Easier Movement, Happier Life

Mary Debono
  • 5.0 (16)
  • Pets & Animals
  • Updated Weekly

Do you want to create a life of movement, connection, and well-being for you and your animals?Whether you’re an equestrian, a dog lover, or both, this podcast is for you! In Easier Movement, Happier Life: For You, Your Horses & Dogs, Feldenkrais® teacher, international clinician, and bestselling author Mary Debono shares insights, tips, and techniques to help you improve movement, mindset, and connection for yourself and your animals.Each week, we explore topics like body awareness, flexibility, and balance, focusing on how these elements impact both you and your horse or dog. We’ll dive into how anxiety and tension affect both species and share gentle strategies to promote relaxation, confidence, and well-being for everyone involved.Your thoughts and emotions influence not only your own body but also your animal’s. That’s why we’ll also explore emotional awareness, mindset, and intuition, helping you build a deeper, more harmonious relationship with your horse or dog.Whether you’re helping your horse become more balanced and fluid or supporting your dog’s mobility and comfort, this podcast will provide the tools to nurture a thriving connection with your animal, improving their quality of life—and yours.Join Mary every week as she brings over 30 years of experience to help you and your animals live with greater ease, joy, and connection.

  1. What Do You Believe About Aging?

    3d ago

    What Do You Believe About Aging?

    Send Mary a message Our culture has a lot to say about aging, and most of it undersells what's actually possible. For you and for your horses and dogs. In this episode, I challenge the story most of us have absorbed about inevitable decline and share why your capacity for change is far greater than you've been led to believe. The foundation most movement advice skips turns out to be the most important part. If you've ever wondered whether things really have to get harder as you and your horses and dogs age, this is a good place to start. Resources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical, veterinary, or training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or dog are unwell or injured.  Always use caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    13 min
  2. Why Debono Moves Might Not Be Right for You

    May 26

    Why Debono Moves Might Not Be Right for You

    Send Mary a message Why does improving your own movement and awareness matter when helping your horse or dog? In this episode, I share why the human side of this work is not optional. After a conversation with a horse owner who wanted to learn “just the techniques” without exploring her own awareness or movement, I realized this distinction needed its own episode. Debono Moves is not about memorizing protocols or mechanically following steps. It’s a responsive, co-creative process that depends on your ability to sense, feel, and communicate through touch and movement. The more clearly you can sense yourself, the more effectively you can support your animal. I also share part of my own journey with chronic pain and how discovering the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ completely changed how I moved, felt, and experienced life. In this episode, you’ll learn:  Why self-awareness is foundational to helping your animal  Why Debono Moves is not a “step-by-step technique”  How improving your own movement changes how you relate to your horse or dog  The role of neuroplasticity and “biological optimism”  Why slowing down helps you sense more clearly  How ease and well-being can become something you transmit to your animal  Why this work is about connection, not correction  How movement, awareness, and emotional state are deeply interconnected This episode is for horse lovers and dog lovers who are open to exploring a gentler, more mindful way of helping their animals while also improving their own quality of life.  Resources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 Feldenkrais MethodⓇ for YOU: Effortless, Balanced Sitting: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series Smart, Supple Hips: A FeldenkraisⓇ Movement Series Get 1:1 Coaching with Mary 🐶 If you'd like Mary's guidance on helping your dog, please click here.  🐴 If you'd like Mary's coaching on helping you or your horse, click here.  All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical, veterinary, or training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or dog are unwell or injured.  Always use caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have

    13 min
  3. How to Support Your Aging Dog

    May 19

    How to Support Your Aging Dog

    Send Mary a message Whether your dog is aging, recovering from surgery, or simply deserves the best foundation possible, this episode explores how gentle hands-on support can help reduce tension, improve movement, and create greater ease, confidence, and well-being.  💫 Key Takeaways Many dogs develop habitual movement patterns and compensations that now create unnecessary strain.Gentle hands-on support can help the nervous system feel safe enough to release chronic muscular tension.Lasting improvement comes from inviting change, not forcing it.Emotional safety and physical comfort are deeply connected.Supporting your dog physically can also improve confidence, ease, and emotional well-being.Small, thoughtful changes can make a meaningful difference over your dog’s lifetime. Listen to the episode to learn a simple, important change you can make today! Resources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ Get 1:1 Coaching with Mary 🐶 If you'd like Mary's guidance on helping your dog, please click here.  💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and doesn't constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    11 min
  4. Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast: A Simple Practice for You and Your Animals

    May 12

    Slow Is Smooth, Smooth Is Fast: A Simple Practice for You and Your Animals

    Send Mary a message Autopilot is efficient, until it isn't. Most of us move through our days holding unnecessary tension, shortchanging our breath, and repeating patterns that work against us. Our horses and dogs do the same. But there's one concept that can begin to shift all of it: slow is smooth, smooth is fast. In this episode, Mary explores how slowing down and doing smaller movements opens the door to self-awareness, and why that awareness is the foundation for healthier movement, better coordination, and more connected interactions with your animals. You'll hear how this concept shows up in the most ordinary moments of your day, whether you're getting out of a chair, heading out for a walk with your dog, or bringing your horse in from the pasture. This isn't about adding more to your routine. It's about noticing what's already happening and making a small, intentional choice to do it differently. Resources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical, veterinary, or training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or dog are unwell or injured.  Always use caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    9 min
  5. The Smarter Way to Help a Stiff or Uneven Horse

