What is mindfulness and how can it help us with our dogs?

Mindfulness is simple but not easy to achieve.  In life, we struggle to pay appropriate attention to what we are doing. We get caught up in over-thinking which impacts our well-being and this makes us unnaturally tired and prone to depression and anxiety.

Mindfulness is an integrated, mind-body-based training that helps people to calm their minds, enabling emotional regulation. With calmer, more peaceful minds, we are able to handle the inevitable ups and downs of modern life more skilfully. This, of course, includes our time out with our dogs.

The benefits have been widely reported, with scientific studies showing the following:

• people who regularly practice mindfulness, show changes in the brain associated with decision-making, attention and empathy
• the area in the brain associated with the regulation of emotion is increased by regular meditation
• regular meditators report an improvement in attention, job performance, and productivity
• meditation has a positive effect on the cardiovascular system

People who have learned and continue to regularly practise mindfulness, report:

• long-lasting physical and psychological stress reduction
• an overall increase in their well-being
• are better able to control addictive behaviour
• less likely to get stuck in depression and unnatural tiredness

I know this all sounds quite heavy-duty stuff.  Sue First in the Q will tailor our courses to reflect the elements of mindfulness that will help dog owners.

If you’d like more information contact us.

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