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Equestricizing takes exercise to new heights
by
Brian K. Domingue
Tomball Neighbors Staff writer
One,
two, touch your toes. Three, four, bend your knees. Now canter.
Now canter?
It may not be the command you expect from your exercise instructor. Not
unless her name is Janice Terra.She has produced a new form of exercise
that fits well with the heavy influence of equestrian sports in Tomball.
It's called "equestricize."
For 25 years Terra has taught all levels of horseback riding students
how to get the most out of sitting atop an animal. Her lessons have always
included doing exercises. Now, she's not just teaching horseback riding
with supplemental exercise, she's teaching exercise with supplemental
horseback riding.
For the past eight years, Terra has been honing her equestricizing program
that she says is quite a bit different from working out in the gym.
"In a gym, you can slack off, but if you're on a horse and you slack
off, you may hit the dirt," she says.Her 25 students actually do
the same things on horseback that others do at Bally's or 24-hour Fitness.She
starts every student with the easy warm-up exercises like neck rolls and
deep breathing, but the first time she asks someone to reach down and
touch a toe that's stirrupped, they often give her a wide-eyed look of
disbelief. After overcoming their initial fear, she says, students are
eager to conquer the head-to-croup (sit-ups) and chin-to-neck exercises
- first, as the horse is stationary, then as the horse is walking.
Participants ease
into the rest of thje program moving toward the pinnacle in equestricizing:
hurdle jumping in a minimally supportive English saddle, with the students
eyes closed, feet out of the stirrups and arms outstretched simulating
the wings of an airplane. Most haven't reached that goal.
But the benefits of horseback exercise are what have made her a successful
trainer.
Terra's students
have consistently returned to her to report that the strength and stronger
sense of balance equestricizing gives them has helped in many other areas.
"After doing this on horseback, walking is nothing," Terra says.
She hopes other women her age see what advantage equestricizing can have
for what she calls the problem areas.
"If they have trouble (firming) the lower abdomen and the thighs,
this is one of the best things for it."
Janice
Terra
has had over twenty-seven years experience with horses. She has
been called "The Lady Horse Whisperer of Texas". Janice has
developed a unique exercise program for "Equisizing" which was
named one of the best programs in Houston by The Houston Press in
1999. She also conducts powerful riding meditations for all levels
of riders, including the "never ridden". To experience
the unique programs offered by Janice Terra: call 281-705-8188
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