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Getting Out of Your Head and Into the Run with Lydia Van Aken [episode 117]

getting-out-of-your-head
Listen to Getting Out of Your Head and Into the Run with Lydia Van Aken on: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | your platform of choice

I’m excited to welcome Lydia Van Aken to the podcast today!

Lydia’s path into rodeo (and eventually performance coaching) didn’t follow a traditional or easy trajectory. She found early success in high school, but when she left home for college, things began to unravel. 

That discomfort led her down a path of studying neuroscience, psychology, and the human mind. What started as curiosity turned into real transformation, not just for Lydia, but for the athletes she began helping!

In today’s episode, we’re talking about getting out of your head and into the run. Lydia shares how our emotions, beliefs, and nervous system state directly affect our horses (whether we’re aware of it or not). Building a strong connection requires self-awareness, intentionality, and learning how to regulate yourself FIRST.

We also talk honestly about the cultural messages many of us grew up with in ag and rural communities, how suppressing emotions actually impacts our bodies, overthinking, and more.

If you’re stuck in fear, frustration, or setback, stop focusing only on what’s wrong. Look for the opportunity, because ultimately, whatever you focus on will grow!

Meet Lydia:

Lydia grew up in central California and started riding horses at age 8. She did not come from a western or equine background, but started roping in high school, where she made the high school and college finals. She traveled the U.S., working for different horse trainers, coached for 4 years at the University of Wyoming, and even gave private riding and roping lessons for a few years.

Lydia is now 34 years old and lives in Yoder, WY, with her wonderful husband, a toddler, and a baby on the way! They have 12 horses and 2 dogs and are always on the move, going to rodeos or ropings. Faith is Lydia’s #1 priority, followed closely by training young horses and roping. Lydia has gained a huge appreciation for high performers in all aspects of life, and she loves to learn new things!

In this episode, Getting Out of Your Head and Into the Run with Lydia Van Aken, we cover:

  • Lydia’s rodeo journey + how this led her into performance coaching & working with the mental side of athletics
  • How the human athlete’s mindset directly impacts the equine athlete
  • Why self-awareness is key to building trust and connection with a horse
  • How suppressing emotions often leads to overwhelm and breakdown later
  • Why getting into the run requires stepping out of overthinking & trusting muscle memory
  • Why too much information can pull athletes out of their bodies and into their heads
  • The power in finding opportunity & growth within your challenges

Resources & Links:

Connect with Lydia:

Connect with Terryn:

Related Episodes:

More about the Good Movement Draws Good Movement podcast:

In stockmanship (the art and science of handling cattle in a safe, effective, low-stress manner), we have this phrase . . . good movement draws good movement. 

It’s this thing that happens when we ask a small group of cattle, maybe a cow or a pair, to move out in a certain direction, and their movement draws the whole herd into moving in the same direction.

Good movement happens when we approach the cattle with a positive attitude, read and really listen to what they’re telling us, and communicate accordingly. 

We don’t approach the aware, flighty cattle the same as we do the tame, docile cattle. We adjust ourselves, our energy, and our approach, and we communicate with each other differently.

These adjustments help us effectively draw good movement from each, which then draws good movement from the herd. But it starts with us.

The same is true for humans. Good movement starts with us.

Welcome to Good Movement Draws Good Movement, the podcast where farmers, ranchers, and rural folks can grow relationally through awareness, understanding, and effective communication.

Hey, it’s me – T. I’m your host, and I, along with my guests, will be covering topics related to drawing good movement – things like self and social awareness, brain science, positive psychology, extending grace, and so much more. 

We’ll share tools that can help you understand why you are the way you are, why others are the way they are, and how you can use that to step out of self-told lies with grace and compassion to draw good movement in conversations, relationships, and life in rural America. 

Tune in every Tuesday, and make sure to hit subscribe so you never miss an episode! Let’s go draw good movement!

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