Focus, Focus, Focus
The most important “F” word……...Well, who knows if that's true, but it is critical to achieving results! Where would we be if we could sustain our focus long enough to accomplish our goals? I understand this is a very broad topic with many facets. Although, from the horse's point of view, it's simple. Where our mind goes, our bodies will soon follow.
*Photo 1
Have you ever been on a balance beam, crossed a down log over a rushing creek, or tried to stay in a challenging yoga pose? Just as you are thinking, “I hope I don't lose my balance…..” you fall and have to start all over again. Practice indeed makes perfect, and it's also true that the quality of your practice can determine the rate at which you progress. The great motivational speaker and transformative life coach Tony Robbins has a famous quote attesting to this unofficial universal law- “Where focus goes, energy Flows.”
Let’s use yoga as an example- sure, you can keep doing the same pose repeatedly until you have enough muscle memory to hold it, as in simple trial and error. Although there is a term yoga practitioners use to help one focus while holding a pose, “Drishti,” as they call it, is the point at which we focus our gaze. Each pose has a particular “gaze” that will help the practitioner be in the exact right spot to settle into the specific pose. According to the definition by the website Yoga Basics," a Drishti used to deepen the primary movement of the pose, as well as to keep the mind engaged and focused" In other words, as long as you stay focused on that “spot” you are in a much better position to execute and complete the pose.
*Photo 2
Give it a try:
Pick a spot in front of you, about eye level, keep your eyes on that spot while you find your way to tree pose (Photo 1). Next, complete the full expression of the pose( Photo 2. Hands above head) and hold for 10 seconds. (Please, only do this if you are cleared by your physician.) What do you notice?
Now do the pose again and feel free to move your head in all directions, look around the room while you complete the pose. Now, what do you notice?
Unless you are particularly advanced in your balance ability, you most likely found it more difficult the second time around. Not that it can't be done, but it does require much more skill. (something we will explore at a later date:)
How does focus apply to horsemanship?
Body language is the most universal language for animals and humans. It has been determined that between 70 and 90 percent of our communication is non-verbal. When our focus is solid we become much more clear in our bodies and therefore to the horse. As we can see, the focus is vitally important to our bodies. Where we focus our mind, our body follows.
A great example of this is looking down while riding or while asking your horse to move forward. Oftentimes, our eyes get entranced with the backs of our horse's ears, and we might start to think about the to-do list we have in our heads. While this can be normal to us, our horses can feel the lack of focus and when they are really in tune they will stop moving forward altogether, or choose their own route. This is easily remedied by first THINKING about what forward looks like, focusing our gaze forward, and allowing our bodies to follow, from our belly button to our toes. This kind of focus also helps us stay straight. Every time we change direction and/or gait our “Drishti,” should also change for maximum clarity to the horse.
Having a clear focus is not only important in the saddle but it is equally vital on the ground. What are we thinking, and where are we looking when asking our horse to move backward, walk into the wash rack or load into the trailer? Are we thinking about all the things that can go wrong, or are we staying focused and visualizing our ideal outcome? Is our gaze looking down, at the horse, or the direction we would like them to end up? These are all very subtle signals, but ever so important to the horse, it makes our leadership easier to follow and comforting to be around.
As we practice this idea of “what we focus on is where we end up”…we will inevitably bring this practice into our personal lives. Maybe by being specific in our focus we become more efficient, strategic, and overall better at completing the daily tasks we take on!
-When we allow ourselves to be the student, the horse will be our finest teacher! -