PIA WALLBERG
EQUITUM COACHING SYSTEM
MORE ABOUT ME
As a child I dreamt of becoming a doctor, but instead I was swept away in the modeling industri working all over the world.
The horses were already a central part of my life, but because my work meant "a life in a suitcase", the riding had to pause.
To be a young women in the modelling world, where body weight and body image was distorted, was not easy. I naturally turned to fitness and nutrition to keep me in shape and to cope with the pressure of always having to be on top.
My interest in human behaviour and people in general, and the fact that I often became the person my friends came to talk to, led me into the field I am today. I also studied medicine, personal training, nutrition, leadership and project management.
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In 1997, after a ten-year break, I took up riding again and at that time I was struck by how much money and time horse riders put into their horses but how unproportionally little on themselves and their weaknesses as horse riders. My thought was that if a horse rider would put more effort into his or her dismounted training many of the problems acquired over the years could be helped.
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In 1998, I attended the first Core trainer program at Reebok University Boston where they researched in the area and developed a special board with multi-functional application primarily for ball sports. It was revolutionary to talk about core strength in that way and the concept instantly sounded a resonance in me and I started to think about how it could be applied to horseback riders.
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I was riding and competing as much as possible both at the riding school and as a fellow horse rider, but I also spent a lot of time on the bleachers studying the rider and the communication between the teachers and the student. I was interested in finding out what made the communication work and when it faltered.
After an injury and during the subsequent convalescence I found yoga. This fascinating system with a holistic approach to well being got me so interested I studied everything I could get my hands on. At that time yoga was not yet so common in Sweden which meant I had to seek education and training abroad. I travelled to Asia and the US to learn from the best Gurus and received my international license, E-RYT 500h in yoga, meditation, mindfulness, Ayurveda and Asian yoga massage. Back home I started Sattva yoga studio where I trained yoga teacher and worked as a mentor.
On one of my longer trips abroad studying yoga I really missed my time riding and spending time in the stables. This got me thinking how I could combine my interests of yoga and riding, and I started to put together a yoga system for riders, Sattva riders yoga (SRY), which is now part of my Equitum coaching system (ECS).
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To be able to helpe on all levels, not only strictly physical but also the mental part where the mind can, potentially, prevent positive developments, I had to study psychology, CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) and ACT (Acceptance and Commitment Therapy). I found the evidence-based field such as medicine, psychology and training theory to be an excellent complement to the empirical evidence based knowledge of Eastern philosophy such as yoga and meditation
I have also organized many yoga retreats, both with and without riding, around the world as in Asia, Africa and Europe. The trips I organize have always been the kind I would love to go on myself. Some of the trips have been focused on adventures and some have been more focused on improving riding skill. However, my main concern has always been on quality irrespective of the trips´focus. This, I believe, has resulted in many of the participants returning year after year.
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In 2015 I went with a yoga/ riding group to Monte Velho in Portugal for the first time and as soon as I arrived I felt right at home. I was warmly greeted by the family running the farm and I instantly took a linking to the staff and the horses. I was soon asked by the manager Diogo Jr Lima-Myer, who is the son of the owner, if I would like to train their 20-year old riding instructor, Joao Torrao. When Diogo said, "we are going to the Olympic Games 2020" it felt like a crazy dream.
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Diogo soon put together a very ambitious and innovative "dream team" including himself (owner/ manager), Joao Torrao, his horse EquadorMVL, Coralie Baldrey (trainer), Kasia and Mark (sponsors), Vasco and Tome (veterinarians), and myself as the Physical and Mental trainer/ Equitum Coach.
With hard work and with a fantastic team Joao (only 26-years old) and EquadorMVL (only 10 years old), had in one year (2019), their debut at Grand Prix (GP, GPS and GP- freestyle), competed at the big international legendary arenas, representing Portugal in European Championship where the Portuguese national team, and Joao as an individual, managed to qualify to the Olympic Games 2020.
Truly an amazing journey.
Unfortunately, the Olympic Games 2020 were postponed due to Covid. But July 27th 2021 Joao and EquadorMVL made there debut at the Olympic arena in Tokyo. As as result they together with the Portuguese team also qualified for the team final where they finished in a 7th place.
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Apart from traveling with Joao to competitions and training him I am still training many other horse riders on all levels. There are no championship level requirements to train with me - you only have to have the desire to become a better horse rider and be prepared to work hard and results will follow.
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I am inspired to see people grow and my system is meant to make you into the best version of yourself.
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Pia
