I have seen two videos now on clinicians that advocate the Feldenkrais body work for improving riders position in the saddle. My dressage instructor has never heard of this body training. I know I ride heavily on the right seat bone and collapse my left hip and side when I ride. I can straighten it out but it sneaks back to out of balance. I always think my right stirrup is shorter than the left, but it is not. I am a dedicated rider and simply believe until I am straight and aligned, I cannot but hold back the horse and myself. Has anyone used Feldenkrais to straighten there right and left side? It is wicked hard to find anyone that teaches this method around me. It’s kind of like yoga but the effects seem to be more helpful in achieving body alignment.
I have done Feldenkrais, but have found Pilates to be 100 times more effective in helping to balance and strengthen my body for riding. Its also much more accessible. But, take privates with a good instructor, don’t start with videos or classes.
A good Feldenkrais practitioner, if you can find one, can help sort of unlock pathways that will support your efforts in other practices like yoga and Pilates. Definitely worth at least a few sessions.
Rolfing helped me. I think that if you are fighting fascia via muscle strength and body awareness, you are on a bit of a fool’s errand. Or rather, do yourself a favor and see if you can get the fascia on all sides of these joints to be their correct length. And then work to improve what you have from there.
Feldenkrais can be truly transformative. We have a woman in our area who works with riders and horses and I have seen results I would not have believed if I had not seen them with my own eyes. Feld consists of two aspects…one, a Practitioner works on your body. Second are ATMs, Awareness Through Movement sessions, where you are led through movements without being touched. Those you can do by yourself off of videos or dvds.
Symmetry in riding is huge. So many “evasions” are really just the horse responding to our own crookedness. Feld work, plus Centered Riding mounted exercises (riding with only one stirrup, etc) go a long way toward addressing these asymmetries. Your horse will thank you.
My mum has been doing Feldie for years and it changed her life. (for the better!) I had one session with her instructor when I went home and was amazed. For riding it is so beneficial. Unfortunately in my area there are no practitioners (and it is super hard to do the moves holding a book above your head). Definitely something worth trying to see if it for you.
Ps. My mum snaps at me if I refer to it as ‘like yoga’ 
You are in MA, see if you can hook up with Holly Mason (RI) or Sheila McLevedge (VT). Both are very good at position corrections/bio-mechanics and do clinics in MA.
Sheila studied Feldenkrais
I worked with a Centered Riding instructor who also used Feldenkrais and Alexander technique and it was enormously helpful, both for my side dominance and crookedness and also for posture and body awareness. Made a huge difference for me. I had a lifetime of covering/correcting my side dominance more or less successfully, but when I tried to sit working trot it become really problematic and affected the horse’s gait. I can’t imagine how I would have solved that problem without it.
Thanks for the wonderful replies. I will especially follow up on Bogey2 for New England practitioners 
is there anyone in Loudoun county area that does this? sounds interesting.
I’d like to put in a word for Alexander technique as well. It is another movement awareness approach and also very helpful
Late to seeing this…
I highly recommend Sheila McLevedge, she is truly classical in her dressage training, has an amazing understanding of biomechanics, and has studied Feldenkrais as stated above. She teaches on the southern shore of Boston area and Southern NH 1-2x/month. She also has extreme knowledge of working with young horses up through the FEI levels.
I took Awareness Through Movement classes years ago and it was the only time my poor horse was able to travel straight. It was me making him crooked. My posture greatly improved and day to day movements were more fluid.
or David Thind who is also a “Trainer A” license from the German Equestrian Federation (one step higher than the Bereiter title) and has taught theory-based courses in riding and riding related biomechanics in Germany. Google “Aspire farm” or PM me
I second Dave! He is fantastic (been riding with him for four years) and very focused on rider biomechanics.
Running has been the best thing for me to become more symmetrical.
Wanted to revive this thread to add that Dave Thind is doing a two-day unmounted workshop based on the method of Moshe Feldenkrais this weekend at his Aspire Farm in Walpole, MA, for those who may be interested in learning more.
I am definitely interested in learning more! Is it open to outsiders?
Hmmmmmmm…
I have never found feldenkrais to work for me, however I LOVE the Alexander Technique and I also study body mapping! I hope you enjoy and find it benefits your riding!!
