What we often call resistance — in people or horses — is frequently a moment of misattunement.
The ask doesn’t match the capacity.
The pacing doesn’t match the nervous system.
The relationship hasn’t caught up yet.
When we slow down enough to listen, the story usually changes.
Horses don’t withhold cooperation to be difficult.
People don’t disengage because they don’t care.
More often, something in the system is saying: this is too much, too fast, or too alone.
Attunement turns “resistance” into information.
And information changes everything.
12/16/2025
Misattunement is often labeled “Resistance”
What we often call resistance — in people or horses — is frequently a moment of misattunement.
The ask doesn’t match the capacity.
The pacing doesn’t match the nervous system.
The relationship hasn’t caught up yet.
When we slow down enough to listen, the story usually changes.
Horses don’t withhold cooperation to be difficult.
People don’t disengage because they don’t care.
More often, something in the system is saying: this is too much, too fast, or too alone.
Attunement turns “resistance” into information.
And information changes everything.
12/15/2025
It was 27 degrees with a foot and a half of snow on the ground.
I unloaded 27 bales of hay alone at sunset.
My body warmed as I moved.
The pigs snorted softly.
The horses stood shoulder to shoulder, quietly chewing.
I didn’t feel burdened.
So many people are exhausted
not because they’re doing too much—
but because what they’re doing has no meaning.
Humans are wired for purposeful movement.
Co-regulation doesn’t require words.
Quiet labor with living beings restores dignity.
Connection doesn’t always feel happy.
Sometimes it feels right.
There is a kind of tired that drains us.
And a kind of tired that brings us home to ourselves.
—
This is the rhythm Echoes of the Herd returns to. Link in bio
12/15/2025
It was 27 degrees with foot and a half of snow on the ground
I hauled 50 bales of hay alone at sunset—
breath visible, body warming as I moved.
The pigs were snorting softly in the stall.
The horses stood shoulder to shoulder, quietly chewing.
Everything that needed doing was being done.
The real surprise ..
I didn’t feel rushed.
I didn’t feel burdened.
I mindfully got into a rythym and savored each moment and it was a magical moment.
There is a kind of tired that drains us—
and a kind of tired that brings us home to ourselves.
This is the kind that comes from carrying what feeds others.
From moving with purpose.
From sharing space with living beings who don’t ask us to be anything other than present.
Echoes of the Herd exists for moments like this—
to remind us that connection is not always loud or easy,
but it is often simple, honest, and deeply regulating.
Reflection:
Where in your life do you feel the good weight—
the effort that steadies you rather than depletes you?
12/12/2025
Why “Getting Bigger” Doesn’t Help
There’s a common belief in the horse world that when something isn’t working, the answer is to get bigger — louder energy, more pressure, more insistence.
And when a horse resists, avoids, or disengages, we’re told they’re “getting away with something.”
But most of the time, that’s not true.
Horses aren’t being manipulative — they’re communicating discomfort, confusion, or a lack of emotional or physical safety. Many are living in chronically over-demanded, under-resourced nervous systems.
Getting bigger doesn’t create safety.
It often creates more threat.
For some horses, pressure leads to reactivity.
For others, it leads to shutdown — quiet compliance that looks calm but is actually survival.
Quiet ≠ regulated
Compliant ≠ connected
The same is true for humans.
Regulation doesn’t come from being louder or bigger.
It comes from attunement, clarity, and presence.
This is the heart of the work behind The Language Between— and the foundation of the monthly practices inside Echoes of the Herd.
12/12/2025
Your Horse Isn’t Getting Away With Anything
(Trauma-conscious horsemanship + somatic lens)
There’s a persistent belief in the horse world — and honestly, in human relationships too — that when something isn’t working, the answer is to get bigger.
Bigger cues.
Louder energy.
More pressure.
More insistence.
And when a horse resists, avoids, slows down, pins ears, or disengages, we’re told:
“They’re getting away with something.”
“They’re being disrespectful.”
“They’re testing you.”
But most of the time, that story is wrong.
Horses aren’t trying to get over on you.
They’re trying to tell you something.
What looks like “misbehavior” is very often communication of:
• discomfort
• confusion
• lack of emotional safety
• physical pain
• nervous system overwhelm
Many horses are living in chronically under-resourced nervous systems — asked to perform, comply, and regulate under ongoing pressure without enough recovery, clarity, or attunement.
