human-animal bond
Mindfulness isn’ t just about meditation or quiet reflection – it’ s about being intentional in the everyday moments. And what better way to practise than with our pets? They live in the present, and when we tune into their needs and rhythms, we not only care for them but also ground ourselves.
Mindfulness and your pet
Mindfulness with your pet really depends on what you’ re aiming for. For Jacqui Martheze – manager and coordinator at Woodrock Animal Rescue, one of South Africa’ s oldest no-kill shelters, and the driving force behind Paws @ Work, an initiative that brings pups into the workplace to boost mental wellness – mindfulness has two key aspects.
That means taking care of their physical needs – grooming, making sure there’ s always water available, ensuring they’ re in the shade and not in the heat, and making sure they have food, shelter and care.
“ It’ s also about paying attention to their body language,” says Jacqui.“ For example, does my dog maybe have an ear infection? Is he growling when I touch his ears, pulling away, or moving his head because he doesn’ t want me touching him as he is in pain?”
“ The first is being mindful of your animal and all of their needs,” she says.
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