In our daily job as veterinarians, technicians, practice managers... conflict situations may arrive from various sources: pet owners, clients, co-workers, employees, dealers, and in addition … as professionals, if we are also present in social media, we will always be under constant public scrutiny. Feeling in constant conflict and tension at work is a utterly important issue and you should actively work on it. In the meantime yoga can help to refocus.

To cope with loss and all the though emotions related, maybe you should allow yourself to feel vulnerable sometimes, acknowledging the full event, but letting it go as something that isn’t yours anymore and that happened outside of you as an experience, in which you were involved in. Before you start, we would suggest you choose a place with a warm natural light and as quiet as possible. After every patient death experience you should really try to go outside the clinic for a few instants, breathing consciously …

Now, as you wash your face and take your cap off, you can finally care about something else. Until now, it was all about the litter you had just delivered at the lunchtime emergency C-section, preceded by an entire surgery morning, so take and appreciate this moment to think about yourself. Standing in incorrect positions for a long time, carrying anesthetized patients’ weight, sustained body tension…can cause numbness and tightness in some specific muscles and, in the long term, could lead to more severe injuries. Look for a room with dim light (X-ray or ultrasound room may fit!) and close your eyes for a bit. If you’re still feeling rushed, start by doing the exercises in “Consultations Mode” to slow down. Your body may feel heavy; look for a comfortable chair to sit in. It is also lovely to go outside for a minute and get some fresh air, feel the sunlight on your face for a few moments, and don’t forget to hydrate yourself and eat proper meals.

This is a 6-minute series that focuses on slowing down your breathing and decompressing postures. You only need a chair and guess what? … A dog leash! We recommend learning the entire series, but you will most probably have to perform every exercise separately during a one-to-two-minute break between your patients. Go!