Learning to Heal

I am driving down a beautiful country road with expansive ranch lands and the blue sky in front of me lost in thought as I anticipate the next three days of my second clinic with Holistic Horse Works LLC. I am about to embark on Level 2 Equine Craniosacral Clinic.

I think about the openness of the beauty and energy around me: horses in their yards, swishing their tails at fly’s and chewing on their morning feed. My boots crunch on the gravel as I park at the ranch; I gather my books and head into the barn. The coolness of the barn invites me in along with the smiles of my co-students.

This a reunion of students from Level I Musculoskeletal Unwinding class in which seven students with instructor and owner of Holistic Horse Works LLC April Love, learn a healing modality for equine health.

When you think of your own body and how it feels, we may feel uncomfortable for any number of reasons: What we ate or drank 10 minutes ago, stiffness from working at a desk during the day, or from physical activities that may have caused strain.

Our Equine partners move all day, perform in ways we ask them too, chew the grass and hay we give them. They live like we do in the sense that days become weeks and months and we move on with the tasks that form our days. If you could unwind from the pressure of yesterday and last week, would you? If you could discover a way for your horse to move freely and evenly along with a mind that enjoys the partnership with you, would you want to learn more?

First, what is Musculoskeletal unwinding and what does it do? A practitioner begins a session of Musculoskeletal Unwinding by balancing the yin and yang, releasing defense posture and trapped emotions. An initial evaluation and palpitation of the body is done and then through specific handholds the practitioner uses, facilitates the unwinding process. The horse is able to release tension, increase blood flow and elongate previously tense and tight muscles. For example, the head, neck, first ribs, middle ribs and hips are realigned. Great care and attention is given to each horse that receives treatment. Training in both clinics was focused, intense, detailed and our instructor April Love of Holistic Horse Works LLC is an encyclopedia of equine health and movement knowledge.

Following sessions on the horse are Craniosacral and Applied Kinesology. This is a modality that is felt. The practitioner needs knowledge of the skeletal system and body mechanics and in addition, the essential element is an ability to feel the energy of being. Being present with the horse, being quiet enough to listen to the flow of energy, the breath, the heartbeat and the life force that moves in you and in the horse. Some might refer to that as prana or chi, this moves in us and in all beings. The use of specific handholds along the face and body of the horse brings energy to the spaces that need it so the body can adjust and heal itself. This is a process of intention. The horse will melt into this energy, thereby releasing years of tension and discomfort.

I have done the same. I heal myself daily through meditation; intention of purpose, and releasing trapped emotions. Releasing trapped emotions in ourselves is a process by which we let go and send away an emotion that literally does entrap us. My personal experience with releasing trapped emotions is I no longer experience insomnia; I have better relationships with husband, my daughter and myself. I have released resentment, anger, sadness and more. This process can be learned and read about in depth in Dr. Bradley Nelsons book "The Emotion Code". Since I was a child I have been a person of faith and faith is an experience not just a way of believing something. I have experienced a compilation of healing moments from the release of trapped emotions. It is easily learned and the benefits life changing. What does this have to do with horses? Everything, I bring myself, my hands and my energy to treat horses in a healing modality. What I want to bring is my best self, my whole self. My family needs my best self; the horses I work on need my best self. Horses are also able to release trapped emotions and a visible difference in behavior is noticed.

The time we spend with our equine partners is a rich and rewarding one. We are entrusted with their well-being and their body and minds are a reservoir filled with what they presently display: health, pain, fear and joy. The practice of equine bodywork is transformative in the healing and prevention of injuries, gives the horse freedom of movement and thereby increases the longevity of your equine partner.