We start most of my online workouts with a side bend to warm up and get moving. This is not just a great way to start mobilising and stretching out the body it is also a way of spotting any Asymmetries. 

Firstly, you might notice it is easier to bend one way more than the other, then if you dig a little deeper you might notice there are more things going awry.

As you bend one way you may find it’s not only a little harder, but your shoulder starts to round and your chest closes, maybe your hip starts to creep up or forward? 

Which means you then aren’t truly opening up that side in the same way that you’re opening up the other side.

If you aren’t addressing this Asymmetry from the minute you start the session it’s most likely that the Asymmetry will be there throughout.

This Asymmetry will then be present when you ride, meaning you may be ever so slightly tipped one way, rotated one way and find riding on a particular rein or turning in one direction difficult. 

There can of course be various bits of your body causing this issue but to begin addressing can be started with the basic side bend.

Standing or sitting, take one arm over. Think about weighting the same side hip down to allow you to really lift out of the pelvis. Keep your chest open and notice how the rest of your body aligns. Aim to keep yourself stacked as if stuck between two panes of glass. Repeat on the other side and aim for both sides to feel the same.

Try this as part of your off horse exercise routine and also as part of your pre ride warm up.

Want to check out the weekly side bends in my online programme? 

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Online Classes

For most people the main season of competition is over, and we’re switching horses over to winter routines. 

For my clients that means we’re looking at what they achieved this season and what that then means they’ll be aiming for next year.

This enables us to put in place a training plan through winter that works towards being ready to smash those goals next year. 

6 months can seem a long time but just think of that as an opportunity to completely transform your potential. 

As I work with people from other sports it’s quite common for winter to be a serious strength building time during the “off season “.

Equestrians don’t necessarily have an “off season” but I think for most people it’s a quieter time for riding activities so I like to do the same with my Equestrian clients and use this time to build a good base of strength and conditioning.

This doesn’t have to mean 5 days a week in the gym nor do you have to suddenly start doing 1 rep max lifts. However just adding 2-3 resistance workouts into your week will have you starting next springs training a much better athlete.

This could be at home with body weight, resistance bands or some weights or you could go to a gym and get acquainted with a Barbell.

If you’d like a done for you at home Kettlebell workout check out my Kettlebells for Equestrians Programme.

https://payhip.com/b/byNLo

I’ve been having various conversations this week about how different things affect our bodies and consequently how we ride.

These have included how Fascia and Scar tissue from previous injuries may not just be affecting the original area but also other parts of the body.

Then how our brain and mindset can also affect our body, how it moves and reacts.

Without wanting to over complicate matters (where my other over thinkers at……) this means there a few different factors to consider when working on our bodies off horse to improve our performance on horse.

If you have suffered previous surgeries, serious injuries, or Chronic pain we need to address the potential restrictions that may have created in your body.

If you spend a lot of your day in a fixed position-I train a few Dentists…….or that could be standing up stationary, sitting at a desk etc it all creates restrictions in your body that could be held even when you’re not in that position any more.

Then there’s your brain! How’s your day been? Is your head still at work? Are you anxious, angry at someone, sad or excited? Our emotions can affect how our body feels and moves. If your sad you may physically move quite heavily, if you’re anxious you may feel quite tense or jittery.

Our emotions can also have a physical energy that can be felt by our horse, which in turn can affect the way they react to us.

Our brain and body are not two separate entities, our body is a constant link of muscles, bones, tendons, nerve endings all co-operating together and with the brain. If there is a blockage in the body or a mismatch from the brain it can potentially affect the whole chain.

Therefore we need to consider both the body as a whole and the brain when we look at our off-horse training.

Consider whether your chosen form of exercise addresses what your body has been doing for the rest of the day. Does it put you in opposite postures than those you’ve been in all day? Does it make your body feel more relaxed?

How does your brain feel afterwards? Does it calm you down or hype you up? Depending on your individual needs either of those might be the right strategy for you.

How do you then use this information to prepare yourself to ride? Do you need to relax your body and create calm in your mind or switch it and get your focused brain on?

Have a think about these different elements of your body and brain and think of ways to implement it into your off-horse work and your pre ride warm up.

If you have any questions or want a little help let me know.

PS: If you want a done for you programme using Kettlebells to help you get stronger and fitter for riding, my Kettlebells for Equestrians Programme is just what you need!

https://payhip.com/b/byNLo