Testimonials
Dogs and Cats
“I cannot thank you enough for all that you offered me and my dog, Charlie Brown. I truly believe that your touch helped Charlie Brown be much, much more comfortable, relaxed, and restful over these last couple of months. After your sessions, he walked better and was noticeably more comfortable in his own body. In his final weeks, that is the biggest blessing and gift I could have ever asked for. Also, seeing the care and compassion you extended to him permeated me, and as his *mom* I also was more relaxed that he was receiving such loving care. Thank you also for your time and skill. I have felt a great connection with you and have really enjoyed my time and sessions with you and Charlie Brown. Thank you!!!”
- Julie Lively
“I know I’ve said it before, and I’m sure I’ll say it again – you are incredible. What you are able to do is amazing.
“I could tell even last night how much better Misty felt. This morning she is feeling soooo much better. She is smiling again, she always smiles when she feels good. She wants to play again and is biting at my dangling hand as we walk down to the feed the horses, something she does when she feels happy and playful. I’m keeping her quiet and letting her rest – against her wishes. It’s so wonderful to see how much better she feels already. I love it when she smiles.
“Thank you again.”
- Cathy Dameron
“What you taught us in your workshop about listening touch has been quite helpful with Emma. I remember particularly one evening when I was sitting on the bed with Emma draped over my lap, and I wanted to work on her. I put my hand on her ribs, and she immediately went into a panicky “something bad is going to happen” mode. So I just left my hand there without doing anything else, and after a few minutes, she got comfortable enough to let me do more. I could see she was starting to enjoy herself, and at one point, she let out a big sigh and seemed deeply relaxed; she eventually fell asleep. I’ve been able to do the same thing with other procedures that make Emma uncomfortable.”
– Akiko T.
“Mary Debono brings such integrity, passion, and skill to her work with animals and people. She has an exquisite understanding of energy and movement. I have thoroughly enjoyed working with such a skilled teacher and healer.”
–Sharon B. Franklin, DVM
Horses and Riders
“Mimi was able to lie down to sleep and roll right after her first SENSE session!
She had injured her right knee two months before and had not been lying down since her accident. She continued to lie down daily after her first session. Thank you for helping Mimi. It’s really made a difference.”
- Alice Knox
“Mary Debono is skilled at making both you, the rider, and your horse feel better than you ever have. Through exercises, workshops and hands-on technique, Mary teaches ways to be more balanced and flexible, whether you have two legs or four.”
– Victoria Cummings, author of Teachings of the Horse
“Mary has been instrumental in keeping myself and my horses balanced and supple. She has an unbelievable gift which she shares in her work.”
– Shannon Peters, FEI dressage competitor
“The horses feel great after Mary works with them. They are balanced, focused, and ready to go.”
– Susie Hutchison, World Cup show jumper and trainer
“If you missed the Chapter-sponsored clinic with Mary Debono, Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner and Creator of the SENSE Method, you missed a GREAT clinic! Our Feldenkrais clinic on November 5 was a sell-out and hugely rewarding for the participants.
“Clinician Mary Debono taught attendees about biomechanics and new ways of moving to break old habits. Gentle exercises were used to interrupt ingrained patterns of movement that may be unwittingly leading to asymmetrical movement or even pain. There were many “aha” moments as people unlocked resistance and discovered a new range of motion for their bodies. At the end of the session, bodies felt better aligned, and people were more tuned in to how they moved, and how their movement habits influenced their life and their riding! Feedback was overwhelmingly positive and demand for this clinic was so strong, that we may try to hold another. We’ll keep you posted!”
