otherwise could
only be
accomplished
through
many
years
of
dedicated
riding.
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