    May 5

    The Smarter Way to Help a Stiff or Uneven Horse

    Send Mary a message Trying to “fix” stiffness, crookedness, or other movement issues often creates more guarding. In this episode, learn why physically supporting what your horse already does can help the nervous system feel safe, release habitual tension, improve movement, and deepen trust.  Applying this concept can change your relationship with your horse. I hope you give this episode a listen.  Resources: 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 Mentioned in this episode: Helping a Horse Heal a Chronic Suspensory Ligament Injury Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and doesn't constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    17 min
  6. Are You Trying Too Hard to Help Your Dog?

    Apr 28

    Are You Trying Too Hard to Help Your Dog?

    Send Mary a message What if your strong desire to help your dog is making it harder to help them? It sounds counterintuitive, but when we become attached to a specific outcome, we often bring hidden effort, worry, and mental rigidity into the interaction. And your dog feels all of it. In this episode, I explore why caring deeply is not the problem, but gripping tightly to a predetermined result often is. In this episode, I discuss: Why attachment to specific outcomes narrows your thinkingWhat informed intuition really meansWhat the Norris State is and how it can help your dog💫How to create a win-win experience where both you and your dog feel better in body and mindResources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and doesn't constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    12 min
  7. What You're Missing When Your Horse Relaxes

    Apr 20

    What You're Missing When Your Horse Relaxes

    Send Mary a message If you've spent any time in the horse world, you've probably been taught to watch for releases — the yawning, blinking, eye-rolling, and head-dropping that signal your horse is relaxing. But what if chasing those moments is actually getting in your way? In this episode, Mary digs into why relaxation alone — even genuine relaxation — is only half of what your horse's nervous system needs. Drawing on a relatable human example (that stubborn tension at the base of your neck?), she explains the difference between treating a symptom and addressing the underlying pattern. That's where the Debono Moves approach comes in: helping the parts of the body that are overworking finally let go, and waking up the parts that haven't been doing their fair share.  That balance of relaxation AND activation — what Mary calls integration — is what creates change that actually lasts beyond the session.  But here's where it gets even more interesting. Your horse doesn't exist in isolation. You are always part of the picture, whether you're riding, doing groundwork, or working hands-on. Mary introduces the concept of H² — the horse-human system — and explains why your own integration, your own ease of movement and awareness, directly shapes what your horse can access.  When you do your own FeldenkraisⓇ practice, you don't just move better. You bring something different to your horse. Your hands change. Your presence changes. And your horse feels every bit of it. This is where real depth of connection lives. Resources: 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and doesn't constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    10 min
  8. Stop Trying to Fix What's Wrong (And What to Do Instead)

    Apr 7

    Stop Trying to Fix What's Wrong (And What to Do Instead)

    Send Mary a message What if the starting point for real change wasn't finding what's wrong, but finding what's already right? In this episode, Mary reflects on a critique of self-help culture by author Tim Ferriss, who observed that to continually improve yourself, you must continually locate the ways you are broken. Mary explains why the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ and Debono Moves take a fundamentally different path. Rather than searching for dysfunction, this work begins with ease. For people, that means noticing what you can already do comfortably and building from there, even if "easy" means going very small and very slow.  For horses and dogs, it means finding where movement flows naturally and gently expanding on that, using connection and harmony as your guide. Mary shares how this principle plays out in real life, from movement lessons with people to training and hands-on work with horses and dogs. She also offers a simple way to start applying this idea right now, no special equipment or program required. If you've ever felt frustrated by slow progress, in yourself or your animal, this episode offers a reframe that is both practical and grounding. Resources: Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥 💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥 Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️ All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and doesn't constitute medical or veterinary advice or professional training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or your dog are unwell or injured.  Always use extreme caution when interacting with horses and dogs. About the Host: Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans. Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans: Improve athletic ability and performanceEnhance confidence and reduce anxietyReduce physical limitations and discomfortDeepen the human-animal bondMary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

    11 min
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5
out of 5
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About

Do you want to create a life of movement, connection, and well-being for you and your animals?Whether you’re an equestrian, a dog lover, or both, this podcast is for you! In Easier Movement, Happier Life: For You, Your Horses & Dogs, Feldenkrais® teacher, international clinician, and bestselling author Mary Debono shares insights, tips, and techniques to help you improve movement, mindset, and connection for yourself and your animals.Each week, we explore topics like body awareness, flexibility, and balance, focusing on how these elements impact both you and your horse or dog. We’ll dive into how anxiety and tension affect both species and share gentle strategies to promote relaxation, confidence, and well-being for everyone involved.Your thoughts and emotions influence not only your own body but also your animal’s. That’s why we’ll also explore emotional awareness, mindset, and intuition, helping you build a deeper, more harmonious relationship with your horse or dog.Whether you’re helping your horse become more balanced and fluid or supporting your dog’s mobility and comfort, this podcast will provide the tools to nurture a thriving connection with your animal, improving their quality of life—and yours.Join Mary every week as she brings over 30 years of experience to help you and your animals live with greater ease, joy, and connection.

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