Feldenkrais ® for riders and handlers of horses.

The Feldenkrais Method® of somatic education uses gentle movement and directed attention to help people learn new and more effective ways of living the life they want. You can increase your ease and range of motion, improve your flexibility and coordination, and rediscover your innate capacity for graceful, efficient movement. Since how you move is how you move through life, these improvements will often enhance your thinking, emotional regulation, and problem-solving capabilities.

The Feldenkrais Method is based on principles of physics, biomechanics, and an empirical understanding of learning and human development. Moshe Feldenkrais said, “We move according to our perceived self-image.” By expanding your perception and increasing awareness, you will become more aware of your habits and tensions and develop new ways of moving. By increasing sensitivity, the Feldenkrais Method assists you to live your life more fully, efficiently, and comfortably.

As riders and handlers of horses, we know that it is imperative that we be as symmetrical as possible so that our equines can also be as symmetrical as possible.  In addition, we want to be able to move with our horses, in balance, and connection, and effectiveness.  As human beings we can acquire habitual movement patterns that are hard to come out of even though we may try.  Some of our habits are good and helpful and for some, we would like to have more options and more movement possibilities for.

The Feldenkrais method is a sophisticated synthesis of biology, physics, neuroscience, and motor development, designed to interact with the brains neuroplasticity to benefit the body and mind. It uses a combination of neurologically relevant movement and related attention to improve many aspects of our comfort and ability.

The Feldenkrais method can help by utilizing awareness and finding an organization and utilization of the whole self, including skeleton, muscles, ligaments, tendons, fascia, nervous system, brain, and literally every aspect of ourselves.

Feldenkrais lessons can help you to change habitual patterns of posture and self –use, improve your musculoskeletal organization, and improve your physical comfort, ease of movement, and sense of well being. They are safe, gentle, and are suitable for people of all ages and abilities.

Feldenkrais lessons rely upon small, gentle movements done in a relaxed way to facilitate communication between your brain and body.  They are most effective when you go slowly, do less, avoid discomfort, and pay attention to your internal sensations.  During the lesson, you pay attention to your own experience, in a kind way, as the teacher verbally guides you. Some improvements will be immediate and some will develop more gradually.

Deborah N. Murphy

USDF Associate Instructor

Centered Riding Instructor- Level ll

Reiki Practitioner-Master Level

Feldenkrais Practitioner

Deborah grew up with horses and has been riding since an early age. While stationed in Maine in the early 1980′s as an Air Traffic Controller for the United States Air Force, Deborah was introduced to the riding discipline of Dressage and has continued to study Dressage to this day.  She has competed successfully through Second Level. Deborah obtained her United States Dressage Federation (USDF) Associate Instructors status in 2009.

In the past several years Deborah has changed her focus from Competition to finding trust between horse and human and building a relationship before bringing the relationship in to other activities.  Deborah uses positive reinforcement in all her work with horses and handlers.   

Deborah has extensive experience in classical dressage groundwork techniques using a caveson and semi short line to help horses learn basic and advanced dressage movements taught from the ground which can then be taken into riding.

 As Deborah progressed in her riding she noticed her body was not moving as freely as it did when she was younger and realized this change in body movement was also affecting the horses she rode.  In 2009 Deborah was introduced to Centered Riding®. The Centered Riding method uses body awareness, centering and imagery to re-educate a rider’s mind and body to achieve greater balance in order to better communicate and move with the horse. Deborah was so amazed and happy with the effects of Centered Riding knowledge in herself and her horses, she, in 2010 became a Centered Riding Instructor.  Deborah continued to learn more about Centered Riding experience and techniques and in 2014 earned her Level II Centered Riding® Instructor Certification.

 After retiring from the U.S. Government, Deborah became a full time riding instructor and incorporates Dressage training principles, Centered Riding techniques and principles, and Feldenkrais Method® principles in all the lessons she teaches. 

  Deborah was introduced to the Feldenkrais Method in 2016 when she attended a weekend Awareness through Movement (ATM®) class tailored to riders. Immediately Deborah noticed an improvement in her riding and a dramatically improved response from the horse. Both were moving more freely and the movements were done with more ease and grace. Deborah learned that the Awareness through Movement lessons helped her in all aspects of her life, not just in riding. Normal day to day activities were done with more ease, her body was more even and balanced, physical movements were done more freely and more efficiently.

 Deborah knew this would help many people and investigated the possibility of training to become a Feldenkrais practitioner herself and has done so by completing a 4 year training program in 2020.