A purposeful warmup is your best defense against winter stiffness. By prioritizing rhythm and straightness early in the ride, you pave the way for suppleness and, eventually, collection.
Do you ever feel like you’re "fighting" the saddle rather than flowing with it? Many riders struggle with upper body balance because they view riding as a sit rather than a stance.
A common struggle with the leg yield is losing alignment. You might feel the outside shoulder "popping" out or notice the horse isn't truly crossing that inside hind leg.