I wanted to share with you this great story and video about the University of Arizona Medical Center in Tuscon that has integrated horse guided learning in their medical program. Neurosurgeon Dr. Allan Hamilton welcomes students to his ranch where they are able to interact with horses and learn how to better understand their energies and body language. Dr. Hamilton espouses the philosophies we share – that horses mirror us and allow us to better understand how we present ourselves to the world. Medical students are able to understand and adapt their approaches to be better healers and work with patients in a gentler way.

Enjoy!

Open up, say ‘neigh’: Horses help teach med students

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April and May seem to be filled with days and weeks of awareness centred on youth, healthy development and anti-bullying. It seemed a good a time as any to update our Youth with Purpose…a New Kind of  Horsepower Program. Added to our page is a ‘Bully-Free Zone’ page with lots of great resources, articles and video about how we can empower youth to help face life’s challenges. There’s also a beautiful new video featuring two of our Youth with Purpose participants and they share how the Program has helped their lives.

We hope that this Program will help youth develop the skills to not only break the bullying cycle but to support the development of a healthy attitude, confidence, self-esteem and communication skills to lead them on the right path.

We have also launched a Facebook page just for the Program – please check it out and LIKE it to spread the word!

Visit our Anti-Bullying page!
3 Bs of bullying, resources and more.

Visit our Facebook page!
Full of great content, conversation and updates.

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Although this specific video is targeted more for those who work with horses directly, the facilitator featured, Klaus Hempfling also does terrific work with horse-guided development – but in Europe! He has an extensive range of programs for both 2- and 4-legged participants and in this video you can really see his gift in working with horses.

This is a beautiful dance of healing relationship where man is working with the horse from the inside out.  Staying clear in his intention to be unconditional and accepting in whatever shows up in front of him.

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It should ready In honour of International Women’s Day…. I’d like to share some points with you from a recent Oprah Magazine.

As women in the developed world we are lucky to have access to education, role models (like Oprah herself), support networks and so many opportunities for personal and professional development. But we know that there are many, many women who are in a life literally and figuratively a world apart. The article highlights the book Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn and how the key to economic progress worldwide is to open women’s potential. Their idea makes perfect sense – allow girls and women the opportunity for empowerment and see the world change – one step at a time.

There were three suggestions for actions to take to help these women in the developing world and I have also added in initiatives we can implement here:

Make girls smarter.

Here: Encourage girls and teens to stay in school and continue their education for as long as they can. Encourage them to explore areas that fit their interests even though it may defy traditional gender roles – such as engineering, computer science or trades.

There: Many pregnant women living in poverty have low iodine levels which limits the development of fetuses’ brains. Particularly for girls, this results in a loss of 10-15 IQ points. Want to help? Iodize the salt, which costs pennies a year per person (that’s how we can get rid of our pennies!). For more information go to Helen Keller International (HKI.org).

Support a woman’s business.

Here: Support your local female-owned/run businesses! Think local – your female entrepreneurs that offer goods, skills and services. This could be graphic designers, developers, accountants, market stall owners…

There: Microloans are a great way to make a big impact without writing a huge cheque. Business are expensive to start here, but in developing countries a loan of $50 could go a long way. The funds will help women start a business, empowering them as individuals and businesswomen and producing income to feed and educate her children. Mercy Corps (MercyCorps.org) or BRAC (BRACUSA.org), two groups helping women around the world.

Keep a girl in school.

Here: Education doesn’t end in school. Help yourself and other women to develop their networks for support, resources and professional development. There are great organizations that are geared towards professional women, women in business districts, women in particular industries, alumni groups and many others – all ready to help women become the best they can be.

There: A girl who gets educated will have fewer children, earn more money and have the ability to support her extended family. One excellent support program operates in Cambodia, where uneducated girls are at great risk of being trafficked into brothels. For $10 a month, you can keep a girl in school through American Assistance for Cambodia (CambodiaSchools.com), or for $13,000, you can build an entire school that will revolutionize life in a village forever.

