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The Human Animal Bond and Mindfulness Series: 3. Explaining the Human Animal Bond

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We continue our Human Animal Bond Series today with Part 3. Theories explaining the healing power of the Human Animal Bond. This is a continuation of my learning received through some introductory courses at the Dreamcatcher Association and at Healing Hooves, interspersed with some personal life connections and reflections. There have been several different ways people have tried to explain how their bonds to animals have created such life-altering benefits. As noted in the first…

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The Human Animal Bond and Mindfulness Series: 2. Researched Benefits of the Human Animal Bond

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We continue our Human Animal Bond Series today with Part 2. The Researched Benefits of the Human Animal Bond. As part of completing the introductory training offered by the Dreamcatcher Nature-Assisted Therapy Association and Healing Hooves Equine and Animal-Assisted Therapy, I’ve been able to review various research studies highlighting the value of the bond between humans and animals on several levels – emotional, physical, social and cognitive (or thoughts-based). There is certainly a need for…

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The Human Animal Bond and Mindfulness Series: 1. The Treasured Human Animal Bond

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In our last article, we spoke of Magical Paws. This is an extension of that article into a series on the Human Animal Bond (HAB). Magical Paws was about the ways that being in the presence of animals can be an avenue for us to stay aware of the present moment. In the present moment is where animals inhabit their lives, and the companionship of animals can teach us about everyday mindfulness. That article also…

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Staying Grounded Through Uncertainty

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There are various words that come to mind when seeking a way to represent the events of the past few months – virus, pandemic, chaos, uncertainty, sadness and fear, among others. As well, there are other words associated with the same stream of events – gratitude, calming, social connection, reconnecting to what’s important, and slowing down. Hope isn’t easy to come by and it is okay to honor your experience just as it is. There…

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Connecting To Your Horse with Heart

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We recently offered a list of suggestions on how to connect with your horse by becoming aware of the present moment. You were invited to: 1. Set the Intention to connect, 2. Internally Notice your thoughts, feelings and body sensations and, 3. Watch Your Horse or observe them as accurately as you can. The last step we offer today, in keeping with the first week of 2020, and the tendency to create goals or resolutions…

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Guest Author Stephanie Dewes on Balance

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Today we have the pleasure of sharing an article by Stephanie Dewes, an accomplished equestrian and equine therapist who owns and manages the Miracle Mile Equine Center. In this article, she writes of the impact that balance, in all its various forms, holds in a meaningful horse-human relationship. Stephanie’s Bio: Thank you for inviting me to write for your blog! I was introduced to the horse industry at a young age and have remained active…

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Connecting with Your Horse: Watching Your Horse

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This is the third Step, after 1. Setting Intention and 2. Internal Noticing, in our series on connecting with your horse in a mindful way. For today’s post, we’d like to share an article by Anna Blake, reprinted with her permission, on Calming Signals and how we can impact the space between the horse and ourselves. Calming Signals are a collection of nonverbal signals demonstrated by horses to signify that they are in a stressful situation. They convey anxiety to us, and can be just as important to know about as the signs that horses are relaxed. Anna Blake, Horse Advocate, Author, Speaker and Equine Pro, has much to say about the subject on her blog. This particular article from her blog, Calming Signals: YOUR Response is an introduction to the topic. We invite you to read through her articles and learn more about this valuable source of insight.

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Connecting with Your Horse: Internal Noticing

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We continue today with our list of strategies to meaningfully connect with your horse. This series of posts explores how mindfulness allows you to connect with the people and animals in your life. The first step, as we mentioned last week, is Step 1. Setting Intention, or consciously making a decision to connect with your horse in this present moment. Shifting your mental, emotional and physical focus in this way creates a space wherein a…

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Connecting with Your Horse: Setting Intention

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To honour the arrival of our horses at our farm this past weekend, we would like to embark on a series of posts on how mindfulness allows you to connect with the people and animals in your life. Our upcoming book project, Sharing The Now: Connecting With Your Horse through Mindfulness, explores just that topic. This blog has the broader purpose of inviting readers to learn more about being mindfully aware, dropping into awareness of…

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Guest Author: Diane Priebe on Slowing Down

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We are delighted to introduce another guest author at the blog today, Diane Priebe. Shreyasi first met Diane through volunteering at the SAFE Team Rescue in Edmonton, an organization that rescues, rehabilitates and rehomes unwanted cats who would otherwise be euthanized. Over the years, they discovered another common aspect – a love of horses. Diane is completing her certification to become an Equine Facilitated Wellness Mental Health Therapist, and is offering this expertise in her…

