Have you ever thought of snuggling a farm animal to relieve stress? Well, if that has been your dream, there's no need to fret anymore as "cow cuddling" is now a thing, and it will help you unwind!
There's no denying the stress levels experienced by today's generation are far more than what was experienced by the earlier generations.
Unhealthy lifestyles, hectic schedules, a desire to achieve more in less time are some of the reasons for increasing our stress levels and gradually pushing us towards the condition of emotional exhaustion or fatigue.
To deal with such conditions, new trends have emerged in the wellness industry. The latest one, 'cow cuddling,' will cost you a few bills, but it's definitely worth it.
According to PubMed, spending time with animals lowers stress levels. The concept may be somewhat awkward for some people, but it's a brand new therapy that reminds us of similar, popular trends in the past—goat and cat yoga.
It isn't easy to do cow yoga, so the best option is to cuddle with them. It's not just cows, but other animals as well. Spending time with them provides healing, mindfulness, relaxation, and comfort, improving our confidence and assertiveness.
In New York, Mountain Horse Farm has a program that offers this therapy called the 'Horse & Cow Experience.' Here, people are given a chance to spend some unwinding time with animals.
Their program lets you pet, play or brush the animals. If you're not in the mood to pet or play, you can cuddle with these farm animals.
A 90-minute session costs $300. If you like the cuddling part, you can get a 60-minute session for $75. You can also invite your friends.
Their website states:
"Cows have a body temperature that is slightly higher than humans, and their heart rate is lower than ours. Cuddling up with a cow, feeling that lower heart rate and higher body temperature, is very relaxing."
Interacting with animals is one of the best ways to connect with nature and reduce stress. As reported by Mountain Horse Farms, cows and horses are sensitive and use body language to communicate.
The website explains:
"They will pick up on what's going on inside and sense if you are happy, sad, feel lost, anxious, or are excited. They will respond to that without judgment, ego, or agenda."
This new trend hasn't been without criticism, though.
According to animal behavior experts, cows are escape animals that aren't "designed" to cuddle with humans. Mountain Horse Farm explains that their cows are loved and well treated, and they live a normal life in herds as if they were in the wild.
