Rider Posture - What is Actually Involved?

their ridden counterparts and I really hope to see that change in my lifetime. Since Ive shared my unique posture story Ill also share my strategies for creating change and some of the ways you can work with your posture as well.
Your daily practices Every day I work with body awareness stretching breath work and movement including strength and coordinationbuilding activities. Multiple times a day I do a full body scan notice my areas of tension and breathe into them. As riders we need to have a consistent selfcare practice. I highly recommend checking out the Feldenkrais Method and the Alexander Technique to work with body awareness and your breath in and out of the saddle. One of my favourite books on this related to riding is Centered Riding by Sally Swift.
Your team You may be reading this thinking of the manual therapist who has changed your life and posture and thats awesome. But for many it can be challenging to dedicate the money and time for regular body work and to find a modality that is effective. For my body the game changer was osteopathy. Before this work I didnt realize that my organs could be part of my posture and mobility issue that my sacrum and base of skull were completely locked that there was a structure called the dura mater that was limiting my spinal and pelvic mobility and that my riding posture was distinctly a tensionridden toilet seat position that was restrictingblocking the movement of my horse. Osteopathy is an investment but my body and my horse thank me daily. Chiropractic physiotherapy acupuncture massage rolfing or a combination can all be helpful find what works best for your body. Ask your friends referrals are my preferred way to find the right fit. Receive professional support around a specific stretching and strengthening practice that will improve your unique posture. Work with a riding instructor who can support you to grow your body awareness and cultivate functional and horsefriendly biomechanics in the saddle