Each month, we shine a light on a member of the Natural Lifemanship community who embodies the heart of this work. Today, we’re honored to feature Kathy Taylor—an embodiment coach, equine professional, and lifelong learner whose journey blends neuroscience, movement, and deep relational healing.
Through her integration of Natural Lifemanship and neuro-based coaching, Kathy has cultivated a unique approach that supports lasting healing in both body and mind. Her journey is a powerful reminder that when we change how we relate to ourselves, everything else begins to shift.
A Lifetime with Horses. A New Relationship with the Body.
Kathy has been around horses for most of her life. But her introduction to equine-assisted services began in 2008, when she attended a demonstration with Tim and Bettina.
She didn’t fully understand what she had witnessed, but something clicked, and she knew she wanted to be part of it.
“I always wanted to share my love of horses with people for people’s benefit,” Kathy said. “But I didn’t want to be a riding instructor and I didn’t want to be a horse trainer. People don’t have to ride. They don’t have to know anything about horses. In fact, usually it’s better if they don’t.”
Over the years, Kathy immersed herself in NL’s learning path, from Fundamentals to Rhythmic Riding (and lots in between!). Along the way, she also found herself drawn to the nervous system. Through a yearlong mentorship with Next Level Neuro, she began learning how the brain and body respond to sensory input, trauma, and movement.
What she discovered changed her life.
Capacity is Built, Not Pushed
Kathy works primarily with women who tend to carry a lot—business owners, caregivers, creative professionals. Her coaching combines the principles of NL with somatic and neuro-based practices that help clients build capacity slowly, gently, and with intention.
From the outside, it might look like putting on colored glasses or doing simple movement drills. But these small shifts create powerful internal changes.
“It’s all about inputs, interpretation, and output,” Kathy explains. “When we change what the nervous system is taking in, we can change how it responds. And that changes everything about how we relate.”
This approach, which she calls “minimum effective dose,” aligns beautifully with NL’s trauma-informed values. It’s not about doing more. It’s about offering just enough safety and support to help the system reorganize itself.
The Certification Process Was Never Just Professional
When Kathy talks about her NL certification journey, she reflects on it as a process of personal integration. It wasn’t fast. It wasn’t linear. And that was exactly the point.
She recalls moments in her work where she asked clients to act with confidence or “get big”, only to realize later that these requests, though well-meaning, mirrored dominant patterns that weren’t helpful or safe.
NL gave her the tools to pause, reflect, and try again from a place of attunement.
“There were still all of those dominance patterns in my body that I had to first become aware of and then decide… and then become aware of soon enough to do something different. I’m still learning.”
The Power of Movement and Attunement
One of the most transformational experiences for Kathy came during Rhythmic Riding. Holding connection over time, especially in a group setting, stretched her capacity in new ways.
“I’m an introvert. Connection can be exhausting for me. But during that training, I realized how much impact comes from staying present, even when it’s hard.”
This insight now informs everything Kathy does. Whether she’s facilitating a somatic retreat or walking a client through a simple nervous system drill, she returns again and again to the same question: What does connection require of me at this moment?
A Gift to the NL Community
Kathy has distilled some of her most practical insights into a free resource: the Building Your Capacity eBook.
The guide introduces six types of capacity and offers gentle, actionable exercises that support nervous system regulation.
Each practice is intentionally light and can be done in just a few minutes. As Kathy says, “Start small. Let your body tell you what’s next.”
Kathy’s Advice to Practitioners on the Fence
When asked what she would tell someone considering certification with NL, her response is immediate.
“Get off the fence and do it. If you care about people and relationships, then caring about your relationship with yourself has to come first. Natural Lifemanship does such a beautiful job of weaving in connection with yourself and connection with others. It’s like an infinity loop—you really can’t have one without the other.
You won’t come out on the other side as the same person. And that’s a good thing. If that’s what you want, then don’t hesitate. And don’t rush through it. Go at your own pace and listen to what your body is saying.”
Thank you, Kathy, for sharing your wisdom, your story, and your heart. You’re helping others find their footing by modeling what it means to live this work from the inside out.
We’re honored to have you in the NL community!
And if you are ready to start or continue your certification journey, check out our Certification Sale happening through November 7, 2025. Five of the six steps involved in Certification are on sale now!
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