When demand exceeds capacity, the nervous system adapts.
And here’s the part that matters:
👉 Getting bigger doesn’t create safety.
👉 It often creates more threat.
For some horses, escalating pressure leads to outward reactivity.
For many others, it leads to shutdown — a state of collapse, disconnection, and compliance that looks calm but is actually survival.
This is not a trained horse.
This is a horse in dorsal vagal–dominant immobilization.
Quiet ≠ regulated
Still ≠ safe
Compliant ≠ connected
The horse may “do the thing,” but the relationship is gone.
And the same is true for humans.
In coaching, therapy, and leadership spaces, people are often told to “take up more space” when they’re dysregulated — without anyone checking whether their nervous system actually has the resources to do so.
Bigness is not regulation.
Bigness is often activation.
Regulation comes from:
• attunement
• pacing
• clarity
• consistency
• felt safety in relationship
Horses don’t need you to dominate them.
They need you to understand them.
When we slow down, soften our edges, and listen beneath the behavior, something shifts:
✨ tension releases
✨ communication improves
✨ trust returns
This is the foundation of the work I’m building inside The Language Between — and it’s also why Echoes of the Herd focuses on monthly somatic practices that help humans become safer, clearer partners for the beings they’re in relationship with.
Because regulation doesn’t come from being louder.
It comes from being more present.
12/11/2025
There were so many times I knew in my body that something wasn’t right in a training, lesson, or video session. (Actually horse and human)
But I was taught to ignore it.
To override.
To do what this horse person or trainer said, even when every instinct said stop.
And each time I silenced myself, I watched my horse and myself or another horse and human coupling lose a little more trust, lose a piece of themselves.
When we’re taught to abandon our bodies, we abandon the relationship.
The Language Between (currently being built) is the repair.
A somatic, relational and nervous system knowledgeable way of being with ourselves and horses where:
• felt sense leads
• boundaries matter
• nervous system sets the pace
• Connection is more important than compliance
Your horse doesn’t need you to be bigger.
They need you to be with them.
Let me repeat YOUR HORSE DOESN’T NEED YOU TO BE BIGGER THEY NEED YOU TO BE WITH THEM
12/09/2025
One recent morning I walked outside and heard a familiar but different call in the distance. When I looked up, two bald eagles were perched high above the pasture, watching over the herd. As they called out, the horses lifted their heads and trotted forward. Gracie paused beneath them and looked up, meeting their presence with her own.
The three of us just stood there—me, the horses, the eagles—held in a moment of pure awe.
Over the years, whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected from joy, nothing in my mind has ever been able to “think me” back into myself. No strategy. No plan. No pushing through.
But stepping outside…
Sharing space with the horses with no agenda…
Breathing in their presence…
Letting my senses widen…
Something always shifts.
My body softens.
My breath deepens.
The tension releases its grip.
And I can finally hear what life has been trying to say.
This is how I’ve learned to listen to my body’s wisdom—through movement, gentle presence, and the support of the herd and the land. It is the medicine that has carried me through so many seasons of my life.
And it’s the reason I created Echoes of the Herd.
For anyone who needs moments like this…
For anyone who longs to feel connected again…
For anyone who could use the grounding presence of horses from afar…
Echoes is a monthly space where these lessons, practices, and moments are woven into something you can carry with you.
A way to be held by the herd, even from a distance.
A way to come home to yourself.
One recent morning I walked outside and heard a familiar but different call in the distance. When I looked up, two bald eagles were perched high above the pasture, watching over the herd. As they called out, the horses lifted their heads and trotted forward. Gracie paused beneath them and looked up, meeting their presence with her own.
The three of us just stood there—me, the horses, the eagles—held in a moment of pure awe.
Over the years, whenever I’ve felt overwhelmed, burnt out, or disconnected from joy, nothing in my mind has ever been able to “think me” back into myself. No strategy. No plan. No pushing through.
But stepping outside…
Sharing space with the horses with no agenda…
Breathing in their presence…
Letting my senses widen…
Something always shifts.
My body softens.
My breath deepens.
The tension releases its grip.
And I can finally hear what life has been trying to say.
