By DOUG GRAVES
Ohio Correspondent

WAYNESVILLE, Ohio — Jocelyn Metzger is an avid equestrian and keeps her Tennessee Walker Miss Sparkles boarded at Clear Creek Stables near Waynesville. Metzger is also an occupational therapist so it’s not unusual to find her leading yoga and other stretching exercises for riders just outside the stables.

Metzger calls it myofascial release, and its purpose is to balance and center the rider.

Fascial is a layer of fibrous tissue that permeates the human body. Metzger’s goal is to work with that tissue so it becomes flexible and not tense.

“That tissue can get thick, hard and even tangle, giving a person restrictions in their movements,” said Metzger, owner of Sunshine Therapeutics. “The focus of these classes it to gain more flexibility and symmetry in the body, whether you’re a horseback rider, runner or baseball player. It’s for people who want to have less pain and more energy.”

Each of Metzger’s classes begin with a meditation and analysis of the body alignment to gain more inner awareness and focus on the area that needs improvement. The class then proceeds into myofascial release self treatment methods to ease pain and tension while balancing the body in a calm, relaxed manner.

“Eventually we incorporate horses and get both balanced,” Metzger said. “Horses are very intuitive, and we should be as intuitive as our horses so we can feel what’s going on with our horses. Horses sense our movements. Horses are listening to us all the time, but we don’t always read into their clues. We don’t always listen to our own bodies and know where we’re holding tight and where we may be out of alignment.”

According to Metzger, her classes will improve performance, help recover from injuries, decrease pain, improve range of motion and improve gaits.

“The classes will provide education to both the human and horse anatomical movement patterns and how our alignment affects the horse’s ability to move and understand our requests.”
Participants are neither required to own a horse nor asked to bring a horse to class as they are provided. Supplies needed for this class are simple: a pillow, yoga mat or blanket, and loose clothing. Metzger charges just $10.

“I would love to share this with all riders as a means of helping their horse feel good with a rider on them who is balanced and focused,” Metzger said.

Metzger’s lessons are held the first and third Thursday of each month from 7-8 p.m. at Cross Creek Stables in Waynesville. Metzger can be reached at 937-307-4174 or at www.sunshinetherapeutics.com