Riding the Year of the Horse with Horse Stance

Energetic and dynamic are two words typically used to describe the Year of the Horse. Life indeed does seem to be galloping! 

Yet horses don’t gallop all the time. Much of a horse’s day is also resting. On a country drive, if one passes some picturesque horses, they are usually grazing. Even though they are still, you also know they are alert, ready, and responsive.

It’s probably no coincidence at all that as the Year of the Horse arrived, I happened to start including more horse stance in my qigong practice.

Horse stance gets its name because the posture is similar to the position for riding on a horse. Or perhaps I should say with a horse - to share the agility, strength, vitality, and power of a horse.

It doesn’t have to take long. It doesn’t have to be big and deep like some of the intense videos about horse stance out there.

Less than 5 minutes of gentle horse stance can help:

• Build the strength of your legs and back

• Improve balance

• Strengthen vitality

While this posture can be challenging, the goal is to find effortlessness within it. When we find the effortlessness, our mind relaxes and healing qi and flow.  

It’s like standing in a battery charger.

One of my favorite images for horse stance is that I’m hugging a tree and all the strength of the tree is supporting me. 

As we are experiencing the first warm days of spring, all the rising sap inspired me to make this introduction to horse stance for you.

Clear your head and refresh your energy with this quick practice. It will help you better ride the energy of the Year of the Horse. 

May the horse be with you.

Love,

emily