Be Well With Horses

For the first few years I had my horses, I learned a lot about their natural habits. In many aspects of their lives there is a natural rhythm. I notice that they love to nap at a certain time of day, and that they shed or grow their coats at a certain time of year. All living organisms experience these natural rhythms in response to the cycle of light and dark and to the 4 seasons. They are called circadian rhythms or the biological clock. These rhythms influence many of our biological functions. Natural rhythm is also in the beat of our breath and heartbeat, a simple one – two rhythm.  Keeping time with the rhythm keeps us alive and well.

When I am working on my partnership with my horses on the ground and in the saddle I pay close attention to and move with their movements, their gaits, and my own movements and body position. When I move in time with them, whatever we are doing seems to flow much easier. We are relaxed and connected. It is the same feeling I get when watching a group of horses move in rhythm. There is a natural beat. There is ease and grace in all horses’ gaits. And when they all move together, they flow as a unit, synchronized and without effort. If I watch long enough, I relax and feel connected to their movement. Their rhythm captivates and entices me.

Health and Wellness in Your Body’s Natural Circadian Rhythms

Keeping time with your natural rhythm or biological clock is an important step in creating health and wellness. These natural rhythms affect how and when we sleep, how and when hormones are released, our body’s temperature, our digestive system and much more.

If we are in sync with our circadian rhythms and move with our body, we connect with our body and are able to allow its natural functions. We move through the day easier. We are to our bodies like a herd of horses moving together in time with ease and grace.

Learn About Circadian Rhythms

Click here for the Circadian Rhythms Fact Sheet

Study The Chart

Circadian Rhythms: Our biological clock

Now Take The Quiz

Click here to take the circadian rhythms quiz

Where Can You Start To Keep Time With Your Body?

As you can see from the circadian rhythms chart, most of our body’s functions respond to the cycle of light and dark. One of the most common effects is the effect on our sleep cycle. You can begin to keep time with your body’s natural cycle by connecting with your sleep cycle.

• First determine if you are a morning or an evening person. Click here to take the Daily Circadian Rhythms Test
  

• Plan your day to allow for your dips and rise in energy. Do your best to  time your high and low activities in sync with your natural rhythm.
• Create a routine and be consistent with bedtime and rising time
• Honor what feels natural and what feels good

As you start to plan your day in time with your natural rhythm, you will begin to feel connected to your own body and its natural cycle. You will sleep better, feel relaxed, have more energy, and be more effective through the day.

Four talented Norwegian Women,  Maria, Marte, Victoria and Ane known as ‘mmva007′ on youtube,  created this video of horses moving in rhythm. Watch and experience the horses’ gaits and their ease and grace as they move in rhythm and in sync. Watch how captivating natural rhythm can be.

Resources For Circadian Rhythms and the Sleep Cycle

American Academy of Sleep Medicine

• Click here for the American Academy of Sleep Medicine and information and resources about sleep medicine

• Click here for information, videos, and brochures about the significance of sleep and your sleep cycles.  Sleepeducation.com

Canadian Sleep Society

• Click here for the Canadian Sleep Society and information, brochures, videos and common questions and answers about sleep.
  

Foster, R. & Kreitzman, L. (2005). Rhythms of Life:  The Biological Clocks that Control the Daily Lives of Every Living Thing.

• In this book, the authors offer you a comprehensive discussion about circadian rhythms and the role they play in our lives. They review common problems we have with these cycles and the harmful impact our 24/7 lifestyle has on our natural body rhythms.  Click here to view or purchase the book
  

Health in a 24 Hour Society

• This is a research article published in 2001 in Lancet, a prestigious medical journal. The authors describe the harmful effects that a 24/7 lifestyle has on our health and our economy  Click here to access the research article.
  

Happy Healthy Trails

Vicki