A Sanctuary For Finding Inner Balance

2008-04-07 Word Count: 851 Category: Health & Fitness

A Sanctuary for Finding Inner Balance
By: Barbara Alexander, Founder and Director Epona Ridge

Epona Ridge is a decidedly different retreat center, where the horses minister to hearts helping non-horse people and equestrians alike to find a holistic sense of life balance in some of the most fascinating and magical ways!
Many have heard about therapies done with horses, they are helping children and adults with disabilities, and assisting therapists and clients with psychological and emotional addictions and traumas all over the country. The fact is that horses have an incredible ability to help and nurture all of mankind and can make a wonderful difference in anyone's life, especially those that are seeking a deeper sense of self on the path of self discovery. This is the unique specialty at Epona Ridge.
Spending 20 years in the corporate world with fortune 100 companies designing and implementing performance improvement programs, teambuilding and quality improvement, gave me a world of experience… literally … since I was also able to work internationally with different cultures. Basically my job was to understand what was blocking the success of others… so that we could help put together a program to have them do a better job at whatever they were doing. Much of what I learned taught me that the key to improved performance was the feeling of being valued. Interestingly, it was also a central key to a life of better health and wellbeing at home and at work. So what exactly is being valued? You see the problem is that most of us put ourselves on the back burner, as if someday we will get to it by eating right, exercising, organizing our home space, and going to the spa ... but guess what? It is still on the back burner for many of us because there is just so much that needs to get done first! So I learned that until I really took the time to value myself, neither would anyone else… no matter how hard I worked or how successful I was. Funny thing… it was a horse that taught this lesson.
Whether I was at home or at work, successful or not, finding inner happiness and peace was a whole different focus, it meant learning how to honor myself by listening to my heart and finding the courage to follow personal truth no matter what my boss or my loved ones said.
I began a study in following my joy and it lead me to create what was once just a dream. Epona Ridge; Sanctuary of Inner Balance is now a retreat center inspired by … none other then horses. I found that the horses help train our conscious mind to interpret the subtleties of the body… that's the stuff we learned to override while we are busying ourselves with the thousands of thoughts of 'what if's or 'should do's' that seem to fill our minds and eventually our days… years… and for some, our lives.
Through the work that we have been doing, we have found that our most personally accurate guidance comes through one of the most overlooked places … our own bodies. We have learned that personal intuition, emotional balance, clarity and awareness improve as we learn to quiet the mind and listen from the heart, and it is the horses that help so many to learn that. They help reduce stress and anxiety, provide authentic empowerment and create a greater awareness of self. They help with teaching us Authentic Community and help us understand how to have healthier relationships with ourselves and others.
Each opportunity offers a fresh and unique experiential design and is safely done from the ground. Here are some thoughts from those that have attended retreats;
"I loved the safe and gentle space you created so that each of us could honestly be ourselves and reach for more. I know energetically I have been changed profoundly."
~ Denise, Mamaroneck, NY

"The experience with the horses is and was more then I can say - truly "beyond words." They can take you to a place of peace, healing, dreaming, forgiveness and joy … emotional release that is life altering and life changing."
~ Barbra, Orlando, FL

"You have to experience it to understand …
I really had no idea the level of sensitivity and boundaries one truly has especially the horse. These types of workshops may help prevent divorces, abuse, and cruelty. For what it's worth, I think most men would benefit greatly if you could get them to take off their armor plating at the door."
~ Don, Atlanta, GA

"It wasn't until after I left your workshop and readjusted to my life that I realized just how much of an impact it had on me. It awakened the child and the spirit inside of me, and I don't think there is any stopping her now."
~ Colleen, PA

Additional programs include Reiki training, vibrational healing with crystal singing bowls, art therapy, and Equine Experiential Training. For more information on individual sessions and retreat/workshops please see: www.EponaRidge.com or call 828-253-6002.