Alexander Technique
& Horse Experience
Alexander Technique & Horse Experience
Head, Heart & Horse
With Julia Caulder
About the Experience
Experience a transformation through our Head, Heart, and Horse program. Julia Caulder and Alejandra Lara have designed a series of lessons in which The Alexander Technique and Mindful Horsemanship work in conjunction in order to enhance your Alexander Technique education by working with the highly developed intuitive nature of the horse.
Why horses
As a prey animal they instinctively analyze and read non-verbal signals providing us with valuable feedback and insights moment to moment. Through the Alexander Technique a student will learn how to be in the moment with the horse. They will slow down and focus on their use, their breath, and their mind, and experience how this affects another living creature in real time.
The goal of the Alexander Technique is to teach you how your mind and body connect, resulting in greater ease, poise, and balance, and from the horse, who is often more aware of you than you are of yourself, a student will get immediate biofeedback.
I am so glad that, during a recent trip to Park City, I decided to try an Alexander Technique and Horse Experience. The experience started with an AT lesson taught by Julia, which gave me a wonderful sense of spaciousness and ease. This was welcome, as I had found during the pandemic, everything had gone into lockdown, including my body, Julia, also, took time to focus specifically on ways I could apply AT during tasks at work to prevent strain or injury. We later joined Alejandra and the horses in the arena, where I was able to apply AT directions during communication with the horses. I felt a real connection with Elliot, who gave immediate feedback in the present moment and deepened my experience of self awareness. I look forward to returning to another lesson with Julia, Alejandra, and the horses again in the future. I would recommend the program to AT students, to horse lovers, or to anyone seeking ways to improve use of one’s self in activities.
– Cheryl I.
What to Expect:
The lessons are an hour and a half long and begin with a private lesson with Julia working on the Alexander Technique. Students will learn about releasing tension, breathing, observing habits, and gaining a greater awareness of themselves.
Following the Alexander Technique lesson, a student takes a private lesson with Alejandra on Mindful Horsemanship. The mind/body relationship of the student is of utmost importance for horses, and this is what they are connecting to at a somatic level, giving us feedback when the student has achieved a connection and release in their own body.
Finally, Julia will join the student and Alejandra to incorporate principles of the Alexander Technique while they are working with the horse. As Julia works with students to release tensions and find calmness in their body and mind, the same stillness will be reflected by the horse.
Ultimately a student will be able apply what they learn in lessons to their daily life, creating ease within themselves, as well as with other people.
It’s truly a one of a kind experience!
This work costs $175 per class. Non-riding. No horse experience necessary! Riding is an option after taking 9 lessons. Because of the length and nature of the work, including how much work a horse can or should be doing, there is limited availability.
To sign up, contact us!
When I found out about the “Horse Experience” provided by Julia Caulder and Alejandra Lara, I was immediately interested. I had read about the amazing and powerful connections between humans and horses, and was intrigued and curious to learn more. I came to the “Horse Experience” with high hopes and expectations, and these were vastly exceeded. Not only did I learn a great deal from Julia and Alejandra, but I also learned tremendously from Elliot and Milton, the horses I had the pleasure of working with.
The sessions were truly life changing for me. I worked with Julia just prior to interacting with the horses, getting myself to a quiet and present space, which helped me bring a wonderful sense of embodiment and balance into my working with the horses. With Julia continuing to help me come into an awareness of myself, along with Lara’s expertise in explaining the subtle yet amazing behavior and reactions of the horses, this quickly became for me a joyful learning experience. I will always remember the profound and emotionally powerful connection between myself and the horses, while walking and working with them, and even just being with them.
How has this changed my life? I have learned more about how to maintain a sense of quietness, presence, and being in charge of my reactions when faced with any stimulating situation, even a positive one. Where, formerly, I may have become tense or anxious when, for example, meeting someone new, I can now maintain a confident, quiet poise and countenance. Interactions with other people (and animals!) are more pleasurable and in the moment.
Thank you Julia, Alejandra, Elliot, and Milton for providing an amazing experience!
– Frank McNellis
