Relaxation for Riders: Learn to Chill Out!

and feet. Focus on one muscle group at a time holding the tension long enough for you to know what tension feels like in that particular part of your body. As you then relax and let go of that tension again note what that feels like. As you progress through this exercise you may find increased feelings of heaviness and warmth develop. You may also notice that you experience muscle twitches or spasms as the muscles let go of built up tension. All of this is normal.
Through the course of the exercise you may have discovered where it is that you keep most of the tension in your body. If you had trouble with the progressive relaxation it may be that you were trying too hard. Remember that you cannot force yourself to relax rather it is something that you allow to happen. This is an excellent exercise to practice every night before going to sleep. It is guaranteed to help you fall asleep and with practice you will be able to spot and consequently release unwanted tension in your body during training and competition.
Exercise 3 Relaxing on Horseback
You can practice taking your energy down a notch by using your imaginative powers. Think of your upper body and arms as being made out of elastic or like a rubber band. This elastic band allows you to move with your horse to respond in perfect harmony. You may also want to imagine your seat as being a bean bag that can conform exactly to the saddle and move with your horse as it moves with no interference. Experiment with different images that hold relevance for you and remember those that have a noticeable impact on your body.
You can also use the cadence of your horses gait to tune into the rhythm of your own breathing. Of course a wild gallop is sure to get your breath and your heart racing at a rapid rate so the following exercise is best done at the walk while warming up. Breathe into a count of four counting off four footfalls of your horse. Breathe out to a count of four while visualizing your breath moving into your horse and connecting you to him. Similarly on your next inhale imagine that you are drawing the energy back into your body. Think of it as an exchange an exercise in connection where you are matching your