"Most evenings, the moment I roll out my yoga mat, my pup Bond (James Bond) comes trotting over as if summoned by M herself. He joins me in my practice by lying between my body parts in poses, giving my face timely licks, or simply lying close with a part of him on my mat. I've started to wonder if he senses something in me during yoga: a calm breath, a grounded body, or a specific energy."
"For years, I assumed moments like this were purely emotional comfort. I thought they were what they were because of my love for Bond and animals in general. But new research suggests there may be something more structured woven into these interactions. Apparently, we can experience a kind of biological attunement in which human and animal fall into similar rhythms. Our bodies quite literally "come down" together."
Animals help humans slow down, breathe, and reconnect with the present through calm, affectionate interactions. Shared presence between humans and animals can attune bodies and minds into similar rhythms, producing co-regulation. Calm activities such as petting, resting, walking, and grooming can align heart-rate variability, breathing patterns, and stress responses in both species. Observations of family dogs, therapy horses, and other companion animals document such physiological alignment. Practicing yoga or other quiet activities with a companion animal can invite the animal to seek proximity to calm breath and a grounded body. Biological attunement can be cultivated to support emotional and physiological regulation.
Read at Psychology Today
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