Conscious Contact Retreat & Horsework Curriculum
TBA Dates Fall
Elmwood Place Pilates - Palestine, Texas
The Pilates Cowgirl
CConscious Contact fosters trust, leadership, and presence — with horses and with people.
Rooted in the Pilates Cowgirl™ method, it expands beyond the traditional 'Join-Up' technique to offer a deeper form of relational awareness. Through non-verbal communication and co-regulation, participants learn to stay grounded in stressful moments — cultivating equanimity that holds up in the arena of life. It’s not just for Pilates instructors. It’s for anyone in a leadership role — from leading a class of 14 to speaking in a boardroom of 40.
How interesting that the word equanimity nearly spells eques — the Latin word for horse. Perhaps it's no coincidence. Horses, like humans, seek safety in presence.
About the Method
The Pilates Cowgirl™ method isn’t about being country — it’s about being conscious.
It’s about reclaiming the body as a source of wisdom, leadership, and intuitive power.
This approach blends classical Pilates, somatic awareness, and equine-integrated learning to help people lead with presence and clarity.
At the heart of the method is Conscious Contact™ — a practice that teaches you to build trust, hold space, and guide without force. Whether you're leading a horse, a classroom, a meeting, or your own family — this kind of grounded leadership makes all the difference.
Just like horses, people respond to clarity, calm, and embodied confidence. This method helps you access that connection through breath, movement, and stillness.
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Conscious Contact is the heart of the Pilates Cowgirl method. It is the embodied experience of earning trust, not demanding it. We establish Conscious Contact by entering the arena calmly, with clarity, and asking for permission to connect—just as we would with a horse. Horses, as prey animals, are hyper-attuned to intention, energy, and posture. If you're holding tension, they know. If you're grounded, they’ll draw near.
In this practice, participants learn how to lead without force and be seen without hiding. Conscious Contact isn’t about dominance. It’s about becoming someone a horse—or a client—wants to follow. The same principles apply in a Pilates class. As an instructor, you must establish presence, create emotional safety, and project quiet confidence. This method helps new instructors find their voice, earn respect, and foster loyalty.
Conscious Contact trains your nervous system. It teaches you to regulate your breath, slow your movements, and read subtle cues. The horse gives you immediate feedback—and from there, the work begins.The Relevance of the Book of Ruth
The Book of Ruth symbolizes the spirit of Conscious Contact: loyalty, trust, and grounded presence. Ruth demonstrates servant leadership by choosing to stay, to serve, and to lead by example, not by force. Her story mirrors the retreat experience where trust, patience, and consistent energy build authentic connection with both horses and people.
Why “The Pilates Cowgirl™”?
The Pilates Cowgirl™ method isn’t about being country — it’s about being conscious.
It’s about reclaiming the body as a source of wisdom, leadership, and intuitive power.
Blending classical Pilates, somatic awareness, and equine-integrated learning, this method helps you lead with presence and confidence — whether you're teaching, parenting, coaching, or presenting.
At the core is Conscious Contact™ — a body-based practice that teaches you how to build trust, hold space, and lead without force. Just like horses, people respond to grounded presence.
You’ll learn how to access that presence through breath, movement, and stillness — so you can lead with clarity, not control.
What to Bring & Where to Stay
What to Bring:
Notebook
Flip-flops, bathing suit, sunscreen
Hiking boots, cowboy boots, or running shoes
Jeans (optional)
Carrots for horses, snacks, bottled water
Pilates clothes and grip socks
Bug spray
Berkey filtered water systems are provided in the Schoolhouse and Pilates Studio. Guests may bring personal water if preferred.
Accommodations:
The Schoolhouse: 4 bunk beds (shared room)
Pilates Studio Loft Cabin: 2 twin beds upstairs
GiGi Cabin: 2 twin beds upstairs, 1 queen bed downstairs
Suggested Reading List:
The Tao of Equus by Linda Kohanov
The Man Who Listens to Horses by Monty Roberts
Return to Life Through Contrology by Joseph Pilates
The Book of Ruth (from the Bible)
Read More:
👉 Reprinted from Featured.com: Conscious Contact — A Somatic Approach to Leadership
Retreat Daily Schedule
Friday
2:00–4:00 PM – Arrival and Check-in
6:30–7:00 PM – Hors d’oeuvres Hour
7:00–8:00 PM – Dinner
8:00–10:00 PM – Fire Pit, or Pool & Sauna
Saturday
6:30–7:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM – Pilates Mat Session
9:00–10:00 AM – Horse Ground Rules & Safety
10:00 AM – Conscious Contact with Horses
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00–4:00 PM – Pilates Studio: Mock Class
4:00–6:30 PM – Free Time
6:30–7:00 PM – Hors d’oeuvres Hour
7:00–8:00 PM – Dinner
8:00–10:00 PM – Fire Pit, or Pool & Sauna
Sunday
6:30–7:30 AM – Breakfast
8:00 AM – Pilates Mat Session
9:00–10:00 AM – Horse Ground Rules & Safety
10:00 AM – Conscious Contact with Horses
1:00 PM – Lunch
2:00–4:00 PM – Departures
Pricing & Perks
Pricing:
Full Weekend Retreat: $895
Included:
All meals: Friday dinner to Sunday lunch
All Accommodations: Tiny Homes, Bunk room in Schoolhouse
All Accommodation shared first come first serve (see website for details)
Limit 10-12 people Retreat size
One group Pilates session Mat & Reformer
One Conscious Contact groundwork sessions
Guided journaling and fireside chats
Access to pool and hiking trails
20% discount on Pilates Cowgirl gear
Pilates Cowgirl Reflection Journal
Add-On Sessions:
One-on-One Conscious Contact with a Horse: $150
Trail Ride $125.00 per person
Private Pilates Session: $150
