HOLIDAY PET TIPS

BY LIZ

“ALL TAKEN CARE” OF PET SERVICES

For most of us the build up to the holidays is filled with a mix of emotions- excitement, dread, overwhelmed etc. Thank goodness our pets don’t completely know what we’re thinking!

We all know they read our energy and notice changes.

Here are some ideas for keeping a balanced pet during the holidays.

If your dog is traveling with you take her for a walk before you start to load the car.

My dog Clio gets completely distracted at the thought of a car ride!

Make sure there is room for your dog to lay down in the backseat.

That is the safest position. Also pack a favorite blankie.

Remember to stop every few hour to stretch the legs and your dog should be fine!

If your dog is staying home make sure your sitter has all the important phone numbers and medication details.

Prep the house by putting up house plants ( POINSETTIAS ARE NOT POISONOUS THEY JUST CAUSE A LITTLE STOMACH UPSET),close doors to most of the rooms. Your dog will be more comfortable with less space to worry about.

 Dogs usually drink more when they’re nervous. Toilet water is gross but not toxic! ( You may want to close that door too!)

Take the icicles off the tree and put up any treasured ornaments. Also put up any ribbons from gifts etc these can seriously hurt your pets digestive system.

 Your pet may act differently when you are not home so don’t assume that your baby would never do such a thing!

Don’t try to console your dog before leaving. This change in your energy may actually cause more anxiety. Calling home so your dog can hear your voice may do the same thing. They hear your voice but don’t know where you are. Call your sitter instead!

Remind your family or friends that just because your dog happily eats everything given to her doesn’t mean she needs it. People medicine can be dangerous for animals so it’s best to just avoid upset tummies!

If your pet is going to a sitters home or the kennel send something with your scent like a couch blanket.

Also send their normal food. It’s important to have the least amount of changes possible.

 A lot of dogs get nervous at kennels(even the Palaces) they may not eat and will drink more than normal.

So expect them to need a little time to readjust when they get home.

Most importantly the holidays only come once a year so relax and enjoy!

Your sweet babies will be fine!

Love this pose when my energy is feeling low  it bestows a gentle energy .  In yoga circles this is known as the Mother of Asanas.

The practice of shoulder stand increases blood supply to the throat and chest.   This nourishes and balances the thyroid and parathyroid glands as well as relieving problems in the nose, throat, and chest.  After practicing it for a few minutes I always notice a feeling of peace and tranquility.

How to:  One of my favorite versions of this pose is with a chair. Place a chair about two feet (give or take depending on your height, play with it) away from the wall,  facing into the room.  Place folded blankets (2 or more, I personally need 5-6 to feel supported) at the foot of the chair.   Fold a mat to cover the chair seat all the way to the front edge.  Sit astride, facing the wall.  Hold the sides of the chair and hook your knees, one by one, over the top of the chair back.   Carefully slide your hands down the front legs of the chair as you slowly, I mean slowly, curve back over the chair seat.  Release the tops of your shoulders onto the blankets (bolsters can be used, too).    Rest the back of your head (not the top) on the floor. Thread your hands through the chair and take hold of its back legs. Straighten your legs, one at a time.  Rest your heels on the wall.  Breathe.  Relax. Make any small adjustments your body needs to be comfortable.

To come out, slowly bend your knees and place your feet on the top part of the chair.  Slowly slide your buttocks off the chair and bring them to rest on the folded blankets (or bolsters).  Support your calves on the chair seat. Rest for a few minutes. Turn to the die and push up from your hands.

Cautions: Do not practice this pose during menstruation or if you are suffering from headaches of any kind.  If you are new to this pose ask your teacher to take you into this pose until you feel confident.  My mentors at Yoga On High recommend that as teachers we do not teach this pose until we have tried at least 10 different times- I feel it is a great rule of thumb.  Helps me understand what different students might feel in this pose and how I can assist them.

Enjoy!

Last year, I requested my family  to donate to my favorite charity instead of buying me a gift.   I have to admit I  nervous because I know how people enjoy picking out a special gift for someone (myself included).    To my delight my family was totally supportive and donated in my name to: The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio. 

