Equine Guided Mindfulness & Meditation Program (EGMM)
Brady’s EGMM Program helps clients focus on the present situations and dismiss distractions. Research shows that students who practice mindfulness exercises often improve their attention, grades, behavior, mood and ability to self-regulate. Mindfulness programs similar to EGMM are being used in most California K-12 schools on a daily basis. They have proven so impactful that schools now pay to have their teachers trained how to lead mindfulness programs in their classrooms.
Practicing mindfulness strategies together with equines in particular makes the practice more accessible to beginner students because equines are naturally present and non-judgmental. Equines are very intuitive and reflect back the emotions of their handlers. By working in direct proximity alongside the equines, participants of the EGMM can take advantage of the equines’ inherent mindfulness.
During EGMM sessions, participants sit or stand alongside the equines as volunteers and staff lead a series of mindful activities and lessons that increase self confidence, improve communication, and foster problem solving. Clients of any age or ability can work with either our smaller ponies or full size horses to benefit from this program, because this program does not require any riding or mounting on equines.
EGMM builds self-awareness and strengthens relationships with others, with the ultimate goal of making smart choices even when emotionally triggered. Members of all our programs - from the systems impacted youth to the adult volunteers to children with disabilities —have all greatly benefited from the EGMM practices and sessions.
Brady Therapeutic Riding hopes to further expand the EGMM program to offer corporate team building opportunities in the future.
