Welcome to Freely Foward Bodywork.
Where we help horses and riders overcome the obstacles in their own bodies.
Freely Forward Bodywork is your one-stop-shop to unlocking the transformative power of bodywork for both your horse AND yourself.
Accessible courses for
EVERY EQUESTRIAN
ANYWHERE in the world
Whether you are an aspiring bodyworker or a horse owner who wants to be empowered to help your horses feel their absolute best, our courses were designed to give you the tools to evolve your relationship with your horse and keep them comfortable and sound for years to come.
Get Educated
Learn the Freely Forward method of myofascial release and identify what’s really bothering your horse.
Get Competitive
Elevate your riding ability & partnership with your horse to the next level through the art of bodywork.
Get Results
Watch your partnership with your horse flourish - no matter what discipline you're working in.
HI, I'M MAIJA, THE FOUNDER OF FREELY FORWARD BODYWORK
As an equine massage therapist, my focus is on enabling your horses’ comfort and performance through the use of massage therapy and stretching techniques. I aim to work with you and enable your horse to perform to its full potential, by analysing and assessing posture, movement, and skeletal function.
From providing a range of services to forming a treatment plan that is an integral part of my approach to treating the whole body, to offering online courses where you can learn effective techniques on how to treat your horse yourself, Freely Forward Bodywork is your go-to hub for equine wellness and performance.
More About MeDon't have a go-to technique for combatting serious muscle soreness yet?
Soon, you'll have several.
Browse Classes
Back In Balance
Did you know that MOST horses experience some level of back pain?
I’m here to tell you, from years of experience as a horse owner and massage therapist, that, no matter what you try: supplements, special blankets, even expensive injections can’t fix a chronically weak and tight back.
But here’s what CAN help:
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Learning how to palpate and identify when your horse has back pain, and in which muscles.
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Targeted massage techniques for muscles that are chronically in pain in the back.
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Stretches that will strengthen your horse’s core muscles, therefore supporting their back (this is especially important for older horses and those with kissing spine!)
And this is exactly what I’ll teach you in this minicourse!
Sign up now to get Back in Balance at the exclusive presale price of $55 before it goes up to $75 on 2/1/24!
EASY Equine Massage
Our newest offer to dip your toes into the world of equine massage! In this course, you'll learn the TOP SIX ESSENTIAL Myofascial Release techniques that are highly effective in combating muscle pain and soreness in horses.
These techniques are applicable to ANY HORSE no matter what discipline you ride! Get it now for only $67 for a limited time!!!
Saddle Fit Solutions
Is your horse’s bad behavior under saddle making you feel upset, anxious or even scared? Saddle Fit Solutions was created to help equestrians take their horse's comfort into their own hands. Poor saddle fit is all too common cause of muscular pain in horses but YOU can help resolve this discomfort. Learn how to identify defective and broken saddles, check your saddle's balance, how to use shims & half pads to make the best of a less-than-ideal fit, how to palpate your horse's back and shoulders to evaluate their pain, and equine massage techniques to address residual pain from previous poor fitting equipment. Get empowered to make informed decisions when it comes to buying a saddle that truly fits!
Show Ring Ready
How is your horse’s muscular pain affecting your partnership? This course was created to help you AND your horse be your best selves in any competition you go to! Find balance and harmony undersaddle: learn my top massage techniques for performance, an equine full-body sports massage, rider self-massage and stretching, and that is just the beginning!
Equine Massage 101
Have you been looking for a way to help your horse's muscle tension? How much more would you enjoy riding your horse if they felt better? Learn the Freely Forward method of myofascial release - identify what’s really bothering your horse, target it with effective yet gentle techniques, and learn how to manage your horse to prevent issues in the future!
TMJ Masterclass
Have you been looking for a way to help your horse overcome their jaw pain? If your horse has contact issues, opens their mouth against the bit, cribs, or has trouble eating, they probably have pain in their TMJ. This groundbreaking masterclass goes over the anatomy of this structure as well as 6 myofascial release techniques to use on your horse!
What can you expect from a FFB Course?
Freely Forward Bodywork is all about helping BOTH horses AND riders to overcome biomechanical obstacles within their own bodies and EMPOWERING EQUESTRIANS to take matters into their own hands. No matter which course you take, you can count on three things:
Find Confidence.
Learn the tools you need to give yourself peace of mind when it comes to evaluating and helping your horse with their muscular pain.
Accessible Education.
No matter where you are in the world, we will give you the skillsets to achieve an elevated partnership with your horse.
Real Results.
If you are not satisfied with your results, we have a 30 Day "your horse loves it or your money back" guarantee!
BUT THERE'S MORE...
Professional perspectives from around the globe +
Partnerships with other equestrian experts.
Tune into our FREE podcast, NO BUCKS GIVEN for expert insights into topical issues in the horse world. From breaking down myths by unpacking the actual science behind them, or debating both sides of controversial social debates, No Bucks Given is the equestrian destination where we get to the hard truths around what matters the most in the equine industry: how to best advocate for our horses.
Listen to NO BUCKS GIVENMorgan Rooks-Turcotte
"I found your course so much easier to follow along that I felt I picked up on it way more than my other course I’ve spent over a year studying! I did a massage prior to riding, and he felt so fluid in his movement. Makes me even more excited to actually focus on the course material more and see how much I can offer to him! So much more potential now. It kind of makes me cry a little bit, I’m so happy I came across you."
Equine Massage 101 Participant
"I've taken other equine bodywork courses and tend to rush through them, but the way your course is presented forces me to take it slow. The short video segments make it easier to keep my attention and go back for reference in the future."
Equine Massage 101 Participant
"One of my horses has TMJ issues. I went right away to work on him and it's working! I love love love the techniques."
Equine Massage 101 Student
"My horse Remi was always very head shy, but once I started the TMJ and poll techniques he started to really enjoy it and trusts me more around his face! That trust and strengthened connection is something I can't put a price on!"
Alexa Derr
"I gained invaluable insight into how to help horses release soreness and trigger points. I highly recommend taking Maija's courses to advance your knowledge base and further your daily work with your horse. As an HB Pony Clubber and pro, this course gets an 11/10!"
Jasmine Metz
"This work I feel is of benefit to both horse and rider. It is so important to educate ourselves on how we can best help our horses move comfortably in their bodies. It seems like the odds are that something will happen in a horse's life and it's good to have this knowledge to draw from. Maija makes learning easy and helpful, from the novice to the more advanced horse person. Everyone will have useful takeaways from these courses."
Want more free resources?
We're a firm believer in try-before-you-buy and are confident that you'll love our courses. See for yourself!
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