Rolling through Southern Ontario, on the train to Toronto. Enjoying the chance to relax and write as I travel to my final destination. I’m heading up to Toronto for my annual veterinary conference. It’s been a tradition for almost 19 years now and I look forward to it every time.
What’s different this year is the focus on wellness for veterinarians in their personal lives. This has been an area of interest for the profession, especially of late. The 2016 Ontario Veterinary Medical Association Conference is providing opportunities for mindfulness meditation at lunch time, along with morning and evening yoga sessions. Merial Animal Health is sponsoring the event by creating a “Zen Zone” room where you can relax in a quiet space, giving away free mats to those who pre-registered for yoga, providing comfy couches for lounging and refreshment with lemon/cucumber-infused water. How’s that for supporting wellness while we learn? Awesome!
It’ll be the third year in which mindfulness meditation is offered at the conference and I’m grateful for the momentum that’s building. There’s a theory stating it takes 100 monkeys to jump on board before the creation of a broader awareness leading to popularization of a new behaviour. The first year, timing and advertising was limited and turnout was not as I hoped. Last year, there were quite a few interested in the short, 15 minute sitting sessions. This year, the meditation sessions will be a part of the “Zen Zone” event (thanks Patty!). I encourage those who want to explore a short, breath-centered practice while sitting in a chair . (If you’re at the OVMA, check out Twitter and use #ovma2016 for a daily reminder.)
For the first time, yoga is formally part of the conference program. A colleague in veterinary industry is teaching the morning sessions, which are great to wake up the body and mind before a day of lectures. I’m looking forward to attending her class. The evening yoga is where I’m teaching a 30 minute Restorative practice, to help people wind down before going home. As a type-A personality with an introvert tendency, I have learned how to go-go-go. Eventually, there comes a point in time where I have to be quiet and reconnect to myself. Restorative yoga allows me to practice my relaxation skills. Everything gets better with repetition and relaxation can be learned.
A veterinarian’s work is about helping animals and their owners, with additional responsibilities if you specialize in large animals, academia, industry or public health. Veterinarians are taught “how-to-do” these things with great skill and efficiency. But along with that, we need to be taught how to rest our minds and bodies. In this way, we sustain ourselves and the profession.