– San Diego Chapter California Dressage Society Newsletter
“Hi Mary, I just had to tell you about my “aha” moment at my riding lesson today. On a right canter circle, I have always been pushed out left, my seat bones floating left, motorcycling. Today, I realized I could move my torso independently from my pelvis, so I planted my hips in the saddle, and remembered the feeling when I was on your table, when I had moved my torso around left, then right, till everything was moving independently. I did the same thing on my horse, moved just my torso right, moving her shoulders with my upper body, but my pelvis stayed centered. Oh My Gosh, Molly turned wonderfully, easily, it was a real revelation. I felt focused, in balance. Very exciting, just had to share with you. Thanks, Mary! Until you have separated your body parts, you just don’t know what you don’t know, and you think how you’ve always moved is just fine… we know that’s not true. See you soon.”
– Jan K.
Humans
“Had to tell you I (with Barb) had a fun 45 min. ride around the lake on Gus yesterday. We did well and I did not hurt at all! And this morning I did my first run of 3 miles and did not hurt! Thanks so much for helping me heal and get better balanced.”
- Rene T.
“Fantastic! It was a cathartic session and my riding was so wonderful! I feel my posture is improving and that not only delights me, but it also delights my horses! You make my life so much livelier, healthier, and pain free. Thank you for making this time in my life so much richer. You are the best, my dear!”
- Kathy P.
“This work makes you appreciate how small changes bring about big improvements in comfort and movement. You don’t need to build muscle or stretch for improvement to occur.”
- Dr. Shirley Strum, noted anthropologist and Mary’s client
“My first experience with Mary Debono’s work was after I had severely injured my back a few years ago. I had tried standard treatments — a visit to the doctor, drugs, chiropractic and physical therapy. I was in such pain I could not stand up and had to navigate life in the “C” position. Sciatica set it and nothing helped. During a wonderful summer family reunion in the Tetons, while other people hiked, rafted and kayaked, I sat and read Anna Karenina. I am a very active person, and this back thing was really depressing. I had never before been out of commission so thoroughly.
“I was considering acupuncture when a fellow equestrian recommended Mary. She was so enthusiastic about how Mary had changed her life that I made an appointment.
“I was surprised by Mary’s method. Contrary to the pain inflicted by physical therapy, Mary was extremely gentle. She allowed no movement that would cause the slightest discomfort. However, the gentle pressure she exerted on precise spots caused my spasms to subside. My back started improving immediately, and after several sessions I was feeling much better. As I continued to work with Mary, she taught me how to move more efficiently so that I would not stress my back. To me, Feldenkrais has been nothing short of a miracle. I recommend Mary constantly to friends who complain of back pain and I have even pressed her business card on strangers I overheard complaining of back pain!
“Mary also works on my aging Grand Prix dressage horse and he loves to see her coming. He is able to move much more freely after she works on him.
“Mary’s all-day workshops featuring ATM (Awareness Through Movement) exercises are amazing. As an athlete, I believed I had to live with a certain amount of low-level pain. Mary has taught me that I don’t have to endure any pain, that it is possible to be active, athletic and not have back pain! I could not recommend Mary more highly. She has changed my life!”
– Kate Shuster, USDF Gold Medalist
“I am a 22-year-old girl, hoping to turn riding horses into my career one day. The more I am working towards my goal, the more I realize that my most important asset is my body.
“Mary Debono’s work has helped me tremendously regarding body awareness and body coordination. Due to the new found ways of moving my body, I have been able to ride differently, but also use my body in a more beneficial way on a day-to-day basis. For example, I am now able to move my neck separately from my shoulders and turn in the ribcage while maintaining an upright position when driving in the car.
“I have walked out of a session feeling taller, to the extent that I would see landscaping marks up on the hills that I have never seen before. After another session I’ve had to adjust the mirrors in my car, because I would look right over them. Another time I could feel both of my shoulder blades touch the back of my car seat consistently for the entire drive home, which is something I’ve never been able to feel before.
“Overall, the Feldenkrais work with Mary Debono has enriched my movement on and off the horse. I therefore experience hardly any back and shoulder pain anymore. I can make my own body work less, by using the right body parts at the right time, instead of all of them all the time.”
– Lientje Schueler, S. Peters Training Stable
