Dog walking - spiritual practice - who knew! - YorkieTalk.com Forums

Jellymint · 03-21-2016, 04:57 PM

I recently took a course on mindfulness meditation and deepened my understanding of mindfulness and how to practice being more present in the present. (oooo I said "present" 2x!!) Focus. Right!!

I live in suburbia (how did that happen? Le sigh...) I have access to Green Timbers Urban Forest Green Timbers Urban Forest | City of Surrey which is a 5-10 min drive from where I live. Monty and I have been going there pretty steady for a week now. It is gorgeous and not too busy with other humans yet. It's still pretty rainy here but we like the rain!! And I like the solitude!!

Monty loves it. So many smells. Bounce bounce bounce!! He is getting really good at hurtling top speed and stopping or at least slowing before he reaches the end of the the 26' leash. He definitely gets good exercise and mental stimulation on these walks.

When I started learning his language and becoming more familiar with his world, I would run up to a lot of different things he found fascinating, bend over and exclaim "what is it? What did you find? is it yummy?" and I would pet him and touch whatever he was sniffing as my way of sharing his excitement. I did have a thought at one point about what other people would think and then thought. shrug... perhaps the message that there is more to this world than we experience comes through.

We were on a walk the other day. I was in my head. It's busy in there sometimes lol. Very busy. I was all caught up with worry and fortune telling and making movies that I was missing the healing purposes of these walks and missing out on the cuteness that is Monty.

As soon as I caught it I stopped walking and took a breath and looked around. Monty found a prickle vine and was all busy trying to figure out how to pee on it without pricking his lil prick. Hahaha it was so comical.

And then I looked around and took in the fading daylight - it was moving into dusk. Took a nice cleansing breath and closed my eyes to the heavens as I did feeling the stress flow down my body to the ground. I opened my eyes and looked across the tiny lake and there was an eagle soaring lazily in the sky! I had never seen an eagle in this part of suburbia! I was shocked and so very pleased. I watched as he landed in a tree on the other side of that lake. Had I not stopped and cleared my mind, I would have missed it.

I thank my Monty for the gift of "forced" practice mindfulness. I look forward to my walks with him each day. I love that I am slowly gaining skill in learning how to let my mind relax and empty for a moment and experience the wonder of being a spirit having a human experience.

It helps me remember what is important.

Dog walking - spiritual practice - who knew!-monty-gt-lake-log-sit.jpg

Think I am going to go walking there now .... Pfft to the housework stuff I am currently doing. Nod nod

teasell · 03-21-2016, 10:26 PM

I'm going to have to try that with my Teasell. I KNOW SHE WOULD LOVE to walk through a forest. Wonder how far my old bones will let me roam....Lynn

Wylie's Mom · 03-22-2016, 04:06 AM

LOVE this post...and I so agree with you. I walk my own dogs - plus I walk the shelter dogs twice a week...and I always find myself inside my head, ruminating about whatever...so I bring myself back and look around and try instead to take in what's immediately around me, rather than what's obsessing me inside my own head.

yavenay · 03-22-2016, 05:07 AM

I have always used walking as a way to meditate. I love my walks with Duchess because it is a time of reflection for me. I love watching her joy at the simple things like chasing a leaf or barking at other dogs.

My favorite walks though are when we go hiking through the woods. Duchess is like a kid in a candy store.

Cherie6446 · 03-22-2016, 07:02 AM

I just saw a piece on tv yesterday about how a surgeon and his staff use mindfulness before surgery. They all closed their eyes and relaxed before starting. They said it really helped the stress of their work. You live in a lovely area.

mimimomo · 03-22-2016, 09:11 AM

The pic is BEAUTIFUL!

When I walk my Yorkies, that's when my head is @ it's clearest. Love it, get to do it 2 x's a day, everyday. Peaceful bliss.

Jkpal · 03-22-2016, 09:37 AM

I work graveyard, stand for 8 hr/night; quite often at the end of a shift, not only am I tired physically, but mentally as well--and my head and feet hurt and I'm just blahhhh. Upon getting home, instead of collapsing (as I used to do), Piper graciously allows me a 20 minute decompression period, after which it's off to the races (that terrier trot is unceasing, unflagging and unbelievably quick, yes?!). There's never been a time that I haven't felt better, in fact, just fine, at the completion of our 20-30 minute walk. Who knew such a little Yorkie package would be filled with so many, priceless gifts?!