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Bringing out the Welcome Mat: Staying mindful to the hard stuff

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You may remember the poem we posted on Instagram a few weeks ago, The Guest House by the Sufi poet Rumi. This poem is often quoted in mindfulness based therapy programs and in other venues as a way to explain what it means to mindfully accept the present moment, even when it feels unacceptable or painful. In this poem, Rumi refers to different emotions as guests visiting the guesthouse and invites the reader to “welcome…

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A Reflection on Gratitude, including a meditation by Jack Kornfield

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We have a lot to be thankful for this weekend. We moved into the acreage and are slowly transforming this space into our home. There is so much potential in the air, anchored by the serenity of the surroundings and the newness of each day. It is easier to be mindful when you are in a new setting, traveling to a new destination, or moving to a new home. It is when things are routine…

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Guest Author: Nicole Toren on The Inner Critic

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Nicole’s biography: Nicole contributed all of the watercolour designs and technical diagrams to our upcoming book project, Sharing The Now: Connecting With Your Horse through Mindfulness. We first met Nicole through her business, Tonic Equestrian, and purchasing items from the line, including amazing artwork from Hand Gallop Studio. She also completed a commissioned portrait of Stella for Shreyasi a few months prior. When we approached her about this project, she was excited to help and we are so…

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Fall transitions

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With the autumn chill and leaves on the ground, there are some big changes ahead for us. We are making a move outside the city to an acreage. We hope that this will be a space to create and share SPIRIT and PRESENT MOMENT AWARENESS with others, and to offer those interested a firsthand perspective of being in tune with things arising just as they are, perhaps with a herd of horses in the midst.…

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Personal Reflections on a Recent Mindful Experience – Finding Your Flow

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We recently attended a retreat at Meghan Vornholt Yoga and Equine Facilitated Wellness in Cochrane, AB. The retreat, Finding Your Flow, was a wonderful example of mindful reflection, yoga and interaction with horses in a wellness context. We wanted to share our personal experiences of being in the present moment, and what that meant for each of us that afternoon. Shreyasi: I learned much about flow from Meghan. Flow is to do with being in…

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Mindful Guides Series: A Poem on Mindful Living by Mary Oliver

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In the spirit of illustrating the essence of being tuned in to the present moment with acceptance and openness to whatever arises, here is another poem that highlights the mindful attitudes of compassion and beginner’s mind. Notice what you see, hear, taste, smell and touch, as you navigate the world around you. Notice what you feel inside, however it may be, in terms of emotions, thoughts and body sensations. Rather than judging what you notice,…

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A Mindful Reflection on Unpleasant Emotions

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One of the ways of being tuned in to the present moment, regardless of what it feels like, is by shifting your perspective towards emotions that are considered to be unpleasant. We use the words “emotions” and “feelings” interchangeably in this post. Unpleasant emotions might include feelings of shame, sadness, regret, disappointment, frustration, self-doubt, apprehension, and so on. Sometimes, these emotions can overwhelm with their intensity. It may seem like they are unbearable and one…

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The Human Animal Bond and Mindfulness Series: 4. How Mindfulness Can Deepen the Bond

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Written by Shreyasi Brodhecker and edited by Natalie Wilson In the final article of this series we reflect on how being fully aware, of your experience in the present moment, can deepen the quality of connection you have with your companion animals – horses and otherwise. The previous articles in this series introduced the Human Animal Bond (HAB), explored the benefits that the Human Animal Bond has demonstrated through research and anecdotal evidence and provided…

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Guest Author Desiree Sieben on Slowing Down

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Desiree Sieben is an avid rider, registered yoga teacher, mindfulness coach and personal trainer. She also has a background in animal health, as a Registered Veterinary Technologist. Through her business – Mane Equestrian Athletics – she supports the equestrian community with her teaching and promotion of rider fitness and wellness. In 2015 my world was turned upside down when I suddenly lost my horse. It was a partnership in which I had a lot more…

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Magical Paws

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The last few weeks have been fairly quiet on the Sharing The Now Horse Mindfulness blog. Outside of the blog world though, they have been anything but. Our lives have been turned upside down here at Spirit Farm by the arrival of a special little being, Riley. While this blog explores the ways in which being mindful (i.e. being compassionately and bravely tuned into the present moment just the way it is) can be cultivated…

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