Canyon Ranch (Massachusetts)
They're beautiful, lovable, fun, entertaining, and always happy to see you. More than 60 percent of American households include pets, and, as most pet owners instinctively know, animal companions offer more than just company: Pets also help reduce stress. In hectic times and through everyday challenges, they provide affection, loyalty, diversion and relaxation.
The physical perks of having pets are well documented, from lowering blood pressure to reducing the risk of heart disease. In fact, pets might actually help prolong your life. A study published in the American Journal of Cardiology found that dog ownership increased the likelihood of survival after heart attack. As for quality of life, a study of Medicare patients found that dog owners had 21 percent fewer physician visits than people who didn't have dogs.
Feeling good all over
Animals also help boost physical activity and improve emotional states of mind. On days when you may be less motivated and want to skip your walk or run, your dog only has to wag his tail to encourage you to get going.
Equally important are the stability and emotional warmth that domestic critters bring to your world.
They bring you back to a place of caring. When you invest in them, you reap a reward in return. The more you put in, the more you get back - that's not always the way it is with humans. And it's a benefit you can enjoy throughout life. Research has shown that seniors who own pets are more active and less likely to experience depression than those who don't.
No pretensions
They don't care where you went to college or what clothes you wear. And they're without ambition to be something different than they are. A dog or cat or horse is completely committed to being what it is.
Just being around these creatures tends to make people more content with themselves. Indeed, interaction with pets is often less stressful than socialization with other people, because animals are perceived as nonjudgmental.
Pet wisdom
Other important lessons that our four-legged friends can teach us:
Stretch. Animals are continually stretching - following a nap, after lying down, when they want their stomachs scratched. They remind us, by example, that we need to stretch out and open ourselves up.
Go for the gusto. Animals enjoy routine activities - eating, running and playing - with enthusiasm. Nobody is more "in the moment" than a happy dog or cat.
Recognize the healing power of touch. The concept of pet therapy is becoming more mainstream. Therapy dogs are routinely brought into hospital wards to brighten patients' days. The comfort of touch is a big part of what animals offer people. Most communication between animals of all kinds is nonverbal, and touch is the most intense form of nonverbal connection. People are free to reach out to animals and connect with them in an innocent but intimate way that is usually not possible with other people.
Get petted
For some people, a pet can be a reason to get up in the morning. That friendly, constant 'other' helps us refocus our attention from the negative things in life.
Pets are a never-failing source of affection, they're great company and love to play or simply hang out with you. So, whether you're exploring options in stress management, need a friend, or wish you could recapture the joy of living in the moment, a pet may be the most animated - and rewarding - solution.
http://destinationspavacations.com/members/canyon_l/f
(800) 742-9000
(413) 637-4100