This is how I’ve learned to listen to my body’s wisdom—through movement, gentle presence, and the support of the herd and the land. It is the medicine that has carried me through so many seasons of my life.
And it’s the reason I created Echoes of the Herd.
For anyone who needs moments like this…
For anyone who longs to feel connected again…
For anyone who could use the grounding presence of horses from afar…
Echoes is a monthly space where these lessons, practices, and moments are woven into something you can carry with you.
A way to be held by the herd, even from a distance.
A way to come home to yourself.
Echoes of the Herd is the space I’ve been wanting to create for a long time—
a monthly sanctuary where somatic practice, nervous system tending, and equine wisdom all meet in a way that feels gentle, relational, and deeply human.
Each month, I share teachings and practices that help us slow down, reconnect with our bodies, and explore a way of being that’s rooted in presence instead of urgency. Horses have taught me this rhythm, and Echoes is one way I offer that back to you.
This month’s theme is Wintering With the Herd—a tender exploration of warmth, rest, and the quiet intelligence of moving slowly through winter.
If you’ve been craving steadiness, softness, or deeper connection to yourself and the natural world, I would love to welcome you inside as a founding member.
And truly—your membership is reciprocal care. Echoes helps support the herd’s feed and wellbeing, and the hopeful homecoming of two horses I’m working to bring here this spring. Your nourishment supports theirs, and their wisdom supports you.
I’m so grateful to see we’ve had a recent increase in followers! If you’re curious about our work or what the herd can offer this is a free intro for you to enjoy. If you enjoy this then sign up for our monthly subscription where you can receive herd wisdom and somatic practices each month! You can also feel good knowing that as we support you, you are supporting our herd, because at every tier that money goes back to providing care to our horses and enrichment in their lives. An act of reciprocal care. 🥰
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Welcome to True Nature. We aim to provide a supportive journey toward restoring balance and harmony within your life. We value each persons inner wisdom and strive to help each person on their unique journey to wholeness, to their true nature. We take a holistic approach that incorporates mind, body, and soul wellness.
With over 20 years combined experience and practice we offer a wide variety of practices including psychotherapy, coaching, yoga, meditation, bodywork, wellness workshops and retreats. We value diversity and are a culturally sensitive, trauma informed, LGBTQ+ affirming practice.
Our primary space is located in downtown Homewood, IL. While the primary practice is individual Psychotherapy and Zen Shiatsu, we offer a wide array of wellness workshops throughout the year. In the warmer months retreat style experiences are offered on our 5 acre farmette, only 45 minutes from downtown Chicago. We are excited to share our love of nature and connection to all beings. We can’t wait to connect and support you on your journey to wellness!
Our Team
Marie Sian, AOBTA-CP, LMT, LPTA
Marie is an Asian Bodywork Therapy - Certified Practitioner of Zen Shiatsu and Traditional Chinese Medicine. She’s also a License Massage Therapist, Licensed Physical Therapist Assistant, Yoga teacher, Reiki Master and has done extensive training in Qigong.
Marie been on a quest for true healing and restoring the natural balance of the body. She found long term chronic pain, syndromes and dis-"eases" were not resolving with physical therapy alone and knew there was more to healing than just working on the physical body. Marie takes a holistic approach that integrates the body, mind and spirit. She is an advocate of being proactive with your health versus reactive as western medicine tends to be. She is excited to work with you to help restore your natural balance.
Jennifer A Baker, LCPC, RYT, CADC
Jennifer is a licensed Psychotherapist, Yogi, and nature lover with over 20 years experience in the mental health field. Jennifer has brought her passion and service to a variety of settings including community mental health, residential programs, hospitals, correction facilities and private practice. She is a firm believer that compassion, connection and radical self care are key to well being. Jennifer has considerable experience working with clients facing challenges related, but not limited, to relationship and interpersonal concerns, histories of trauma, mood instability, grief and loss, depression, anxiety, psychosis, adjustment difficulties, and recovery from addiction. Walking with clients on their journey to healing is a sacred and personal honor. Jennifer strives to create a collaborative and compassionate space to promote growth and healing, taking into account mind body and soul. Jennifer is currently working toward offering equine guided learning and therapy to the community and is excited to share her love of animals and nature for healing.
Thank you for your interest in True Nature, We value and appreciate all who pass through this page and would love to connect with you!