03-21-2016, 04:57 PM	#1
Jellymint Senior Yorkie Talker Join Date: Feb 2016 Location: surrey, bc, canada Posts: 117	Dog walking - spiritual practice - who knew! I recently took a course on mindfulness meditation and deepened my understanding of mindfulness and how to practice being more present in the present. (oooo I said "present" 2x!!) Focus. Right!! I live in suburbia (how did that happen? Le sigh...) I have access to Green Timbers Urban Forest Green Timbers Urban Forest \| City of Surrey which is a 5-10 min drive from where I live. Monty and I have been going there pretty steady for a week now. It is gorgeous and not too busy with other humans yet. It's still pretty rainy here but we like the rain!! And I like the solitude!! Monty loves it. So many smells. Bounce bounce bounce!! He is getting really good at hurtling top speed and stopping or at least slowing before he reaches the end of the the 26' leash. He definitely gets good exercise and mental stimulation on these walks. When I started learning his language and becoming more familiar with his world, I would run up to a lot of different things he found fascinating, bend over and exclaim "what is it? What did you find? is it yummy?" and I would pet him and touch whatever he was sniffing as my way of sharing his excitement. I did have a thought at one point about what other people would think and then thought. shrug... perhaps the message that there is more to this world than we experience comes through. We were on a walk the other day. I was in my head. It's busy in there sometimes lol. Very busy. I was all caught up with worry and fortune telling and making movies that I was missing the healing purposes of these walks and missing out on the cuteness that is Monty. As soon as I caught it I stopped walking and took a breath and looked around. Monty found a prickle vine and was all busy trying to figure out how to pee on it without pricking his lil prick. Hahaha it was so comical. And then I looked around and took in the fading daylight - it was moving into dusk. Took a nice cleansing breath and closed my eyes to the heavens as I did feeling the stress flow down my body to the ground. I opened my eyes and looked across the tiny lake and there was an eagle soaring lazily in the sky! I had never seen an eagle in this part of suburbia! I was shocked and so very pleased. I watched as he landed in a tree on the other side of that lake. Had I not stopped and cleared my mind, I would have missed it. I thank my Monty for the gift of "forced" practice mindfulness. I look forward to my walks with him each day. I love that I am slowly gaining skill in learning how to let my mind relax and empty for a moment and experience the wonder of being a spirit having a human experience. It helps me remember what is important. Think I am going to go walking there now .... Pfft to the housework stuff I am currently doing. Nod nod Last edited by Jellymint; 03-21-2016 at 04:59 PM. Reason: Prioritizing life .... yep.

03-22-2016, 04:06 AM	#3
Wylie's Mom Furbutts = LOVE Donating Member Moderator Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Phoenix, AZ Posts: 35,889 Blog Entries: 2	LOVE this post...and I so agree with you. I walk my own dogs - plus I walk the shelter dogs twice a week...and I always find myself inside my head, ruminating about whatever...so I bring myself back and look around and try instead to take in what's immediately around me, rather than what's obsessing me inside my own head. __________________ ~ A friend told me I was delusional. I nearly fell off my unicorn. ~ °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨° Ann \| Pfeiffer \| Marcel Verdel Purcell \| Wylie \| Artie °¨¨¨°ºOº°¨¨¨°

03-22-2016, 07:02 AM	#5
Cherie6446 YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: SoCA Posts: 1,895	I just saw a piece on tv yesterday about how a surgeon and his staff use mindfulness before surgery. They all closed their eyes and relaxed before starting. They said it really helped the stress of their work. You live in a lovely area. __________________ RIP my darling little Gina

03-22-2016, 09:11 AM	#6
mimimomo Don't Litter Spay&Neuter Donating Member Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: So Cal Posts: 9,874	The pic is BEAUTIFUL! When I walk my Yorkies, that's when my head is @ it's clearest. Love it, get to do it 2 x's a day, everyday. Peaceful bliss. __________________ Jenny Mimi Momo Princess Turbo Madan Pin Brush: www.toplinepet.com

03-21-2016, 10:26 PM	#2
teasell YT Addict Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cherryville, North Carolina, US Posts: 371	I'm going to have to try that with my Teasell. I KNOW SHE WOULD LOVE to walk through a forest. Wonder how far my old bones will let me roam....Lynn

03-22-2016, 05:07 AM	#4
yavenay Donating YT 1000 Club Member Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Delaware Posts: 2,663	I have always used walking as a way to meditate. I love my walks with Duchess because it is a time of reflection for me. I love watching her joy at the simple things like chasing a leaf or barking at other dogs. My favorite walks though are when we go hiking through the woods. Duchess is like a kid in a candy store.

03-22-2016, 09:37 AM	#7
Jkpal YT 2000 Club Member Join Date: Sep 2014 Location: Lake Geneva, WI Posts: 2,776	I work graveyard, stand for 8 hr/night; quite often at the end of a shift, not only am I tired physically, but mentally as well--and my head and feet hurt and I'm just blahhhh. Upon getting home, instead of collapsing (as I used to do), Piper graciously allows me a 20 minute decompression period, after which it's off to the races (that terrier trot is unceasing, unflagging and unbelievably quick, yes?!). There's never been a time that I haven't felt better, in fact, just fine, at the completion of our 20-30 minute walk. Who knew such a little Yorkie package would be filled with so many, priceless gifts?!