About the Book The book to help riders become more aware and conscious in the saddle and on the ground while gently correcting imbalances through the practice of yoga. Book Synopsis A highly illustrated guide to simple exercises that help equestrians become more aware and conscious while improving strength, flexibility, and balance. Yoga teacher and horsewoman Cathy Woods explains how the meditative, mindful breathwork and lifestyle aspects of yoga traditions, as well as the postures, can be profoundly helpful in our interactions with horses. Over the course of her 30-year career, Woods has created teachings that are accessible to everyone--those who have practiced yoga and those who have not, as well as riders of different levels and disciplines. From wherever they are starting, her lessons offer readers life-changing benefits, including: Increased confidence working with and riding horses. A better sense of connection with horses, on the ground and in the saddle. Unique ways to enhance feel. Step-by-step exercises to improve strength, flexibility, and balance. Postures that contribute to rider safety as we age. Empowerment--with horses and in everyday life. Cathy Woods unique program is presented here in the form of highly illustrated instruction, guiding you through the steps to achieving present moment awareness; finding body, breath, and energy awareness; breathing through challenges; listening to your inner voice; slowing down; and developing balance and symmetry in the saddle. All of these are key to better communication and improved partnership with horses. The result is a book that helps us become more aware and conscious riders while gently correcting our imbalances, resulting in a richer, more rewarding, more joyful horsemanship experience. Review Quotes The author does a magnificent job of imparting an understanding of yoga principles and drawing the reader into its benefits. The next thing you know, youre on the floor doing it! With clear explanations and illustrations, even a yoga-novice like me can have success. There were many take-home messages from the book that I feel are particularly useful in horsemanship: the three qualities of consciousness; false evidence appearing real, communicating without words and collective consciousness, waiting for positive energy, there is connection in communication, and your energy introduces you before you speak. Understanding and incorporating these concepts into your horsemanship will do more for your riding than a thousand lessons. -- Julie Goodnight, Horse Trainer, Clinician, Equestrian TV producer The use of yoga postures to support equestrians through increased flexibility, strength and balance are well covered in Yoga for Riders, but theres so much more. The unique program outlined in the highly illustrated book guides readers through the steps to developing balance and symmetry while in the saddle.... Anyone seeking to intensify their relationship with their horse will appreciate Yoga for Riders . -- Cowgirl Magazine Cathy Woods ability to condense such a dynamic concept in a way that can be interpreted by everyone is compelling. Not only does she introduce yoga and its many layers, but its done with beauty and grace that is mirrored in the layout, photos, and organization as well. I truly believe anyone who works with horses will find Yoga for Riders a valuable resource that will enhance their life in and out of the saddle just as yoga transcends off the mat! This book is practical and personable and a must-read for anyone looking to grow and evolve in their work. -- Jenn Bodnar, Owner, Yoga Digest The book is beautifully illustrated with color photographs of riders both in the saddle (or bareback) and on the yoga mat. Woods provides many instructions on how to convert an exercise that would be done on the floor to doing it in the saddle.... Yoga For Riders is a truly compelling book that opens up a world of profound connectivity between horse and rider. It is valued addition to any equestrians library. -- Horse Journals Cathy Woods makes a compelling case for all of us to augment our horsemanship with a simple yoga practice. Yoga for Riders serves up the indisputable foundations of horsemanship in new light with the added bonus of simple exercises to implement them. -- Jec A. Ballou, Author of Equine Fitness and 55 Corrective Exercises for Horses Cathy Woods has written a simply beautiful book. The prose, along with the layout and the photos, make it equally likely to end up as a bedtime read or as a coffee-table book for guests to browse through. While there are chapters about yoga position, the heart of the book is about the most important elements of riding: being present; being aware. Keep this book close by as a reminder of whats important when being with horses. -- Tik Maynard, Author of In the Middle Are the Horsemen While cleverly disguised as a yoga for riders book, this text contains the secret sauce to having the ultimate connection and communication with your horse. Creating the human mind/body connection is not only a spiritual practice, but the key to better horsemanship. I highly recommend this book for anyone seeking to deepen their relationship with their horse. -- Warwick Schiller, Warwick Schiller Performance Horsemanship, Two-Time Australian WEG Team Member and Worldwide Clinician Cathy Woods Yoga for Riders is an inspiring way to embrace the practice of yoga.... A book that helps us become more aware and conscious riders, while gently correcting our imbalances, resulting in a richer, more rewarding, more joyful horsemanship experience. -- Mid-South Horse Review An excellent read on a topic that will help you elevate both your enjoyment of riding and training, and your success at building a relationship of trust and awareness with your horse. Highly recommend for all riders. Its not as hard as you think to do, no matter your level of fitness. The exercises do relax you, teach you about breathing and energy techniques that are easy to master and the book delivers on Cathy Woods mission writing it, helping riders improve their horsemanship. -- Catskill Horse ...we can give our horses a looser and suppler body on their backs. Woods manual tailors yoga to the needs of riders while showing how its practice can deepen our connections with our horses. Beautiful illustrations and simple descriptions make the book accessible for beginners and experts alike. -- The Horse Cathys book [ Yoga for Riders ] is an excellent resource for those new to yoga as well as those riders with some understanding of it. It successfully argues that blending yoga practice with your horsemanship can augment your experience and improve your well-being as well as your connection to your equine partner. The 200-page book has hundreds of images and is well-organized into chapters and two parts: understanding yoga and practical application. The images are diverse with subjects demonstrating on mats to riding English, Western, and bareback. -- Nicker News, Best Horse Practices