MINDFULNESS

Mindfulness, Animals and their People

Just like humans, animals too feel stress and anxiety sometimes brought about by past ‘bad’ or traumatic experiences, such in the case of rescue animals, but also it can often be a reflection of how we, the owners, are feeling. For example, if we are feeling stressed or anxious, our pets pick up on it and this accentuates each other’s feelings which then bounce off each other and escalates the problem for both the owner and the pet.

 This scenario can also work in reverse, with the pet being stressed or anxious, which worries their owner, again feelings between each other are bounced back and forth and problems escalate.

As owners, we are often too caught up in our lives to see why our pets are behaving as they do, but learning how to be Mindful and being in the Present Moment allows the owner to take a step back and really ‘look’ at their pet in Mindful Regard, and then usually, the reason why their pet has the ‘problem’ they do, becomes obvious.

‘Because of domestic animals’ close contact and

bond with humans, they often internalise and

reflect their people’s problems. This sympathetic connection can manifest as a problem for the animal

on the physical, emotional or spiritual level'

                           (Elizabeth Fulton/Kathleen Prasad)

It is then a case of working through these problems; the owner being in the Present Moment, keeps thinking levels as low as possible to draw the animal in to a feeling of peace and calm. This can show as the animal laying down and becoming sleepy but in some cases, animals will fall into a deep, dream twitching, healing sleep. This process allows them to regain trust in their owner, view the world with a quiet mind and gives them the confidence to try new things.

This must ALWAYS be at the animal’s pace, however long it takes.

 Peacefulness, patience and persistence are key.

Reiki

Mikao Usui recognised and documented Reiki in the early 1900’s. He derived the term for the Japanese words ‘’Rei’’ and ‘’Ki’’ which translates as ‘’Universal Life Force’’, referring to the energy around us and in all living things.



Reiki is a complementary form of energy therapy, a natural hands-on technique that promotes relaxation, reduces stress and anxiety, and supports healing. The Reiki Practitioner allows energy to flow through their hands and through the recipient’s meridians (channels) in their body to enhance the natural flow of energy emanating from their Chakra points (the crown, throat, heart, solar plexus, sacral/base)

The 5 principles of Reiki

At least for today:

• Do not anger
• Do not worry
• Be grateful
• Work with diligence
• Be kind to every living thing

Reiki, Animals and their People

The anatomy of certain animals are similar to humans, they have comparable organs, similar muscle forms, cells and tissues, reproductive systems and digestive tracts. The flow of energy and Chakra points is also similar.

Reiki healing is a non-invasive technique which can be beneficial to animals and people suffering from physical, mental, emotional and spiritual problems. It can help animals recover from illness and injury as it allows them to heal themselves on a deep, natural

level. 

I am Reiki Level I, II and Master/Teacher Certified and am able to carry out Reiki healing on both people and animals. 

Dog Training

I have a Diploma in Canine Behaviour Training and in Dog Training and offer puppy/dog training on a 1:1 basis. 

Modern dog training has moved away from the Alpha dog, dominance theory, which in the past led to harsh training methods and tools and is now very much a hands-off process, involving careful education, observation and communication with the dogs and their people. It is based on mutual respect and trust, between dog and human. 

I use a positive reinforcement training method i.e. something good is given e.g. a treat, toy and praise, to reinforce the new behaviour.

Training can either be taught as a new experience for puppies or young dogs, with the usual commands of sit, stay, come, heel, drop, etc. being taught

or

as a follow up after a Mindfulness session, for example, if the dog has a particular problem to overcome first, such as anxiety, fear of travelling in a vehicle or reactive aggression to other dogs. 

The latter type of training/re-training is not a quick fix and must be carried out at the dogs pace, with much of the training practised by the dog and their person in between my taught sessions.

The wonderful thing about training a dog after he/she has learned how to calm quickly with their person and take on new positive experiences with a Quiet Mind, is that they can always start from that learning and move forward, they never revert back to their old ways, unless their trust is broken.

I am always willing to pop in and visit animals in their home environment, whether it's to let them out for a comfort break; feed and water; empty trays; clean out cages or just to keep them company and break up their day.

I will also happily house sit with them for a few days while you're away.

Please contact me and let me know what you require.