I dedicate this post to the women of our HEAL Program as they improve their self-esteem, confidence, ability to trust themselves/others, boundary setting, decision-making and community-building skills.

Source: 3 Things You Can Do To Empower Women

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This is the 4th article in our series on Emotional Brilliance. This month I am writing to you about grief. I have experienced this first-hand this past month with the passing of Rio and Banjo.  I spent much time reflecting on the “feeling” of grief.  

When I scanned my body, I felt the gut-wrenching feeling of emptiness, and at moments I wondered how humans can go on with their lives when something that we love so much has passed to the other side. Grief doesn’t just happen when another sentient being leaves us, it happens when we lose our sense of vision, our dream, something that is meaningful and matters to us. 

And yet do you know how to grieve? Do you have a practice that supports your grief? Can you give over to the fullness and the beauty of the release grief can bring into your life? 

As I reflected on the passing on this wonderful 4-legged partner and friend, I asked myself “what in me wants to die so that some part of me can be born? What release can I allow myself so that I don’t feel like I may never stop the crying and sadness?”  

Here are the 4 things you must practice in order to allow grief to serve you:

1. Pay attention to what your body is telling you; focus on the feeling and the sensation; do not try to “dumb it down”
2. Allow yourself the gift of time. It is said that time heals all things. I am not sure if that is really true for everyone, however I know that grief will lessen and dissipate as long as we can allow it to. Sometimes our feelings of guilt will try and over-ride the release.
3. Create a ceremony all of your own to honour your grief. Draw a picture, write a poem or a song – do something that honours the memory of your loss.
4. Be kind and gentle to yourself during this time. Make some space for your healing, step away from the busy activities of daily life. Above all else, give yourself permission to grieve, to feel the pain of your experience.

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This is the 3rd article in our series on Emotional Brilliance. This month I am writing to you about the power of fear. Many of the women who come to work with me have become paralyzed by fear as their inner voices have convinced them that fear is their worst enemy. The emotional brilliance series is focused on helping each of you to understand the gift of emotions within your life. In my coaching with horses sessions, I often share that I believe fear can be our best friend.  Here’s your coaching practice for this month:

1. Begin with some quiet breathing and still your mind
2. Journal a list of all those things in your life that you are afraid of; don’t wordsmith, just allow the words to fall out of the end of your pen
3. Look at this list and ask yourself these questions:
• What if  I allowed myself to embrace my greatest fear, what would that give me?
• If being vulnerable by asking for someone’s help could support me in moving forward, whose help would I ask for?
• What’s underneath what I have written? Is there a theme, something that keeps showing up?
• What do I notice when I read this list? Do I notice a shift within myself?
• What could that shift be wanting me to notice?
• Is there a story that keeps running through my mind? Something I keep choosing to believe about myself, someone else or this situation?
• If I could give fear a reasonable voice, what would it be helping to see?
4. Fear was given to us to keep us safe. The questions to ask of fear are: what must I do, what action must I take?

Fear requires movement in order to dissipate. If we become paralyzed or stuck because of fear, it will manifest in lost dreams, potential illness and certainly loss of joy and happiness.

Just take these baby steps outlined above and see what shifts in you. Remember always our good friend N.O.R.A. – notice, observe, release and allow. This is where transformative change begins.

Have a wonderful fear-filled month and allow it to be your best friend! Just imagine what you will be able to do with that power.

Much love to you,

You may reprint the feature article, however, you must include the above copyright notice and the author biography. You are not permitted to sell this article or the content contained herein.

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In last month’s article, I spoke about the Joy of Anger, the gift and the messages behind anger. This month our focus is on the emotion of sadness.

For much of my childhood and youth, (and part of my adult life), not unlike some of you, I carried a deep foreboding feeling in my stomach (which has contributed to some digestive issues and my extreme body awareness).

If you have read my story in Horse as Teacher, you will have some insights into the journey that influenced this emotion in my life. Over the years, I have worked with many women who feel ashamed of this emotion and are unable to express themselves without continually apologizing. I have often said that the apology creates a contraction in our bodies, a make-wrong, a message to the emotion and to our psyche that we “shouldn’t” be feeling this.

