Happy New Year!
I don’t know about you, but I am ready for life to slow down after a busy holiday season. It can be difficult to come down from the craziness of the holidays and settle back into a routine. Sometimes it feels like it can be difficult to even take a breath. That’s what I want to focus on today.
Reminding yourself to slow down and breathe is easier said than done. Sometimes giving yourself even five minutes is tough. This is where the horse comes in. The average resting rate of respiration for a horse is 8-12 breaths per minute compared to the adult human average of 12-20 breaths. If you feel like you need to take a breath before diving in to the new year, use the horse. If you have a horse, place your hands on the horse’s barrel and try to match your breath to his or hers. Deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth. Repeat this for 5 breaths and see how you feel.
If you don’t have a horse handy, try this on your own. Get in a comfortable position, place one hand on your belly and one hand on your chest. Breathe in through your nose and out through your mouth. Try counting to 5 on both the inhale and exhale. Do this for 5 breaths and see how you feel. Even without a horse in your life, you can still benefit from the lessons of the horse.
I hope you all had a great holiday season and are feeling more restful and ready for 2019!
Leave a comment below and let me know if you tried this and how you feel afterwards!
The Equine Impact 
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