Ride from Within
Use Tai Chi Principles to Awaken Your Natural Balance and Rhythm
James Shaw
Have you ever seen a talented dressage rider performing an exquisite test, her seat seemingly melding with her horse’s back, and his movements airy, animated, and effortless? Or, perhaps you have watched a great cutting horse at work, his direction and momentum changing on a dime as he reads his cow, his rider’s body flowing fluidly above him as if they were one.
We all dream of experiencing this kind of connection with our horses, and in this groundbreaking new book, James Shaw shows us how the practice of Tai Chi—an ancient Chinese art that unifies the body, mind, and spirit in a series of flowing movements—can help us achieve it. His methods will enable you to: develop a sensitive seat; learn to use your breath as an aid; reduce tension unconsciously held in your hands; lower and expand your center of balance; create free movement in your lower back and spine; heal pain and stiffness in your body; and much more.
“James Shaw uses Tai Chi principles to teach riding from the inside out. I have used his exercises with many of my students and have repeatedly seen breakthroughs. I highly recommend the book to riders, instructors, and trainers of all levels and disciplines.”—Kate Selby, American Riding Instructors Association (ARIA) Instructor of the Year, 2002, and Middlebury Equestrian Team Coach
JAMES SHAW has studied and trained in the martial arts for over twenty years. His unique form of “Tai Chi for the Equestrian,” combining the structural balance of Tai Chi, the energy work of Chi Gong, and the healing aspects of Laing Gong, has been successfully applied by recreational, professional, and Olympic-level riders. He currently lives in Arizona and travels extensively, teaching his techniques throughout the United States and United Kingdom.
"With the use of spectacular photography, informative
text and a gift for explaining complex ideas, Shaw has developed a marvelous book."—American
Quarter Horse Journal