I want to invite you to have a new relationship with this emotion. If we can believe the emotions that were given to us to keep us healthy and whole, and we are meant to be in-flow with them, then sadness can be embraced.

Continuing to unfold our emotions and to look for the meaning behind them, I invite you in quiet reverence to come to that still place inside of you for a few moments. Ask yourself these questions and find this practice within you.

1. Find a few minutes in your day (yes everyone has them!)
2. Sit quietly and drop down inside
3. Begin to explore any areas in your body that feel like they need attention
4. Do not try and change anything, just breather into that place
5. Connect with your sadness (again everyone has this)
6. Ask your body “what wants to be released?” sit quietly and wait for the answer
7. You are not expecting a lightning bolt, but more of a bigger space that expands inside of you on the out of breath (sometimes that is just enough); other times tears may find you…allow them
8. If sadness is about release, and loss is imminent and in your best interest, then your body is doing what it needs to do (Karla Mclaren, Emotional Genius)
9. As you begin each breath in, ask yourself “what wants to be rejuvenated with me?” and again just allow

I have found this to be a powerful and profound practice in my life. The release creates lightness in me and I feel like my breath is fuller. What does it create in you?

Couple this month’s practice with N.O.R.A (notice, observe, release, allow) for a truly supportive way of being within yourself.

I wish you love, lightness, laughter and learning as the summer days progress into the fall. Be well each of you.

Much love to you,

You may reprint the feature article, however, you must include the above copyright notice and the author biography. You are not permitted to sell this article or the content contained herein.

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A few days ago, I had the opportunity to meet Michelle in our Hoof Beats Back to Power© – Healing from Cancer Retreats. Michelle is a wife and mother of two who was recently diagnosed with Inflammatory Breast Cancer and in her blog, she shares her courageous journey as well as her experience working with Rio and myself in a private Hoof Beats session.  This is the work that the horses are called to do. It was a very moving experience as I was witness to the beauty of this healing with  Rio. Read through her inspiring blog post ‘An Amazing Healing Experience’. I hope it touches you as much as it touched me when I experienced this with this incredible and beautiful woman.

Click here to read - http://bit.ly/MPiOOT

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In each of our programs, we highlight the importance of emotional expression. There is lots of research on how much the body needs us to be able to express ourselves emotionally. In the book, ‘When the body says no, the cost of hidden stress’, Dr. Gabor Mate cites his research and profiling of some of his patients and others who have repressed their emotions resulting in a breakdown of their physical bodies. The research is provocative as he indicates the chronic illness and sometimes death that can follow with the inability to speak what matters to us. 

In this short article, I will outline the gift of anger and the message behind this much misunderstood emotion. This work comes from Karla McLaren who wrote Emotional Genius, an insightful and life changing piece of work. I highly recommend getting the CD series and plugging yourself in this conversation with Karla.

I don’t know about you, but this isn’t an emotion that I am very skilled at using. I continue to practice my competency as things come up that irritate and annoy me. I know the importance of being able to keep myself in flow through respectful self-expression.

1. Anger is an emotion given to us to help us maintain or rebuild healthy boundaries
2. The questions to ask of the emotion are: What must be protected? What must be restored?
3. Anger not managed or expressed can escalate into rage, fury, shame, guilt, boredom, apathy, etc.

Think about the last time you were angry about something, what boundary was eroded? How did you express yourself or did you hide your emotion, and then when you (and others) least expected it, fly off the handle at a seemingly small situation. There are cultures in the world, who do anger really well; lots of hand gestures, raised voiced, etc., and then all is well again.

What is it that you notice about yourself when you feel angry? What physiological signals does your body give you? Can you speak up or do you hide/mask your anger. Unexpressed anger can result in apathy as a non-violent coping mechanism.

In my work with organizational leaders and teams, I would much rather work with those who harbor resentment, as it is an active emotion, as opposed to trying to bring thoughts and feelings out in someone who has “gone underground” with their anger.

