Be Less Stressed With the Wisdom of Dogs and Cats
http://www.articlegrow.com/Be-Less-Stressed-With-the-Wisdom-of-Dogs-and-Cats/a7947_1
Sandy
By Sandy
Published on 01/25/2009
New scientific research is proving animals know a lot more than we give them credit for: They communicate and the ones in the wild are healthier than we are. Animals have senses that we humans shared at one point. Here's how you can reclaim them.
Be Less Stressed With the Wisdom of Dogs and Cats
Take a Catnap. It's not just for your cat - napping has been proven to boost our immunity. In fact, a NASA study found that sleeping for 20-30 minutes in the afternoon boosts mental performance by 34%. And a Harvard study found napping just three times a week slashes your risk of heart disease by 37%. No time for a nap? Close your eyes and relax for five minutes!
Communicate This way. Animals are experts at reading body language. Animals pick up on subtle clues in our facial expressions and gestures; dogs growl before biting and cats hiss before scratching. Just being more aware of a person's nonverbal communication can improve any relationship - such as noticing whether someone's arms are open and relaxed or closed and folded.
Use Your six Second People Reader. You know how a dog can sense whether you're a "dog person"? Just the way an animal can size you up instantly, it takes us only six seconds to form an opinion of a person! In a Tufts University study, students were shown six second videos of professors and asked to rate them. They gave the professors the same performance ratings as those who actually took their courses.
Wake up This way. Have you ever noticed that when your dog or cat wakes up, the first thing she does is stretch her entire body? In fact, pets stretch as many as 200 times a day! Studies show stretching your muscles results not just in lower stress, but also a lower risk of arthritis. And research shows stretching as soon as you wake up helps reduce stress hormones that spike in the morning. (That's one reason Tibetan monks also make it a regular practice.)
Greet Your "Person" at the Door. Don't you love how your dog or cat comes to the door to greet you after a hard day or can't wait to cuddle up with you on the couch? Seems logical that these habits can boost relationships between people! Follow their lead; greet each other at the door when you get home. Showing affection not only strengthens your relationship, but studies at the National Institutes of Health show it also prevents depression.
Do the "Downward dog". It's no surprise that many yoga poses are named after animal movements - cobra, lion's pose and cow pose. In fact, more than 5,000 years ago, people in India observed the natural movements of animals and imitated them to gain spiritual enlightenment. And a joint study of the Group Health Cooperative and the University of Washington has found that yoga can relieve back pain better than physical therapy.
To do the Downward dog: Starting on all fours, straighten your legs and "walk" your feet toward your head so your hips rise into the air. Straighten your shoulders so your body makes an upside down V. Hold for 30 seconds, breathing deeply. It'll strengthen your back muscles and clear your head.
Follow Your gut. Animals use their instincts to make decisions - and University of Amsterdam research shows following your instinct results in better, happier outcomes than using logic or writing down pros and cons. It turns out your subconscious mind is better at making complex decisions than your rational brain. So listen to what "feels" right when making a choice instead of logically thinking about it.
Did you Know? People who have pets live longer!
Communicate This way. Animals are experts at reading body language. Animals pick up on subtle clues in our facial expressions and gestures; dogs growl before biting and cats hiss before scratching. Just being more aware of a person's nonverbal communication can improve any relationship - such as noticing whether someone's arms are open and relaxed or closed and folded.
Use Your six Second People Reader. You know how a dog can sense whether you're a "dog person"? Just the way an animal can size you up instantly, it takes us only six seconds to form an opinion of a person! In a Tufts University study, students were shown six second videos of professors and asked to rate them. They gave the professors the same performance ratings as those who actually took their courses.
Wake up This way. Have you ever noticed that when your dog or cat wakes up, the first thing she does is stretch her entire body? In fact, pets stretch as many as 200 times a day! Studies show stretching your muscles results not just in lower stress, but also a lower risk of arthritis. And research shows stretching as soon as you wake up helps reduce stress hormones that spike in the morning. (That's one reason Tibetan monks also make it a regular practice.)
Greet Your "Person" at the Door. Don't you love how your dog or cat comes to the door to greet you after a hard day or can't wait to cuddle up with you on the couch? Seems logical that these habits can boost relationships between people! Follow their lead; greet each other at the door when you get home. Showing affection not only strengthens your relationship, but studies at the National Institutes of Health show it also prevents depression.
Do the "Downward dog". It's no surprise that many yoga poses are named after animal movements - cobra, lion's pose and cow pose. In fact, more than 5,000 years ago, people in India observed the natural movements of animals and imitated them to gain spiritual enlightenment. And a joint study of the Group Health Cooperative and the University of Washington has found that yoga can relieve back pain better than physical therapy.
To do the Downward dog: Starting on all fours, straighten your legs and "walk" your feet toward your head so your hips rise into the air. Straighten your shoulders so your body makes an upside down V. Hold for 30 seconds, breathing deeply. It'll strengthen your back muscles and clear your head.
Follow Your gut. Animals use their instincts to make decisions - and University of Amsterdam research shows following your instinct results in better, happier outcomes than using logic or writing down pros and cons. It turns out your subconscious mind is better at making complex decisions than your rational brain. So listen to what "feels" right when making a choice instead of logically thinking about it.
Did you Know? People who have pets live longer!