Camelid Calm
Animal Assisted Interventions
At Hideaway Wood Farm we facilitate animal experiences and encounters for enjoyment, wellbeing and healing.
We work in a holistic and multi-disciplinary way with our alpacas to offer Animal Assisted Activities (AAA) and Animal Assisted Interventions (AAI).
Animal Assisted Activities are activities with the alpacas they provide motivational, educational and/or recreational benefits to enhance quality of life. At Hideaway Wood Farm these are our ‘Being with the Alpacas’ mindfulness sessions, Home Ed days, Family Farm Day alpaca encounters and Alpaca Trekking experiences.
Animal-Assisted Interventions are more structured and objectives focused interventions that intentionally incorporate the alpacas for the purpose of therapeutic gains and improved health and wellness.
At Hideaway Wood Farm this is our Camelid Calm offering that seeks to combine the therapeutic (not therapy) benefits of spending time with the alpacas with mindfulness and nature connection techniques as well as offering opportunities for skills acquisition in terms of alpaca care, husbandry, behaviour, handling, haltering, leading and the many physical, mental, emotional and spiritual benefits that arise from learning about and spending time with the alpacas in this way.
About Camelid Calm
The therapeutic benefits of spending time in the company of alpacas are becoming more widely known as more and more people are experiencing first-hand the deeply calming effects of their presence.
Calming Effects
It is this calming effect that forms the basis of our Camelid Calm AAI offering. A unique approach that combines mindfulness techniques with the gentle and respectful handling approach for these beautiful South American Camelids known as CameliDynamics.
Natural State of Presence
The program begins by exploring mindfulness and nature connection with the alpacas out in their paddock to develop skills to become more present, regulated and attuned to our environments including the behaviours and interactions of the alpacas. This tends to happen quite naturally without us needing to do or say anything at all. The alpacas have a way of inviting us into our natural human state of calm presence.
Co-Regulation
Alpacas are gentle, calm and curious creatures making them a supportive and soothing accompaniment to time spent in their paddock simply being and observing.
When we spend time with the alpacas in their home environment we naturally become more regulated as we co-create a state of calm presence. Their peaceful grazing and quiet presence can support us to become more relaxed and present, in turn allowing the alpacas to feel more at ease with us.
Making Connections
As we tune into the subtleties of the alpacas’ behaviours through quiet observations it often allows for deeper connections with these beautiful animals and a reconnection (and sometimes deeper connection) with ourselves.
This aspect of the program combines the well-studied beneficial effects of nature and spending time with animals with the proven benefits of being present (sometimes referred to as mindfulness).
Safety and the Intuition of Alpacas
We have found the presence of the alpacas and the outdoors environment makes the invitation to observe and connect with the alpacas more accessible to those who usually find self-regulation, impulse control and present moment awareness challenging in other environments and settings.
We have also found that taking time to sit in the paddocks helps the alpacas to develop a feeling of safety in our presence which can lead to profound up-close interactions with participants which, due to their timid nature, would not be possible if they were directly approached. The alpacas are also very intuitive and often approach those who need regulation and calm.
Meaning Making
Each week alongside our sitting sessions we introduce the alpacas by name and personality, giving their stories and adding potential for meaning making and connection. We find this allows participants a deeper bond to the alpacas and makes the sessions more interesting.
Skills Acquisition
We also share information about alpacas, their history, alpaca husbandry, natural alpaca care, alpaca behaviour and the best ways to approach and interact with them.
We build towards developing the skills and confidence to able to approach, greet, handle, halter and eventually even lead the alpacas using a gentle and respectful handling approach known as CameliDynamics.
Why Alpacas?
We know that animals can be incredibly beneficial to our health and wellbeing and supportive and soothing in a therapeutic setting but why specifically alpacas?
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Alpacas are highly attuned to their environments, timid, shy and intolerant of indiscriminate touch. Unlike a dog running towards us, alpacas will often retreat if we try to reach out in an unexpected way. Alpacas therefore invite us to be calm, gentle and considered. We must be fully present to both our and their body language and behaviour if we are to experience a positive and meaningful encounter.
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We must work hard on our own sense of regulation if we are to find ourselves in their proximity and this makes any up-close encounters we may have incredibly meaningful and rewarding.
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Alpacas do not understand or use verbal language which means that in order to relate to them we must remember how to interact with them using our body language and energy.
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Alpaca body language is subtle and unique, requiring presence, concentration and focus to learn and understand.
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Alpacas are direct and non-judgmental, they offer clear boundaries, honest communications and a safe and accepting presence which can be incredibly beneficial.
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Alpacas have a rich cultural heritage, holding both a spiritual and meaningful significance in Andean culture as well as a practical everyday function.
Objectives
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Acquisition of mindfulness techniques through time spent in a natural state of present moment awareness
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Skills acquisition in terms of alpaca behaviour, care, handling and leading
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Building awareness of self through the self-enquiry that often naturally arises from learning more about the alpacas, their personal stories and how they as individuals like to be treated
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Development of the self-control, self-regulation and self-awareness required to work with the alpacas and the self-esteem and self-trust that can arise from such positive interactions
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Increasing focus and concentration when in proximity of the animals and learning how to approach and/or handle, halter and lead
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Increasing empathy and connection with the animals
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Developing connection with self, others and the alpacas
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A relief from stress and anxiety that often accompanies spending time in nature and being in the presence of animals
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An uplift in mood that often follows time spent in nature and in proximity of animals
Facilitators
Our Animal Assisted Interventions and Land Based Care Farm activities are run by Amy and Carly.