Anger expressed as a deliberate setting of boundaries, can stop an action that is hurting you or someone else. It helps you to stand in your integrity and truth without disrespect and fury. I for one, don’t ever like the aftermath of angry feelings that get expressed in a mean-spirited way.

Practice setting healthy boundaries this month. Our next article will explore the emotion of fear.

Have a beautiful month!

Much love to you,

You may reprint the feature article, however, you must include the above copyright notice and the author biography. You are not permitted to sell this article or the content contained herein.

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Each year I write an article on this topic and this year is no exception. As I continue to be blessed to be a part of the journey of the incredible women who come to me for coaching with the horses, I am reminded how important soul care is for each of us.

These tips are things that I have challenged my women clients to try in their lives. The results have been astonishing (well not really to me as I hold that sacred space of possibility for them, but certainly to them!). As spring is upon us this coming week, I challenge each of you to take a step forward and find that one area in your life that is keeping you stuck,.

1. Get out your bucket list and move into action around at least one thing your heart desires (if you don’t have a bucket list, then make one – write it down (WID – there is true power in this commitment). Share it someone and ask them to join in.”

2. De-clutter your life. By this I mean stop doing those things that are no longer serving you, find those things that energize and get you charged up.?”

3. De-clutter one closet, drawer or room in your home. We all have one (some of us have more than one). You will find incredible freedom in not having your energy continually pulled towards that clutter – not to mention re-visiting the inner voice that tells you about your failures and sloppiness. Don’t make this a big deal, start small so you can be successful and then acknowledge that success.

4. Surround yourself with people who fill you up. I continually hear from women who are holding on to a friendship out of guilt. No good ladies, not for them nor for you. This takes strength and courage, but you can do it. Remember if you are in that type of relationship chances are you are playing the victim or rescuer role.

5. If you aren’t practicing Centered Presence each day, then you aren’t in alignment with Source. This simple practice will dramatically change your life as you invite all parts of yourself to be fully present to life’s experiences (if you can’t remember it, or need a copy, let me know and I will send it to you).

6. Practice N.O.R.A. when you find yourself triggered by something. One of my clients told me recently that this is the single most powerful practice she does in her life. It has literally saved her sanity and helped her to see the world in a different way. Remember it goes like this N – notice. I notice that person, situation, or thing that creates contraction in me. O – observe. I observe the thoughts, emotions, feelings, body sensations, breathing, etc. that happen for and in me. R – release. I ask what wants to be released so that I can be attuned to my authentic self and A – allow. I allow myself to invite a new perception, feeling, thought, feeling, emotion, etc. to find me. This is a gentle and persuasive allowance. I do not work at it, I just allow, allow, allow. I love this feeling.

Well ladies, there you go. 6 simple yet powerful things that I invite you to explore over the next 7 days. Pick one and write back and tell me about your experience. Have a beautiful spring and we will see you soon at one of our programs.

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I woke up this morning with this tune playing in my head.  I love Tina Turner and can remember dancing to this song (when my body was a bit more nimble than it feels these days).

What HAS love got to do with it?  Pretty much everything.  Not just in our relationships with those around us, but most importantly within ourselves. Your coaching exercise for this month is:.

1. Each day acknowledge something about yourself that you can truly love”

2. Write it down somewhere – a post-it note, in your journal, anywhere so that your mind remembers it”

3. Connect your breath with that loving place, close your eyes and “feel” the humility of that something that you acknowledged”

4. Take yourself inside for a few minutes right now – right now, please!

5. Rest there in quiet contemplation and allow your mind to do a free float – no thoughts just quietness

6. What do you observe?  What do you notice?  What wants to be released?  What will you allow?  (Remember our good friend N.O.R.A.)

7. What do you observe?  What do you notice?  What wants to be released?  What will you allow?  (Remember our good friend N.O.R.A.)

8. There is no trying in this process, just a few moments when you can be with yourself

9. Say these words, "I am perfect in this moment, I need nothing else, I am in love – with me."

As usual, my request is that you write back and share your learnings.  This is a powerful practice – don’t miss out on the opportunity to give back – to yourself!

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