A guide to enhancing wellness together, steeped in mindful moments with your dog helping you both blissfully connect and relax.
Mindfulness is a popular and very beneficial activity in the wellness space. But do you know that there are ways that you can integrate mindful moments with your dog?
Times to pause, relax, breathe together. Mindful moments when you are out together on your walks, or at home, or when you have found a lovely cosy spot indoors or outdoors you can practice this anywhere.
We live busy lives these days, despite the multitude of tech created to ‘make life easier’ it often takes up much of our time, along with juggling work, gym, homelife, time for entertainment and walking your dog.
This is perfect for dog owners like you who are seeking moments to slow down and be in the moment with your special dog. Mindfulness is proven to reduce anxiety, depression, improve wellbeing and improve health. When life with a dog can sometimes lean towards a focus of training, activities or a walk that needs completing then I am glad you are here reding this, and this is for you. Along with the benefits this has for people, dogs also benefit from being part of a passive or connected mindfulness experience.
BARKS AND SPLENDOUR
Mindfulness Walks with your dog help you focus and connect on a deeper level with your dog. You open space to become inquisitive and learn more about the sensations, emotions, scents your dog is exploring, his behaviour, and the environment around him.
Next time you are on a dog walk, remove any distractions such as your phone, and take your dog out to an open space in nature using a longer lead attached to a harness, or off lead if your dog has recall training.
During this walk, take focus on what your dog is doing. Is he running? How does this move his hair or fur? How is his body position and tail, what canine communication could this be showing? Is your dog scenting different areas? Did you know that dogs can discriminate scent through each nostril, how incredible your dog is. Watch with wonder, what he could be picking up with his nose.
Now look at his interactions with the environment, other dogs or people. Imagine how he is feeling, what he is thinking and observe interactions. A mindful dog walk is a lovely way to see your dog in a different light, connect on a deeper level while you relax and give your own mind a rest from daily life, and a space to just be together, with your dog, in nature.
Mindful relaxation moments together is another way to enjoy mindfulness with your dog. Those that are seated, sat on the floor or the ground or laying down. Whether you are on a cosy blanket or a mat, a bed or sofa or settled on some grass in a quiet spot whether in the home or outdoors in nature.
There are some different activities that you can choose from to enjoy. When you first sit down, depending on your dog’s day has been your dog may need some time to help settle naturally. Having a picnic together could be a lovely way to start your session. Just be careful not to have something that is too exciting for your dog. Adding in things your dog can lick such as natural Greek yoghurt or a little kefir, to something to chew such as a natural chew treat are great ways that help your dog relax.
As long as your dog is comfortable, try gentle long strokes of his hair or fur, in one direction. Sense the feels or your dog’s hair, how does it feel? Is it soft or coarse? What temperature does your dog feel to you? While you are doing this, it can really help your dog relax if you start taking with a soft voice, telling your dog how relaxing this is together, how much you love your dog, all the things you love about your dog and your relationship together. When your dog is laying down, with his back hip relaxed this also means that your dog is in his parasympathetic state which is a lovely state of relation.
If you are practicing this outdoors, choose a spot a distance away from things that are happening but so that your dog can observe if he chooses. These are lovely moments where you can watch the world go by together and enjoy wonderful mindful moments together.
