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Saturday, May 7, 2011
My love for animals
My love and passion for animals - Can I tell you how it all started back in the 1980's?
A darling Pomeranian puppy was given to me for my 30th birthday. I named him Tiamo. I wanted him to know "I love you" every time I said his name even though it was in Italian. He taught me how to love and adore animals. Even though I had adopted 2 cats a few years earlier, Tiamo was the 7 pound wonder that opened my heart.
I learned what it meant to be responsible for a Pet; the "parental" duties it took to be an awesome pet owner. The unconditional love I experienced was priceless. My heart grew bigger and bigger for dogs, cats, all pets! I started to notice animals on many levels. I even started to follow a vegetarian diet, which lead to a vegan diet....all because I couldn't eat animals because I connected with them in my heart. (**in recent years I integrated more animal protein into my diet).
Unfortunately, I needed to help Tiamo pass on when he was only 13 years old. That is on the younger side for a small dog. He had a collagen disease which compromised his cartilage; this made him age faster than normal. His body started to 'give out'. It inspired me to pay attention to the health of mine and other people's pets. Especially what was in the food they ate. Animals need our pure attention. I learned we all need to educate ourselves the best we can.
I still had my two cats and another pom (that we adopted from a Pomeranian rescue). Time moved forward and I noticed I became very involved in the animal world. Dog sitting, dog walking, rescuing, helping animals find a home, learning about better foods, how corn and other fillers were put into pet food, etc.
My caring and compassion is for all living things became more and more apparent.
I have been working massage and bodywork, since 1983. These (massage and animals) two passions seemed to weave in and out of each other. I noticed that people started to rely on me for "answers" or connecting them and building community for animals. The Holistic care of humans and animals seemed to compliment one another.
Communities started to see me as an animal activist in the early 2000's. This surprised me but I gladly opened up to it. I was just doing what was in my heart for these sweet creatures that couldn't speak up for themselves. Teaching and working in my massage and bodywork practice, I also started to personally develop a conscious touch for animals, namely dogs and cats. I thought, if I can do it with humans, why not the animals? Animals are actually less resistant and more open to the energy exchange.
Now in 2011, my partner and I have a Golden Retriever/Labrador mix who is 16 years old and a Chocolate Labrador who is 6 years old; both rescues. We adopted Moki, the Golden, when she was 7ish. That is a story for another time. Kona, the Chocolate Lab was about 6 weeks old when we rescued her from a family that couldn't keep her. We have given both of them a very loving FOREVER home. They are part of our family and consider them in all that we do.
In the past year I decided it was time for me to get out in the world more with Pets, their people and the animal world. In 2008, my partner and I moved to Southern California and needed a support team for our dogs and us. Being in Earthquake territory and not always being at home with them through out the day, we developed a PET EMERGENCY TEAM in our neighborhood, which has now expanded to the track of homes we live in Long Beach, Ca.
We are still building and creating this. Check it out.
http://www.edpehoa.org/neighborhood-pet-team.html
Announcing and Recently created, www.MyPetfirst.com there is a an offer you can follow this Pet Emergency plan for your family. Only $1.00!!! There are ideas and suggestions on how you can start one in your community. We all have un-foreseen crisis that spring up and it is wise to have a plan. Do you have a plan in order? I encourage you to do this today. We have a plastic container with extra dog food, blankets, water, water bowls, treats and meds.
Did you know that CORN and other fillers can affect your animal's skin and coat? Does your dog have allergy, skin or coat issues? Check the ingredients. Try a NO-GRAIN food. It will most likely vanish. My vet had my 1 year old, Kona, on antibiotics three different times in one year! I changed her food and the skin problem disappeared and her need for meds. Check your food and know what ingredients are in the product.
Dogs and cats are highly allergic to corn and other grain filler in commercial foods. Many Pet foods bulk it up with starchy fillers. A protein filler can be chicken beaks, chicken wings, bones, etc. Not the actual meat of the animal stated in the food. Liver is ok...as long as they are organic. If you see "animal digest" on the label as part of the ingredients, beware. This can mean there are rendered "diseased or dead" animals in there. Dead of course, but meaning that they could be pets that have been euthanized at the shelter.
My love for animals deepens every day. I help people all over the country to feel more connected to their animals, educate about Pets and even help with finding forever homes for them. A woman all the way across the continent, in CT, wrote and asked me what she could do about people dropping unwanted cats at the their barn. I gave her some suggestions that inspired her and, yes, she found them homes. That is a great feeling to be able to inspire, help people and find solutions.
Please check out the pet food that we confidently represent...it gets delivered to your door and it was formulated by Dr. Jane Bicks, a Holistic Vet.
www.lifesabundance.com/MyPetFirstTuesday, April 26, 2011
Massage for your pet
People love touch and animals love touch. Touch is healing. Massage can help an animal in pain or just pure comfort. It has been researched that premature babies or any baby for that matter, grow at a faster rate with touch.
Animals have a need for touch. If their tummy is upset they will most likely roll over and expose their underside to you. They will soften under your hands and respond to the energy. Trust is developed through one’s touch.
When you touch your animal, be present. Being mindful is key. Your intent in your touch is also very important. Think and feel about the energy coming from your heart down your arms and into your hands. Project that energy out past your hands into their body and touching their heart. You will see the affects happening right under your touch. You can be still and light as a feather or apply a little more pressure. Watch the animals reaction to see what pressure of touch they respond to. Think about being a conduit for the energy and love passing from you to the animal. Take your time and connect.
