Yoga With Horses

As I said in a previous post, I am taking my yoga on the road for 2026. Or, at least, down the road of my own property.  

One day, it was in the barn with the sun shining beyond the breezeway. 

When I needed balance for the Dancer’s pose, I used the stall fronts. 

I’ve also done the routine, which is short, on the back deck and in the front yard. 

Yesterday, I decided to do it in the turnout with the horses. 

Epona was the first to get in my space, and face. Tumbleweed watched from a distance, unsure of what I was doing, but joined in pretty quickly. 

I wasn’t sure I’d be able to get solid footing, but with my muck boots, I had good traction. 

My routine is: Mountain Pose, Modified downward dog (more of a touch your toes and hold it), then Warrior 1 & 2, Goddess 1 & 2, Dancer pose, and end with Mountain and Modified Downward Dog. Stretch, strengthen, balance. 

I used Epona to balance me for part of the Dancer’s pose, and she was very accommodating. The others all ended up making a circle around me, which, at first, I was unsure about, since I couldn’t react fast if something happened to startle them. But I watched their reactions closely and felt a real calm in them which made me feel safe enough to continue. 

As I was putting my arms up, down, and out to change poses, I thought, wow, this is kind of like desensitizing work we do with them. 

I loved it, and can’t wait to do yoga with them again. 

On my way back to the house, I snapped these photos of the sun and snow. It was such a beautiful day. 

It is these moments I’m chasing in 2026. 

In fact, everything is pretty damn good right now. My daughter, who was so wounded over the last two years, has emerged happier and stronger in 2026. She took my advice to follow a path of grace, forgiveness, and acceptance. She gave herself time to heal, and is now dating the most wonderful young man who is a lot like her in temperament, and fits in very well with our family. He is the kind of person who is very gentle and strong and also hardworking, extremely honest and authentic. Oh, and smart. He joined us for the holidays and he has also accompanied us to a few of our musical soirées. Today, they’re off skiing together. 

The grandson, who was only 20 months at the time of the divorce, was taken under our wings, and now he’s four and thriving. He is grandpa’s shadow when he is here, but also has a very stable, loving relationship with his father and new family on that side. We continue to tell him how many people love him, his mama, his grandparents, his dad and stepmom, step-sibs, cousins, uncles, aunts. There can never be enough love for the littles. (And that is the power of grace.)

Last night, we celebrated my oldest son’s birthday and both of my sons gathered around me at the piano, as both are trying really hard to learn to play it and I was showing them some insights about playing with chords. They may have been a little too excited to play, as some  jostling for keyboard position did occur. Some serious boy, or more accurately, man energy when you have two grown sons competing for the keys, along with their mother who they decided “was trying to show off.” (Haha. I was. It is, after all, the one thing I can still do better than them, though they seem motivated to surpass me).

My husband continues to improve, and we have had a lot of time to relax together in the sunroom, hot tub (enjoying the snow and stars at night) and reading chairs. We have absolutely nothing planned for the weekend since his coughing can still occur unexpectedly. There is a play I would like to attend, but until the coughing resolves, I don’t think that’s practical. 

Onward and upward 2026! I am eagerly seeking joy, love, and all the good things it has to offer.