About
Indigo Trails, LLC | Gestalt Coaching
Indigo Trails is a dream come true.
Located on 20 acres of serene beauty next to the Sugar River Valley in Verona, Wisconsin, you can hear the calls of the sandhill cranes, see the rolling hills of farm land and prairie grasses, breath in the fresh country air, and walk lush green trails that quiet your mind and fill your soul. Our healing herd await your arrival. You will never forget the wisdom they have for you.
The secret is out …
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A Place of Healing, Wellness and Awakening
Indigo Trails Holistic Health and Horse Centered Coaching
Indigo Trails is a holistic wellness center that offers retreats, workshops, small group and one on one private coaching sessions in the areas of human empowerment, mindfulness, and healthy living practices. It is our belief that horses have an immense gift to offer humans through their compassion, honesty, and love. Our intention through our programs is to create an ever evolving creative environment where transformation takes place for each individual that enters Indigo Trails via equine facilitated experiential human growth utilizing the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method.
No horse experience necessary, just the willingness to learn from one.
In energy medicine, “indigo” is the color of the sixth chakra that represents intuition, inner communication, awareness, and self discovery. The journey or “trails” that we each take to get there and how we travel them is individual and unique to each one of us. The horse and human coaches are in essence your “trail guides” along your journey.
Thus, the name Indigo Trails was born. Following my inner guidance I have set out to create a tranquil place where people can feel safe and serene to explore their inner truths, heal their hearts, and awaken to their own self mastery through intuition, awareness, and connection to their truth and authenticity. Creating Indigo Trails has been a dream come true as we empower ourselves and our community to live life authentically, awake, aware, and alert so we can strive to act as change agents in a world ready for mind, body, and spirit evolution.
Let’s get to know each other better …
Take some time for yourself every Monday morning and join me as I share experiences, tips, wisdom, inspiration and guidance on your journey to holistic wellness.
We partner with horses in the equine gestalt coaching method
Gestalt is a way of being
The word “gestalt” can be defined as “unified whole” which implies wholeness. Gestalt is a type of coaching that deepens our awareness of our thoughts, emotions, and perceptions and how these impact our actions and behaviors. The idea behind Gestalt coaching is that we all have unfinished business caused by unexpressed feelings that are associated with distinct memories or parts of ourselves that we feel are not supported or accepted. These feelings may be resentment, rage, hatred, pain, anxiety, grief, guilt, and abandonment that are not fully experienced in awareness, linger in the background, and are carried into our present life and cause preoccupations and other self-defeating behaviors. Unfinished business will persist until we face and deal with these denied or alienated feelings. Gestalt coaching brings the background into the foreground, and deals with the unfinished business in the present moment. The Gestalt methodologies help us complete and work through our unfinished business and fully experience, accept, and appreciate our complete selves. Gestalt coaching can free us to move past pain, fear, anxiety, depression, or low self-esteem. We can then discover who we really are, and allow ourselves to move forward in a more positive, healthy direction.
Hi, I’m Dr Stacey Bean
and I have worked in the health and wellness industry for over 30 years.
I have a passion for life and for helping others live their lives with joy and purpose.
The methods I use to do this are a bit unconventional and amazing to say the least.
So what qualifies me to be your trail guide on this journey?
As a whitewater raft guide leading rafting and adventure trips both domestically and internationally for almost 10 years, I am a self proclaimed nature girl and outdoor enthusiast. I believe there is something healing about being out in nature breathing the fresh air, feeling the warmth of the sun on my skin, sinking my hands and feet in the dirt, and cooking over a camp fire.
As a physician, fitness instructor, and nutrition expert with a Medical Degree from the University of Vermont School of Medicine, a Masters Degree in Exercise Physiology from the University of California, Berkeley, and multiple certifications from the Institute of Integrated Nutrition my knowledge and experience of anatomy and physiology of the human body in both health and illness is extensive.
My journey, however, has taken me beyond the realms of western medicine (which I no longer practice after being in it for over a decade) and I have expanded into equine gestalt coaching as well as energy medicine with formal training in both through the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method Certification Program and the LifeForce Energy Medicine Program. My lifelong interests in mindfulness, yoga, and meditation is part of even more experience which I continue to gain through my daily yoga practice and never-ending desire for knowledge of healthy mind, body, and spirit practices.