Dogs, horses and cats love the area over their hearts massaged. They also love the area on top of their head between their ears rubbed in small circles. Many times a dog will moan with pleasure. Cats may start to purr and get a pleasurable look in their eyes. They will receive your touch and let you connect with them in a deeper way.
Linda Tellington-Jones developed the Tellington Touch for animals. Most people in the animal community are familiar with her work. Her grandfather taught her horse massage. The modality she teaches through Tellington-Touch has 20-plus hand positions combined with varying tempos, techniques and pressure. “T-touch is a language beyond words that deepens the appreciation and connection between humans and their animal friends”, says Linda Tellington-Jones. She also talks about awakening humans to the benefits of touch through their connection with the animal and how it can be a sael-help technique to reduce their own anxiety, pain, stress and tensions.
Touch is healing for all of us. Regardless if it is a 3 minute session to an hour session with your pet, you both will benefit from the mindful touch.
Read more at http://www.MyPetFirst.com
Saturday, March 5, 2011
The healing power of pets
The Power of Pets
Facilitating Healing on All Levels
By Shirley Vanderbilt
Originally published in Body Sense magazine, Spring/Summer 2004.
Copyright 2004. Associated Bodywork and Massage Professionals. All rights reserved.
Whether it's a wet lick on the face or a gentle brush to the leg, our pets are unabashedly open in displaying their love and affection for human owners. They could care less about our physical appearance or success in life. They are the ultimate love agents of nature -- always loyal, compassionate and unconditional in their attachment.
The animal-human bond is as old as time and for good reason. Pets bring us into the present moment, awakening our basic instinct to love and be loved, to connect at the spiritual level and to play with abandon. It's no wonder that pet therapy is steadily making its way into many healing practices, from hospitals to rehabilitation programs. A close relationship with the animal kingdom is good for our souls, but can also have some amazing effects on our bodies as well.
In this bustling, stressful modern world, scientific studies have found that just stroking a dog or cat can lower your blood pressure and heart rate, not to mention what it does for your pet. This calming influence leads us to a more balanced life, taking time for the intimate moments of sharing and caring. Especially for the elderly and those who live alone, caring for a pet provides a clear sense of purpose and a feeling of being needed. And for children, as well as some wayward adults, it enhances responsible behavior and a deep respect for other living things.
Touch is one of our most basic needs and without it our body and spirit suffer. Petting a dog or cat provides this essential stimulation to our largest organ, the skin, in much the same manner as the touch-based healing practices of massage and bodywork. It creates a similar flow of energy in which both the giver and receiver can benefit.
A Certain Friend
There is a peacefulness inherent to the rhythm of life in the animal kingdom. Watching the steady breathing of a sleeping dog, listening to the gentle purr of a cat or being mesmerized by the graceful swimming of fish in an aquarium brings us into that sacred space of attention to life at its most fundamental essence. In this state, worries and anxiety disappear, and for the moment, our own body and mind are entrained into this same calm balance.
According to Dr. Marty Becker, author of The Healing Power of Pets, "Part of the healing power of pets is their capacity to make the atmosphere safe for emotions, the spiritual side of healing." Attuned to our moods and needs, they allow us to express ourselves without fear of judgment and will remain faithfully by our side. It is this sixth sense of attunement and compassion in animals that makes them perfect partners in the healing process for people with disability or illness.
For example, horses used in riding therapy for physically-challenged children and adults show a special sensitivity to the fragility and needs of their riders. The movement of the horse works the body like physical therapy, while the accomplishment of riding skills instills self-confidence and a sense of worth in the rider. In animal-assisted therapy, children who have difficulty forming attachments because of abuse and neglect begin to learn the value of safe and comforting touch when they forge a bond with loyal four-legged creatures. Some nursing and rehabilitation centers have opened their doors to animal visitors, even permanently adopting cats and dogs to the delight and benefit of residents.
Pets also heal what ails us by inspiring us to get up and go. We know that exercise is one of the most important factors in maintaining good health. The benefits of daily walking have been well documented, from weight loss to overall improved physical functioning. Outdoor excursions with the family dog not only dispose us to a more active lifestyle but also increase our chances for socializing with other animal lovers.
Animal companionship is especially life-enhancing for seniors. In the midst of losing friends, life partners and physical abilities, the routine of feeding and caring for a pet keeps the mind alive and the body active, bringing a sense of normalcy to what many elders perceive as a declining life situation. In a similar manner, for those suffering from depression a pet serves as a good reason to get out of bed in the morning and focus on something positive. For children, having a pet is an important part of their development in learning respect, responsibility and love.
Quiet Lessons
The presence of a pet in the home enhances our lives in many ways. They lighten up our darkest moments and create an outlet for playful interaction. They teach us to be disciplined and mindful. They also have much to teach us about the cycle of life -- the exuberance of youth, the heart-warming rewards of a long-term relationship, and the acceptance of old age and death.
When choosing your special companion, consider what size and type of pet is best suited to your physical abilities and lifestyle as well as your home. Cost of care, potential allergies and time required to keep your pet healthy, happy and secure are all important factors in this decision. For those with physical limitations, a low maintenance pet such as a bird or fish can still provide the benefits of this close bonding with nature. Our beloved pets, whatever form they come in, serve as a symbol of our connection to the universe -- that common denominator of unconditional love.
Shirley Vanderbilt is a staff writer for Body Sense magazine.
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