“The most effective leader relinquishes the ambition to master others in favor of mastering herself”. ~ Linda Kohanov, Way of the Horse

Leadership comes in all different shapes, sizes, and types and is an important skill for all areas of life.  At Stand InBalance, we believe that true leadership starts with ourselves.  Whether we are with family, friends, co-workers, or running a company, the first order of business is self-mastery.  When we have self-awareness and the ability to regulate our own emotional states we are able to engage with authenticity and communicate effectively and lovingly – even under times of stress.

For both humans and horses, equanimity in stressful circumstances is an essential leadership skill.  Equanimity is a state of mental calmness, composure and evenness of temper.  The Buddha  spoke […]

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“One is confident when present in the body, present in the moment, filled out to the edges, connected to and able to take action toward what is of most concern.” ~ Denise Benson in Strozzi-Heckler

In this day an age of the faster the better, of workaholics, of new technology every minute, of traffic, deadlines, and most importantly productivity… when do we humans get to stop and ask ourselves “how am I feeling?”  Or when making decisions, how often do we stop and check in to see what our “gut” or instinct is saying? We spend so much time in our heads, and are doing, doing, doing without taking a moment to stop and just “Be”. Sometimes the most effective way to get things done is to get out of our heads and drop into our bodies. Through bodily awareness we can access our ancient instinctual wisdom to help us navigate […]

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While the holidays bring opportunities to reconnect with loved ones and share family traditions, stressful family dynamics can wreak havoc and be anything but joyful!  Holding onto an abundance mindset can especially difficult when triggered by family dynamics.

So, how do you keep from being pulled into the vortex of family drama and old feelings?  Of course there is no easy answer, but the natural wisdom of horses can help us learn to center ourselves and tap into our wisdom rather than becoming caught in the storm of anger, hurt, or shame.

As prey animals, horses are acutely aware of their environment and quickly react to things that disrupt their sense of safety. When they are […]

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