This multitude of experiences allows me to bring a unique perspective and an ability to look at the “whole” person when working with my coaching clients.
Okay, so why horses?
These amazing creatures have been another one of my passions since before I could walk. My childhood was filled with horses and competing for years in hunter/jumper. After a long hiatus horses re-entered my life but not in a way I would have ever imagined.
In 2008, my husband was killed.
The pain and grief of that loss ripped me to my very core. Life as I knew it stopped. I felt alone. The one person who knew me the best and loved me with all my flaws and imperfections was gone. Life lost its meaning for me.
It was through my healing journey that I experienced first hand the incredible healing gifts of horses. Just being around them brought me a sense of peacefulness and comfort. One day I was feeling particularly sad and empty and had gone out to the barn with the intention to ride my horse. In the pasture he started walking up to me but as I focused on the business of haltering him he walked off. We repeated this several times (him walking up and then leaving as I started to halter him). After a while I gave up the idea that we were going to ride and I just stood there. My horse walked up next to me and stood with his chest next to me and his head relaxed downward. The floodgates opened and tears began flowing in a steady stream down my cheeks and my horse remained right where he stood enveloping me with his presence. He did not leave or feel uncomfortable as my pain and grief welled to the surface. He did not try to fix me or change the situation. He stayed there and held space for me to feel. I didn’t have to hide or pretend to be strong and that everything was fine. I could show my grief and aloneness and pain and it did not scare him off. In that one moment, I was finally able to embrace my vulnerability and not feel judged. I felt supported and accepted for all that I am. My heart felt full again for the first time in years. It is these healing gifts of equus that I want to share with others through the Equine Gestalt Coaching Method.
So why would you want to work with me?
- I have a gift for bringing out different parts of who you are.
- I will help you stretch your comfort zone and support you every step of the way.
- My style is direct and loving (meaning I am not afraid to call you out on your bullshit patterns that are not serving you).
- I am authentic and I’m not afraid to be vulnerable about my life, flaws, and learning curves.
- I am also soft and feminine as well as powerful and adventurous and I fully embrace ALL parts of myself (something to experience!)
My goal is to have you begin to see yourself as the non-broken, worthy, holistic being you are and quit covering up the parts you deem less than ideal so you can live your life with openness and outrageous joy in a way you’ve never imagined but have always known because you have your own answers (I’ll just help you find them).
Meet the Horses of Indigo Trails
Horses operate in the here and now and therefore have little, if any, unfinished business. Therefore, they are magnificent teachers for those of us striving to live in the present moment to manifest our full potential. As prey animals they have a heightened sensitivity to the environment for their survival. Their innate ability to sense others energies gives them the beautiful gift of reflecting our personal strengths and struggles. Insights through the joint work of a coach and a horse can be revealing and life changing.
The work is appropriate for people wanting to work on self-awareness and get past the unfinished business that is keeping them in stuck patterns of behavior, low self-esteem, conflicts with people, or uncomfortable feelings. Once we are fully present in the here and now and we clean up the unfinished business in ourselves, we are able to take responsibility for our responses and actions with more excitement, energy and courage to live life directly. This allows us to have increased compassion, humility, and respect in our most important relationships in life.
Dakota
Paint| 15.1 h
Dakota is known as our wise old soul. He is wonderful at helping the beginner rider learn the foundation and fundamentals of horsemanship. With the gestalt coaching clients, Dakota has a beautiful way of holding space for whatever the client is going through. Dakota may be available for a Half Lease. Please contact Bean Dressage for more information and availability.
Cowboy
Half Arabian Half Paint| 15.3 h
Cowboy has done it all. He use to be a western pleasure horse, english, 4H and then began training in dressage. He has shown up to I-1 at the FEI levels and helped Caitlyn earn her Bronze and Silver Medals. He is smart and loves his work and being in the show ring . He is also amazing when he works with the gestalt clients as he is really good at calling clients out on their stuff. Cowboy may be available for either a Half or Full Lease. Please contact Bean Dressage for more details.
