Align-ju HEALTH MATTERS
A few weeks ago , while thinking about the topic of mindfulness and self-care , I realised that I ' m naturally mindful , without even knowing it , when I ' m riding my horse ; I don ' t think about anything else other than myself and my horse .
While riding , I ' m totally focused on how my horse and I are connected through the saddle and our rhythm , as we move together as one . It feels amazing when we effortlessly complete a transition we ' ve been working on for weeks . I ' m thinking about my breathing and the actions of my legs and hands , and I ' m aware of the rise and fall of my horse ' s hooves , how his ears move with every aid I give him , and the way he snorts and swishes his tail . I am fully aware of what I am thinking , feeling and doing , and nothing else enters my mind .
Once we ' ve completed our practice and my feet are back on the ground , I feel light and my mind is clear ; I could liken it to a refreshing night ' s sleep – my mind is rested . Riding , I now realise , is my mindful self-care activity . I try to ride two or three times a week , at a minimum , and make the most of the extra benefits of riding , such as exercise and being out in nature , which is my favourite place to be !
How animals can support mindful self-care activities
I ' m lucky enough to have horses , but mindful self-care can also be practised while you ' re with other animals . A study by Künzi et al . into the effects of animal-assisted psychotherapy incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion in neurorehabilitation [ 2 ] concluded that ‘ animalassistance was associated with a higher improvement in patients ' emotional states within sessions regarding feeling secure , accepted , comforted , motivated , grateful and at ease ’.
The animals involved in the study were sheep , minipigs , horses and goats . The benefits to human wellbeing of cat and dog ownership and therapeutic sessions such as equine-assisted therapy have also been the subject of studies . Being with an animal while practising self-care activities could also be associated with an improvement in emotions and wellbeing , such as those observed by Künzi et al . In addition , the presence of an animal could encourage mindfulness , as I experience while riding my horse .
Returning to the earlier examples of mindfulness techniques and self-care activities , the presence of a dog on a walk or a cat in a moment spent sitting quietly could be beneficial . Initially , they may even be the reason you engage in the activity , particularly if you ' re the type of person who puts others before yourself . Once you ' re involved in the activity ( i . e . taking the dog for a walk or stopping to give the cat a cuddle ), the animal could help to draw your mind away from everyday stress and into the moment , so you can more deeply engage in mindful self-care , as well as enjoying the other benefits associated with animals . Watching and listening to birds and other wildlife can offer similar opportunities for mindfulness and a break for busy brains , whether you ' re observing them from a window with a cuppa or while on a walk in a park .
I would encourage anyone to explore mindful selfcare . If you find it difficult to switch off your brain , you could start with something as short and simple as a few minutes stroking a cat : focus on the softness of its fur , the warmth and weight of it in your arms , the sound and feel of it purring , and the way its trust in you makes you feel . Afterwards , notice how you react to the world around you and consider whether it is something you might benefit from doing more often . If it is , you may want to consciously incorporate it into your life as part of a regular mindful self-care routine . Or you might want to try something completely new ; I can recommend riding ... and have horses to share !
REFERENCES
1 Mind . Mindfulness . Available from : https :// www . mind . org . uk / information-support / drugs-and-treatments / mindfulness / aboutmindfulness [ Accessed 21 June 2024 ].
2 Künzi P , Ackert M , grosse Holtforth M , Hund-Georgiadis M , Hediger K . Effects of animal-assisted psychotherapy incorporating mindfulness and self-compassion in neurorehabilitation : a randomized controlled feasibility trial . Scientific Reports . 2022 ; 12:10898 . Available from : https :// doi . org / 10.1038 / s41598-022-14584-1 .
This article is sponsored by CVS Wellbeing .
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Volume 39 ( 4 ) • August 2024
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