'Paw'areness Exercises
On this page you will find a 'Paw'areness Exercise. These exercises are meant to cultivate awareness in our own actions and reactions as well as our dog’s. When there is awareness, ‘our’ life will take a pawsitive turn on its own accord. We do not have to yank on a leash to pull life the direction we think it should go. Even if we wanted to, even if we try, this is simply not possible although we might think it is. Instead, we can learn to surrender, or rather, the surrender will spontaneously happen when we apply awareness. Through this surrender life can start to happen through us, and guide us instead. Then, our life becomes a beautiful, un-obstructed expression of existence itself. Our being will simply flower and radiate! Then, qualities like health, happiness, trust, love and joy will be spontaneously experienced and expressed.
Why 'Paw'areness Exercises?
Dog training and mindfulness meditation with our dog have very similar qualities. In both cases being aware of the dog’s behavior as well as our own is essential. Both are intrinsically connected – one affects the other.
When we apply awareness or mindfulness to our lives we can start to see where we (and the dog) slip into unconscious behavior. This is where we can start to make changes that can lead us back to our true essence: authentically healthy, happy, joyful, blissful beings. Through personal experience I have found that connecting with ‘my’ dog through mindfulness meditation and even just observing dogs interact with each other is an amazing way to cultivate awareness. Through this I have experienced that not only has it changed my life for the better, but also drastically changed my dog’s behavior as a result. I didn’t expect any of this to happen, it just did. The seed for the mindfulness meditations and the Paws4Bliss website was planted simply through direct experience.
'Paw'areness Exercises – the path to freedom, one step at the time!
The Canine Companion Mindfulness Meditations are made up of four themes:
1. Introduction to Mindfulness Meditation
2. Pawsitive Pooch and the Present Moment
3. Mutts and Mirrors
4. Om Mani Puppy Hum
Even though the steps are numbered 1 to 4, they can be practiced simultaneously as they can all lead us to the same place; the stillness of our being. Not in a sequence, but each one in its own beautiful way. -On this page you will find a “Paw”areness Exercise. Every month the exercise will be different and will correspond with one of the themes each month. Enjoy! You can find more information on each step on the “Paws4Bliss Videos” page.
On a side note:
Please approach these exercises like your dog would: with an open mind, a sense of curiosity, a smile (don’t take it seriously!), and with no expectations. Just try them out, and see what happens! Keep in mind that you simply cannot do this wrong. To support your practice you can write your experiences down. Although it is not a necessity, journaling is a wonderful way to keep track of your experiences. It is fun to read over them every once and a while and you’ll be amazed at how you have changed just by applying awareness!
'Paw'areness Exercise 1: What’s Here Now?
This month we will focus on the mindfulness aspect. Mindfulness simply means being the observer, or in other words witnessing the experiences without altering them. This brings us back to the present moment, back from the rat race of the mind into the stillness of the self – into the now. Back from stress to bliss.
Exercise: When you remember, take some time to simply witness your dog’s breath. What I mean with that is watch ‘where’ your dog is breathing: from his/ her belly, or from his/her chest. Is the breath shallow and fast or deep and slow? Is it regular or irregular? See the differences in your dog’s breath: when he/she is sleeping, playing, running, interacting with you, interacting with other dogs. Simply watch your dog’s breath in different situations. Is it the same at all times or is it different? If it’s different, what’s the difference? Is there a link between what the dog is doing/ experiencing and how your dog is breathing? You can write down your experiences if you wish. Then, take some time to do the same exercise for yourself.
Please note that the “Paw”areness exercise is not meant to analyze your dog and ‘fix’ something nor is it meant for training purposes. These exercises are merely meant for you to practice mindfulness through connecting with your dog. When you practice mindfulness it will become a way of living; moving from trying and doing to simply doing from being. Simply practice it when you think about it – don’t stress about it and don’t make it another thing on your already over full ‘to-do’ list. Just ENJOY!!!! Enjoy this simple way of learning more about your dog and yourself!
“The trick is to keep exploring and not to bail out, even when we find out that something is not what we thought. That’s what we’re going to discover over and over again. Nothing is what we thought”. – Pema Chodron