If your thinking of donating to charity instead of giving a gift here is a few helpful tips to make that process easier:

1. Checkout charity’s rating at either: www.guidestar.org or charity navigator.org
2. Type into your search engine: “charity gift catalog”
3. Whether you give global or local is up to you.  One cool one I found was through UNCIEF by donating $40 you can purchase measles vaccines for 150 children. Check out: www.inspiredgifts.org.

This year I plan to request a donation be made to: “Give Wisely, Give to a Fund, Yoga on Foundation” through the Columbus Foundation.   The Yoga on High Foundation supports two very important programs in our community- 1. Yoga for People with Diabetes 2. Cancer Patients- Moving On; these exciting and innovative programs work, because the feedback from students say it does.  For more information go to: www.yogaonhigh.com/articles.

“Don’t aim at success- the more you aim at it and make it a target, the more you are going to miss it.   For success like happiness, cannot be pursued; it must ensued, and it only does so as the unintended side effect of one’s personal dedication greater than oneself.” ~Viktor Frankl

Some amazing words of wisdom I wanted to share with you from Amy Marzluff, Certified Health Counselor, from her class: How to Beat the Sugar Blues.  Knowing these few tips has helped me cut down on sugars and feel satiated (very important for the female brain).

The 8 Primary causes of cravings are:

1. Dehydration. The body doesn’t send the message that you are thirsty until you are on the verge of dehydration.  Dehydration occurs as mild hunger, so the first thing to do when you get a strange craving is to drink a full class of water.
2. Lack of primary food. Being dissatisfied with a relationship, or having an inappropriate exercise routine (too much, too little, or the wrong type), being bored, stressed, uninspired by a job, or lacking a spiritual practice, may all cause emotional eating.  Eating can be used as a substitute for entertainment, or to fill the void of primary food.
3. Yin/yang imbalance. Certain food have more yin qualities (expansive) while other foods have more yang qualities (contractive). Eating foods that are either extremely yin or extremely yang causes food cravings in order to maintain balance.  For example, eating a diet too rich in sugar (yin) may cause a craving for meat (yang).  Eating too many raw foods (yin) may cause cravings for extremely cooked (dehydrated) foods or vise versa.
4. Inside coming out.  Oftentimes, cravings come from foods that we have recently eaten, foods eaten by our ancestors or foods from our childhood. A clever way to satisfy these cravings is to eat a healthier version of one’s ancestral or childhood foods.
5. Seasonal. Often the body craves foods that balance out the elements of the season.
6. Lack of nutrients. If the body has inadequate nutrient, it will produce odd cravings.  For example inadequate mineral levels produce salt cravings, overall inadequate nutrition produces cravings for non-nutritional forms of energy like caffeine.
7. Hormonal (women). When the body experiences menstruation, pregnancy, or menopause, fluctuating testosterone and estrogen levels may cause strange food cravings.
8. De-evolution. When things are going extremely well, sometimes self-sabotage syndrome happens.  We crave foods that throw us off, thus creating more cravings to balance ourselves.  This often happens from low blood sugar and my result in strong mood swings.

To learn more about Amy log onto: www.integrativenutrition.com/graduates/amarzluff.aspx

Enjoy this healthy snack without the sugar crash from Amy Marzluff, Holistic Health Counselor.

Prep time: 10 minutes or less

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of rolled oats
• 1/2 cup of raisins
• 1/4 cup of raw pumpkin seeds (pepitas)
• 1/4 cup of raw sunflower seeds
• 1/4 cup cacao nibs
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 cup almond butter or peanut butter
• 1/3 cup agave nectar
• 1/4 cup brown rice syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• Cocoa powder or shredded coconut to coat balls (optional)

Directions:

1. Combine oats, pumpkin and sunflower seeds, cacao nibs and cinnamon in large bowl. Set aside.
2. In a different bowl, combine almond butter, agave nectar, brown rice syrup, and vanilla until well mixed.
3. Pour wet mixture into dry ingredients and stir well
4. Moisten hands, and roll dough into 1-inch balls.  Coat balls in shredded coconut or cocoa powder (they will look like truffles!). Store in fridge.  If you can wait, they taste better the next day! You can also freeze an have it handy, they take 15 minutes to defrost.