Grace
Draft| 16 h
We rescued Grace from a feed lot in 2018. When she first came to Indigo Trails she was completely wild. With lots of love and patience, she has developed into a curious, kind, and wonderful companion. She has impeccable ground manners and is even starting to play at liberty. She is training walk, trot under saddle and even ventures out on some trail rides around the property. She loves being a part of the Full Moon Sacred Circle yoga group and holding space for people. She is still a bit too young for the gestalt coaching work, but she is definitely showing a lot of promise in this area. Grace may be available for Lease possibly this Summer 2021 for the right person. Contact Bean Dressage for more information.
Feiner Lady
Hanoverian/Oldendburg| 17.2 h
Feiner Lady is Caitlyn’s equine partner for her goals of making the U25 Team. When she is not training with Caitlyn or in the show ring, this confident, powerful, opinionated mare offers clear messages of being an unapologetic strong female leader. She has taught us all a few lessons around here about slowing down, being authentic, and coming from a place of compassion and kindness.
Rockstar
Hanoverian| 17.1 h
Rockstar is a school master in dressage. He is confirmed PSG and has been training the Grand Prix. His one tempies are a blast to ride! After taking a year off, Rockstar is coming back into work and being rehabbed as he gains his strength back. This sweet, confident, fun to ride athlete can teach the confident rider what the upper level dressage moves feel like. With the gestalt coaching clients, Rockstar’s large, powerful presence holds space and compassion for his clients. Rockstar will be available for Half Lease possibly this Spring or Summer 2021. Contact Bean Dressage for more details.
Baby Sage
Oldenburg/Friesian Filly
Sage was born June 2, 2020 here at Indigo Trails Farm. Indy and Finery are her parents. She is joyful, spirited, curious, and LOVES people. She is usually the first one to meet you at the gate to get her loves, but she is also unapologetically spunky so when she kicks up those heels watch out! We can’t wait to see what this little filly can do in the dressage ring!
Indy
Friesian Sport Horse| 16.1 h
Indy was our lead mare of the herd until Feiner Lady came to Indigo Trails. She loves to play at liberty and has excellent ground manners. This past year Indy foaled our Baby Sage in June 2020. She has been an excellent mom and now is getting back into work. She is currently training First Level dressage and will be showing this spring. When Indy works with the gestalt coaching clients, she has a calm and powerful presence and her gift is helping clients uncover and own their personal power with beauty, grace, and sensitivity. Indy may be available for Half or Full Lease. Contact Bean Dressage for more details.
Calhoun
Dutch Warmblood| 17.2 h
Purchased as a 4 year old for Caitlyn to train up the levels. Calhoun is currently schooling Second Level. His sweet, goofy, curious, innocent personality puts a smile on many faces. He is beginning to do some of the gestalt coaching with clients as well and he has warmed their hearts and held their tears with a compassionate presence.
Finery
Oldenburg Stallion| 16.1 h
(Furstenball x Diamond Hit)
Owned by Indigo Valtierra Dressage and ridden by Justin Darracott, Finery is an eye catcher in the dressage arena. Currently training up in Green Bay with Justin Darracott, this stallion and rider pair have an incredible partnership. As a stallion, Finery’s personality is gentle, kind, and level headed. These are qualities that are being seen in his foals as well. Keep your eyes out for this dynamic duo! You are not going to want to miss seeing what they have to offer.
In Memoriam
Kabuki
English Golden Retriever
2011-2019
Rest in Peace Sweet Kabuki. You will always be part of our healing herd, and your footprints will be on our hearts forever.
My name is Kabuki and as you can tell I’m not a horse, I’m a dog. I am an English Golden Retriever and I am an extremely sweet, submissive, friendly soul. I love people and will run up to greet you as you arrive on the farm with my tail wagging and whining happily because I am just so excited that you are here and that you will pet me and shower me with love. I’m really smart and always know when you need some canine attention. If you need me to, I’ll come up and plop down on your feet. Sometimes, I’ll sit right next to you and lean up against you so you will pet me. I enjoy treats, being part of the healing herd, and running around the farm with a smile on my face.
Boe and Kaia
English Golden Retrievers
Meet Boe and Kaia. They are one year old and full of puppy energy! They will welcome you to the farm with an over the top welcome (i.e. read still working on manners! LOL). Once they have initially jumped up on you and your vehicle (which does not make their mom happy!) they will head off to play on the farm and get into more mischief. We are definitely looking forward to the puppy energy being better focused and maybe one day they will be as amazing at the healing work as their predecessor, Kabuki.