Mountain Bike Therapy
Navigating challenges and obstacles outdoors, while being supported and guided by a Mountain Bike Therapeutic Practitioner, can provide an opportunity for growth and healing.
We integrate evidence-based therapeutic approaches into our sessions including adventure/outdoor therapy, experiential and creative arts therapy and mindfulness. We also offer Ride for Wellbeing experiences for adventure, creative expression and being in the present moment with self, other and nature.
Your safety is our highest priority. While not much in life is risk-free, and bike riding is no exception to that, we bring our expertise in guiding and instruction to create tailored riding experiences. We consider individual abilities, hopes, goals and previous riding/outdoor experience. Safety and duty of care is practiced when inviting participants, whether riding or engaging in therapeutic activities.
Mountain biking
Suitable for people wanting to ride off-road (gravel, rail trail, singletrack or MTB park). For ages 6 years and above, we are experienced in supporting all ages and levels of riding, including girls/women’s specific groups and older adults who are starting their off road riding adventures. We are unable to cater for bicycles with training wheels due to the terrain accessed. To read more about equipment required see our Services page.
Riding is tailored to individual ability, fitness level, experience and goals. Prior to any guided riding or biking adventure, we make sure you are competent and confident to ride off-road safely. This includes developing an understanding of how your bike and equipment work through instruction in bike care and trail side repairs. Progressive off road and mountain bike skills instruction is given prior to any guided riding.
We always start small and never attempt any obstacles or terrain which is out of the rider’s ability or comfort level.
Sometimes the experience of riding becomes the main focus of therapeutic experience. For example the riding itself is challenging, or feelings that arise might relate to other aspects of the participants life. Or, the rider is experiencing a “block” in their riding progression, they might be coming back to riding after injury or other life challenges. Learning fundamental mountain bike skills can enable a bike rider to have more control, confidence, adaptability, focus and resilience - all applicable skills for daily life. We also explore the relationship with nature and our time outdoors together.
The act of riding, while being safety guided and supported can enable feelings of fun, flow state and being in the present moment – all beneficial for health and wellbeing.
Therapeutic process
Throughout the sessions we pay attention to our bodies and felt sense of the experience using focusing, mindfulness and embodiment practices. This helps to ground to the earth, settle nervous systems and tune into self and surrounds.
At any stage of our session, we may where appropriate and suitable for the individual, choose to use creative materials and processes e.g. photography, strength cards, drawing, painting, movement, voice, sculpture, spoken and written word. This can enable conversation which is not restricted to the verbal and can support those who may not want to talk about their experiences - by making invisible worlds visible and offering a different perspective. At times emotions, feelings, values, patterns of behaviour are often identified, and choices can be made for preferred ways of being.
The therapeutic practitioner is a companion to those she inquires alongside. She holds a safe space to witness, support and collaborate with those who seek to co-inquire into making meaning out of lived experiences and create actions for change.