The Year of the Horse arrives with vitality, clarity, and an invitation to move with
confidence and grace. Where the Year of the Snake called us inward—into reflection,
quiet transformation, and the slow shedding of old skins, the Horse asks us to step back
into motion. The inner work has been done. What no longer fits has fallen away. Now,
we move with awareness.
The Horse symbolizes freedom, strength, and purposeful movement. It does not rush
blindly, nor does it remain still. It moves with sensitivity, guided by instinct, environment,
and relationship. This is the energy of the year ahead: motion that is informed rather
than forced, expressive rather than restrained. Like a horse shedding its winter coat, we
emerge lighter, more responsive, and more attuned to what feels true.
Celebrated Olympic equestrian William Steinkraus said,
“Riding is an art, not a science, and it is much easier to feel than to explain.”
This sentiment mirrors both the spirit of the Horse and the essence of yoga. Movement
cannot be over-intellectualized into grace; it must be felt. It must be lived in the body.
Yoga, like riding, teaches us to trust sensation over force, intuition over control.
Yoga is a natural companion to this transition. At its core, yoga is a practice of discovery
and renewal. Each time we step onto the mat, we meet ourselves again—listening more
closely, exploring unfamiliar edges, and rediscovering familiar shapes with fresh
awareness. Movement becomes a dialogue, not a demand. Strength and softness learn
to coexist.
In flowing practices such as vinyasa, the body mirrors the rhythm of a horse in
stride—grounded through the legs, buoyant through the spine, lifted by breath. There is
propulsion and pause, effort and ease. Grace arises not from control, but from
presence. Ancient horseman and philosopher Xenophon captured this truth perfectly
when he wrote, “Anything forced and misunderstood can never be graceful.”
This understanding lives at the heart of TulaBala and is deeply personal to founder
Katie Ward, whose relationship with her horse, Moonshine, continues to shape her
approach to movement and design. Observing Moonshine’s sensitivity, responsiveness,
and quiet strength reinforces the idea that true power is never rushed—it is felt, listened
to, and respected.
As Katie shares, “Moonshine has taught me that true movement begins with listening.
When I soften, slow my breath, and lead with intention, everything flows. That same awareness lives in yoga—nothing is forced, nothing is rushed. Grace arrives when we trust the rhythm beneath us.”
The Year of the Horse invites us to embody what we have already released. To move
without abandoning sensitivity. To claim space and expression—while remaining deeply
present. It is a year to let practice feel more alive, more embodied, and more connected
to spirit.
As we step fully out of the Snake’s quiet shedding and into the Horse’s expansive stride,
may we move with clarity, curiosity, and heart. May our yoga—like a horse in
motion—carry us with strength, beauty, and unbridled freedom.