Note: Making the balls is fun but can take some time. You can do this recipe in 10 minutes or less if you pour the mixture into a square dish (8×8) and press firmly with your fingers to settle it. Sprinkle coating of your choice of coating. Place it in the freezer for 20 minutes and cut into bite size pieces or in the shape of a bar.

To learn more about Amy go to: www.integrativenutrition.com/graduates/amarzluff.aspx

Inspired by another blogger, Kimberly Wilson, a fellow yogini in Washington D.C.

1.  Bookstore browsing
2. Playing with my lovely Rat Terrier, Lily
3. Curling up with a good book
4. Date night with my husband
5. Thank you notes
6. Surprise phone calls from friends far away
7. Coloring with my niece
8. Anything from Substance
9. A really good neck and shoulder massage
10. Cooking for friends and family
11. Teaching yoga
12. Monday night movie night at the Drexel
13. Aveda lip color
14. Stationary from On Paper
15. Lavender Latte at Zen Cha
16. Walking my dog
17. Pedis
18. Silence
19. Recycling
20. The Columbus Metropolitan Library
21. Crew Games
22. Pattycake Vegan Bakery
23. Art openings at Junctionview Studios
24. Our staff
25. Mentoring a new client
26. Listening
27. Organizing my closets
28. Lighting my Aveda candles when I get home
29. Going to bed early and getting up early
30. My husband’s smile and the smell of his pipe
31. Kombucha Bob
32. Letting go
33. My parents seeing more movies than me
34. Grant reading cycles with the Women’s Fund of Central Ohio
35. Surly Girl Saloon
36. Thai Chili Ice Cream from Jeni’s
37. Restorative Holiday Workshops at YoHi
38. Alphastate Staff Retreats
39. Setting goals
40. Learning something new
41. Creating something out of nothing

The holiday season is upon us.   For me, self-care is vital during this time of year.  Not only do we have the stress of the holidays to deal with but the changing of the seasons. This can truly throw us out of whack.  Here a few ideas to help you through the next six weeks.

1. Basic Relaxation Pose (Savasana) - There is no such thing as too little yoga practice. During this time of year this is when you will most need yoga.  Select a quiet, carpeted space. (If you don’t have a carpeted space use your mat). Remove your glasses, watch, and wear comfortable loose clothing.   Let go!
2. Breathe Deeply- Take slow and soft breaths, your jaw will loosen and your body will relax.  Try making your exhale slightly longer than your inhale, and watch your thoughts slow down.
3. Spend time alone- Draw a bath with your favorite essential oils, light a candle, journal, read a book, write a letter,  hang out with your doggie or kitty, or cook yourself  your favorite meal.
4. Enjoy the outdoors- Get your Smartwools on and get outside! Enjoy the cool crisp air.   According to Angles Arrien author of the, Four-Fold Way, it is important to spend 60 minutes outside everyday to keep us vibrant, energetic, and  connected to the earth.
5. Invite your friends for tea- Invite your nearest and dearest for a pot of tea and some yummy treats (for you Columbusites anything from Pattycake Vegan Bakery is a fave).   Talk about what you are grateful for the past year and what your goals are for 2009.
6. Saying no- Easy to say tough to do; the more I practice the easier it has become for me.  As long as I speak from my heart and stay connected to what I am feeling it helps me speak my truth without blame, shame or judgement.
7. Do less, to be more-  Through the practice of yoga I spend time in self-reflection (aka Svadhyaya).   This little mantra of mine has been one of the greatest self-discoveries.  I no feel the need to be the life the party.  I prefer staying home watching a movie with my wonderful husband, cooking a fab meal for family and friends, walking my dog, Lily, turning off the t.v. and enjoying the stillness of my home.  I no longer have the need to go out every night like I did when I was 25.

Creating community is my passion, so, I thought it would be cool to put together a blog for the Alphastate community.  Sharing ideas about yoga, both on and off the mat.   Look for ideas how to create a silent retreat, breathing deep,  compassionate communication with people in your life, greening your home or business and other yoga lifestyle tips to incorporate off the mat.  Please check back regularly and share your thoughts or questions with me at lori@alphastatelife.com.