Turn Everyday Moments Into Deeper Connection #167

In this episode, Mary shares how a simple rest break with her dog Tony became an opportunity for just a few minutes of Debono Moves, and why those few minutes can matter far beyond the time you spend doing them.

You’ll discover how everyday opportunities, from grooming your horse to relaxing on the couch with your dog, can help you develop greater awareness, clearer two-way communication, and deeper connection.

Because Debono Moves doesn’t have to be something separate that you finally get around to when you have enough time. It can enhance the way you and your horse or dog listen to and interact with each other every day.

Resources:

Grab your FREE video training to help your dog. 🐕 https://www.marydebono.com/lovedog 💥

Get Mary’s bestselling, award-winning book, “Grow Young with Your Dog,” for a super low price at: https://tinyurl.com/growyoungwithyourdog. Demonstration videos are included at no extra cost. ⬅️⬅️⬅️

💥Learn how the Feldenkrais MethodⓇ can help improve your seat, position, and balance on your horse! Free rider videos masterclass: https://www.marydebono.com/rider 💥

All information is for general educational purposes ONLY and does not constitute medical, veterinary, or training advice. Please consult a qualified healthcare provider if you, your horse, or dog are unwell or injured.  Always use caution when interacting with horses and dogs.

About the Host:

Mary Debono is a pioneer in animal and human wellness, blending her expertise as an international clinician, best-selling author, and certified Feldenkrais Method® practitioner. With over three decades of experience, Mary developed Debono Moves, a groundbreaking approach that enhances the performance, well-being, and partnership of animals and their humans.

Mary's innovative approach draws from the Feldenkrais Method®, tailored specifically for horse and dog enthusiasts.  Her methods have helped animals and humans:

• Improve athletic ability and performance
• Enhance confidence and reduce anxiety
• Reduce physical limitations and discomfort
• Deepen the human-animal bond

Mary's flagship online programs, "Move with Your Horse" and "Easier Movement, Happier Dogs," provide animal enthusiasts with an innovative approach that combines the concepts of Feldenkrais® with her signature hands-on work for horses and dogs (Debono Moves). Through this transformative approach, both people and their animal companions discover greater harmony, ease, and connection.

TRANSCRIPT:

Early this morning, my dog Tony and I were on a hike around the lake and at some point we stopped and took a little rest break. Tony is kind of a chill dog. He loves resting and, you know, lying down on picnic tables. I know it's a thing. It's a thing he has. So a lot of my pictures of Tony, he's lying down on a picnic table. But anyway, point is, I took that as an opportunity to do just a few minutes of De Bono moves.

The gentle hands on work that I teach a did that with him. Now it got me thinking because I thought I often get comments from people that they say, you know, I would love to do De Bono moves more with my dog or my horse, but I just can't seem to find the time because they think that they need 45 minutes or an hour or so and have a, you know, a thought out strategy before they do it.

And that's not the case at all. You, your dog or your horse can get huge value from even a few minutes of doing the Bono moves. So you take the opportunities when they're presented to you. For example, you might be grooming your horse or tacking up your horse so you do some De Bono moves at that time. It's a perfect opportunity to do it because it also prepares your horse to have a more comfortable ride with you.

It physically and emotionally prepares them, right? Sit with your dog. Maybe you're grooming your dog or you're resting comfortably on the couch. Together, you take those opportunities to do some De Bono moves, right? As long as you can put your full attention on your animal, it can be a good opportunity to do it. And it takes the pressure off of you. You don't have to have this big plan.

You see where your curiosity leads you. So maybe have my book grow young with your dog. There's a whole bunch of De Bono moves there that are explained. There's photos, there's videos that accompany it. Or you've taken my training programs with the horses or a training program with the dogs or, or the free videos with the dogs and you do what you've learned, just even one or two moves and start to set that stage for listening to each other, opening those channels of communication, helping them become clearer.

The beauty of this is that this translates then into all your interactions. It's not that this is like a separate thing that you do, oh, maybe once a month when I have time. No, no, no. This actually can elevate every interaction you have with your horse or your dog. It can change what you feel when you interact with them, it can change what you notice about them, because you're training your brain to pay more attention to your animal and for them to pay more attention to you, to really have clearer communication between the two of you.

So just wanted to put that out there for you, because even a few minutes of De Bono moves can influence much more than just those few minutes. Now, I want to really emphasize this point. The longer sessions are extremely valuable. So I'm not saying that the shorter sessions are equal to longer ones done by a skilled practitioner. I'm not saying that. But what I'm saying is that the shorter sessions can be valuable, too.

They're different, but they can also be valuable. And, you know, when you really learn to tune into each other, when you lower the barrier to doing De Bono moves, that awareness, that communication and that connection can carry over into everything you do with your horse or your dog. So I hope this gives you some inspiration, some motivation, and just start doing some debono moves with your horse or your dog and let me know how it goes.

Thank you so much for listening. I look forward to sharing with you again in the next episode. Bye for now.