I haven’t always been a horsewoman. My horsemanship journey began later in life, which gives a different perspective, and perhaps a deeper appreciation for the gains and lessons learned on the journey.
The mentors and teachers (human and equine) met along the way have been invaluable and I still haven’t fully absorbed all their words and actions…there is still so much to understand. The pursuit of Horsemanship takes a lifetime. It fills your life and mind with concepts that feel new, yet somehow resonate in the heart and mind, ever transforming, deepening in meaning and their application.
So, why is a massage therapist blathering on about horsemanship? One example about the connection and reasoning…
There is a balance to life between observation and effecting the people and creatures in our lives. This is immediately obvious when working with horses. If you don’t observe the nonverbal communication of your equine partner you’ll find yourself in a frustrating and potentially dangerous situation.
Similarly, if a massage therapist is not observant of the verbal/written information, and especially nonverbal cues, presented by their clients, then the therapist risks not being effective in their practice, or even risking the trust between client and therapist. There must be a focused and intentional attention applied to each client, and each encounter with them in order to provide the most effective therapeutic session, each time.
What I hope to do with occasional notes here is to continue laying out thoughts about what comes out of practicing both horsemanship and massage therapy. It really is all connected, all our experiences and how we process them and then again in how we apply those newfound understandings to everyday life and our life pursuits.
If these thoughts are useful or entertaining to you, I am glad. But for now, it is time to rest and prepare for the lessons in store for us tomorrow. Farewell for now.
- Well Being Massage Therapist -