Credit Erinn Chang
From the riding and show schedule to everyday life in the barn, Covid-19 has upended many things we counted on. Yet, it has brought forth remarkable changes. At Serenity Show Stable at JT Farm in South Salem, NY, barn owner Ruth Nicodemus has named yoga as one of those silver linings.
Partnering with Erinn Chang of EquestriOM, the full service show stable now offers clients, staff, students, and their families the opportunity to enhance their physical and mental health through yoga. Community sessions now empower this equine community to come together in shared positions.
“Families and friends have spent long periods of time apart and it has made so many people have feelings of loneliness and isolation,” Nicodemus said. “I wanted to find a way to bring families, students and clients together in this time of social distancing - through yoga. My only hope is that my clients, students, their family members and staff who are experiencing any sort of hardship find peace through this mind, body and soul experience.”
“Ruth called me while driving back from WEF [the Winter Equestrian Festival-Wellington, FL], where she heard about equestriOM from other barn owners and trainers,” Chang said. “We arranged for me to come that first week that she and the Serenity riders were all back from WEF and emerging out of quarantine restrictions. She was seeking yoga - having heard that it could be good for stretching and relaxing.”
Chang is a certified holistic health professional who makes regular equestriOM barn calls in the Westchester, NY and Fairfield county, CT regions with six to eight priority barn clients. She also works with riders and trainers virtually and through private instruction, including east coast barns from Florida to Maine. Through her equestriOM program, clients discover yoga and more as part of a comprehensive program with equestrian sport-specific conditioning and techniques that incorporate yoga, breathwork, mindfulness, and conventional fitness.
“Every exercise or posture I lead them through ties directly to something in the biomechanics of prepping for, actions during [or] recovery from riding,” Chang said. “This is one of the key differences between equestriOM and any typical yoga class.”
In case you wondered, Chang said her company’s trademarked name equestriOM “is a combo of equestrian and "OM," which is a monosyllabic word from the Sanskrit language, the ancient language from which yoga is sourced. The OM is a nod to the fact that the majority of the system is based in yoga practices, while primarily focused on being specific to equestrians.”
Yoga sessions at Serenity Show Stable tend to revolve around the competition schedule. Nicodemus said they usually hold three sessions weekly, with safety a main concern. Yoga mats are spread out - over six feet apart - and all CDC guidelines are adhered to. Participants bring their own mats, but if they don’t have one, Chang provides one that is properly disinfected.
“Not only do the Serenity Show Stable clients participate but also my staff joins,” Nicodemus said. “I pay for their sessions because I want them to feel relaxed and not have to worry about anything once they get on the mat. It is truly a team bonding activity. This activity provides a fun and relaxing experience that keeps the comradery of the barn going. It helps the riders, and all of us feel more at peace especially during the global pandemic.”
Lisa Novick said her 17-year-old daughter, Blythe has been riding at Serenity for 10 years. Adding yoga to the routine has been a blessing.
“We all love having some time together to relax and enjoy the yoga/stretching and the peacefulness of the barn,” Novick said. “Ruth's barn is serene and helps us feel centered. I like that she and her staff join in. It helps it feel like more of a community when we are all together doing an activity. I think that having yoga at the barn is great because it helps slow everything down. As a mother, I am constantly on the go and I feel like this really helps me feel more at ease.”
Blythe, who primarily rides jumpers at the barn, said she cannot imagine being anywhere else.
“Between [Ruth’s] incredible knack for teaching and the equally as talented staff that she surrounds herself with, I knew Serenity was the place for me,” she said. “From the impeccable care of the horses, to the unparalleled instruction, and everything in between, I am so lucky to be a part of something as special as Serenity. Ruth has put together a driven and kind team, everyone truly feels like family.”
According to Blythe, adding yoga during the pandemic has enhanced the experience.
“I like doing yoga because I find it to be very relaxing, especially in these unprecedented times. Aside from that aspect, it has been a great way to spend time with everyone at the barn, while being cognizant of social distancing. It has given us the opportunity to be together in a Covid safe environment. I have definitely seen the positive effects it has had on my riding and in general. Overall, [it has] improved my posture and enhanced my ability to isolate parts of my body, which has given me more range of motion. I also think the emphasis yoga practices have on breath has helped me tremendously, and has given me the tool of breathing, no matter the circumstance.”
Blythe’s mom described their yoga sessions, set in the shade of trees, beside a running stream on the farm.
“Once we start the class, it is like external stressors no longer exist. It's just us and the mats. It feels great to be able to silence one’s mind and just focus on the now. We work on breathing and [on] bringing a sense of peacefulness to our day-to-day routine. Taking yoga classes with my daughter Blythe, who is the rider in the family, has truly helped strengthen our relationship. I think Blythe feels more supported by her family. We always watch her compete, we are always at the shows, but this is different. This time I am right there next to her and we are equally working as hard to feel centered and to work our way through the yoga pose. Taking the yoga classes with my daughter has helped her feel like I am there with her, we are on the mat together and it is something that is beneficial for both of us.”
With six to 12 people ages 15 to 50 participating in each session, Nicodeums said she is drawn to the community aspect.
“This all about self-care,” she said. “There are no gyms, no hot yoga classes, no spin classes etc. due to COVID-19. Being able to be outside in nature, with the Serenity family while keeping everyone safe has been great for all of us. What we get out of it is relaxing our minds and bodies It’s meditative. Our body hurts less, and our brain slows down. As an equestrian you can tell that this really helps you focus better when riding.”
Nicodemus said yoga is an addition that will stick.
“It happened because of an unfortunate situation but it has really added to our program. This is one of the small silver linings of the COVID nightmare,” she said. Chang understands why.
“Even after one session, a rider's mind/body integration is improved, breath attention is increased, core ability is stronger, and posture is measurably better,” she said. “As with any training regimen, consistent frequent practice is optimal. However, I believe there is great merit in having one or two impactful experiences, and then having time to apply what was learned and put it into effect through real circumstances such as showing. That's also when the equestriOM empowerment shows up significantly.”
Learn more about Serenity Stable online at: http://serenityshowstable.com. Learn more about equestiOM online at: https://bodymindenergywellness.com/equestriom