(EMAILWIRE.COM, September 01, 2011 ) Maynard, MA -- All horseback riders know that good communication with their horse serves as the foundation of good riding. What most donÂ’t realize, however, is that their patterns of muscle tension often interfere with the bodily signals they send to the horse, making it difficult for the horse to carry out their intentions. On October 15 and 16, veteran Alexander Technique teacher Adam Bailey, an avid rider since childhood, is presenting a weekend riding clinic that helps horseback riders identify and release their patterns of tension and maintain greater poise and ease while riding (www.alexandertechniqueboston.com).
“When riders are in the saddle at the upcoming clinic, I will use the Alexander Technique’s gentle touch and verbal instructions to help them become aware of their tension and release it,” says Adam Bailey. He normally teaches the hundred-year-old Alexander Technique in his offices in Maynard and Cambridge, Massachusetts. The October clinic for riders takes place at Freestyle Farm in Amherst, New Hampshire. “Since I’m an experienced rider myself, I can also observe ways in which they are giving conflicting bodily signals to their horse. And whether it’s in the office or in the riding ring, the Alexander Technique points the way toward a natural alignment of the neck, head, back and heels. As a result, riders experience improvement in strength, balance and coordination while riding, and they have an easier time staying with the horse’s movement.”
Developed by Shakespearean actor F. M. Alexander in the 1890s, the Alexander Technique is a system of body-mind education in which a trained teacher guides a student to bodily awareness and freer movement. Often recommended for those with back or neck pain, the Technique is also popular among musicians, actors, office workers, people with stress-related conditions and athletes in every sport, including horseback riding, Bailey notes.
“Improve Your Ride With the Alexander Technique” with Adam Bailey takes place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, October 15 and 16 in Amherst, New Hampshire. Leslie Kornfeld, a veteran Boston-based dressage instructor, is co-leading the clinic. The cost per person is $230 plus a $25 stabling fee. No experience with the Alexander Technique is needed, although participants should have some experience with riding.
