You Too Can Do DOGA

Hello~I'm so glad that you all enjoyed the video of me howling. Mommy thinks it's really funny. When she first brought me home, and was getting me used to my crate...I'd howl like that. It scared her at first since she had never heard a dog make a noise like that before.

Today mommy is going to show you all the Doga that we've been doing. (Dog Yoga) I know I know...it sounds silly, but it's really fun. Mommy wants to buy a book on it. Since we live in a small town in KS, there aren't any Doga Classes around here. So we had to teach ourselves. She has been watching K9 Karma on the Animal Planet. You should watch that show sometime. It's really good. I like watching it with mommy.
Mommy went to the K9 Karma website, and they had instructions and poses for Doga. So we started doing them. We've really been enjoying it.

Downward-Facing Dog (Adho Mukha Svanasana)This is the pose that started it all. Charlie and Kari began doing yoga together when Charlie would lie underneath Kari as she practiced at home. To start, sit on the floor; then, come onto your hands and knees, placing your knees directly below your hips and your hands slightly forward of your shoulders. Exhale and lift your knees away from the floor. Lift the sitting bones toward the ceiling. Push your top thighs back and stretch your heels onto or down toward the floor. Straighten your knees but don't lock them.

Cobbler's Pose (Baddha Konasana)Start by sitting on the floor, on your sitting bones. Bring the soles of the feet together, heels close in toward the groin. Sit up out of the lower back. Bring the dog inside your legs with its seat on the ground and lift up its front legs so the dog is supported with its back against your front. You can bring the dog's front paws into "prayer position," if your pup seems comfortable and willing.

Extended Side Angle (Utthita Parsvakonasana)Step your right foot forward with the dog on the inside of your right leg. Your left leg is back with toes turned in slightly. Bend the front knee and take the right forearm onto the dog while reaching the left arm up and over the left ear. Press into the back foot and keep the back leg straight. Turn the belly and chest and look up at the ceiling from underneath the left arm. Smaller dogs can be held with the left arm on the left side body or can rest on the right thigh.

Sleeping Visnu (Anantasana)Lying on your side with your hips stacked on top of each other, lift your top leg up and rotate your hip to grab your big toe or calf with the same hand. Stretch your leg up toward your head. (You may want to use a strap around the ball of your foot if you are unable to comfortably hold onto your big toe or calf.) More advanced is to grab your top leg with your bottom hand as shown in the photo. Your dog is on the inside, lying against you, and with your free hand you can give your furry friend a leg stretch as well.

Open Angle Forward Bend (Upavistha Konasana) Sit on your sitting bones; then, straddle the legs and lean forward. Do not force the movement.

Class photo Showing the upward-facing dog pose (Urdhva Mukha Svanasana). Notice the modifications for small dogs with one person on their knees. Take your hands under the dog's front legs so you are supporting their weight as you lift them up. Inhale on the way up. Exhale back to start.

Source for all pose pictures and instructions: http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/k9karma/photo/poses_12.html

Well, there ya have it. LOL I don't lay as still as Charlie does in the pictures. But I still have fun with Mommy while we do it. Be sure to consult you dr & vet before practicing any of the poses.

Here are instructions for giving your dog the world's best massage:

A Good Massage Is Relaxing for Pets and Owners
by Kari Harendorf

You love it, so why not treat your best friend to one as well? Massage is a fabulous way to connect to your animal and can become part of a daily ritual for both of you. It can also give you greater awareness of your animal and clue you in on any changes or developments in his or her body before they become serious health issues.

There are many different techniques of massage and because it is not a precise science, you can relax and be confident that you are doing Fido some good. Charlie and I do different massage techniques in class, but I also like to begin and end grooming sessions with massage so my dogs associate pleasure with teeth brushing and ear cleaning, too.

Where to Start
Begin massage at the head and neck area using the flat side of your hand in long sweeping strokes. This will signal to your animal the start of a session and will increase their circulation and body awareness. Work your hand all the way down the spine. You will be stimulating the longest meridian, or energy pathway, of the body. Massage along both sides of the neck, continuing between the shoulder blades and running on either side of the spine all the way down the hind legs and to the base of the tail. Don't forget to continue the massage all the way to the tip of the tail, which is the end of the spine.

Not Too Hard and Not Too Soft
Trust that your dog will tell you what he or she prefers. Usually if a touch is too hard, or they are sensitive in a certain area, the dog will move away from the touch. Respect what your dog is telling you and ease up, or perhaps now is not the time for your pet to be massaged. Conversely, you will know when a touch is too light and you may even experience your dog leaning into you to get more pressure in a certain area.

Ears are a wonderful place to massage on your dog as they have so many pressure points. You want to start at the base of the ear and work toward the tip. You can place the ear between your thumb and index finger and applying a gentle pressure, rub in small circular motions and then slide your fingers down an inch and repeat. This touch is very calming to dogs and I recommend performing it before doing anything that your dog may find anxiety provoking, such as a visit to the vet or traveling.

Pay attention to your own breath as you perform the massage and keep your inhalations and exhalations even, deep and rhythmic. You will also be absorbing the benefits of the massage by lowering your own blood pressure and heart rate.

Let Your Fingers Do the Talking
If your pet has specific physical ailments or behavioral problems, he or she may need more focused fingers. Acupressure is like acupuncture, but using fingers instead of needles. Pressure is applied on the skin's surface along acupoints that are part of the meridians, or energy pathways, along the animal's body. These points also correspond with specific organs and emotions. Acupressure can be the perfect treatment for certain musculoskeletal conditions because it regulates and directs, or redirects, energy flow in the body to help disperse pain and strengthen muscles, bones and organs.

One sweet spot that energizes most dogs is called "stomach 36" and is found on the outside of the back leg just below the knee in the belly of the muscle. You can stimulate this point with gentle pressure using the fingers.

By keeping the energy flowing and balanced, acupressure is also a great way to maintain good health and to prevent disease. Pet acupressure and massage benefit humans as much as animals. The intimate contact and exchange of energy between person and pet is a wonderful way to establish closeness and build trust. Both you and your animal will enjoy a greater sense of well-being and relaxation.

Source for the doggy massage instructions: http://animal.discovery.com/fansites/k9karma/massage/massage.html

Go check out the websites and be sure to check out K9 Karma. Look for the listings in your area. It's an excellent show.

**Ebay Pug Update** The owner of the ebay pug is in contact with the person that I've mentioned before that is willing to get her. They're planning on meeting the first weekend in December. So keep Carmen (ebay pug) in your thoughts, pray that she gets released from the current owner and put into the loving home of someone that will give her proper care.

::PawsOut::