Osteopathy. The learning continues!

I am SOOO far behind on my personal/professional blogging and posting. So many new and exciting things on the horizon along and in the path I'm walking. For example, last month found me in Eugene, Oregon at an Osteopathy for small animals workshop! Absolute fun and awesome learning was found here the weekend of January 26-29, 2017. I'm eagerly and seriously considering heading back there for the advanced course!

This is what I did yesterday!

How awesome that I am able to do and share what I love and have a passion for?!? And what a FANTASTIC showing I had yesterday of humans seeking to help their animal companions.

Teaching the next generation of healers...

Here's a sample of some of what happens. I had a private "lesson" with this young man on massage techniques and look at the releases he is generating with his mare. I LOVE this work!!

June has been a VERY full month!!

And I have been VERY remiss with this blog!!

It's that time of year again folks!! Two weekends ago found me in West Virginia "on staff" and "teaching" at my favorite 4H horse camp! This is my 5th year participating and each year is more rewarding than the last. #howluckyami

Come out to the World of Pets Expo & Educational Experience in Timonium Marylan

Come out to the World of Pets Expo & Educational Experience in Timonium, Maryland January 29-31, 2016.

I'll be speaking on Friday evening (6pm) about massage you can do with your animal companion and other healing modalities, including the importance of a healing team.

"Kneading Animals- Basic massage techniques YOU can do on Your Animal Companion"

*Do you "knead" animals?? I know I do! Come learn a few ways in which you can help massage your pet! You will be given instruction on how to massage your own animal(s), including contraindications, when and when NOT to massage, an overview of body parts, and those which tend to "knead" it most and what to look for when choosing an animal bodyworker for your companion.

http://www.worldofpets.org/MDmain.shtml

It's all comparative and relative!

I absolutely LOVE this!! Those who are musculoskeletal geeks like me will also find this fascinating ((including a number of my equine dentists and HCP -Whole Horse/Body nerds)). Now, many of my like minded peers understand the relevance and importance of looking at the horse (or dog/animal) as a whole functioning being. The teeth, feet, posture, and muscles are all codependent when it comes to balancing the whole. They all must be in proper alignment/balance to have a fully healthful and functioning system. Additionally, the teeth and/or hooves/feet have a direct correlation to each other and the rest of the body. This will show up in lameness, gait, and/or posture. You may have shortening or lengthening of muscles on each side, high/low in hooves, muscles in spasm, TMJ tight and out of whack. The same information can be transferred when looking at dogs. As with horses with long toes, dogs with long toenails also create stress in other parts of their musculoskeletal system. It is all comparative anatomy. Check this article out on the relevance of teeth and posture as it relates to humans. Truly fascinating information.

http://starecta.com/body-posture-depends-teeth/

Excerpt:
"Why teeth are so important for the posture? The skull is the heaviest part of our body and it is supported at the top, on the last cervical vertebra (atlas). To ensure that our head, which weighs on average 4 kg, remains at the top with the least expenditure of energy, Mother Nature has devised a very ingenious "bio-mechanical system of levers".

The question that we must ask is: "What or who is holding the skull on the last cervical vertebra?"

We will try to give you a picture of the situation.

posture skull

Until a few decades ago people believed that the skull was simply supported by the neck muscles operated by our willingness to stand upright. Over time and with the birth of gnathology science, clinical trials have shown a functional-anatomic and physiopathological link between skull-mandible (CMD) and skull-cervical dysfunctions, aggregating various areas of the body in a single tonic-postural system: the skull-cervical-mandible joint.

In short, scientific literature, or rather some pioneers in this new sector, has started to understand the role of the mandible in the human postural system, and that consequently neck and back problems are caused by skull-cervical-mandible disorders.

Having established that, we can realize that in this bio-mechanism that keeps sustained our head on top of the first cervical vertebra, the "jaw" has a vital role in supporting the skull.

It is a matter of fact that these medical-science pioneers have managed to understand, more or less, the bio-mechanism and how to act on it with the use of a bite in order to alleviate people health problems, but they have always proceeded by trial and error without ever being able to develop a proper relationship between correct body posture, jaw and teeth."

FDA? Are they credible?

What do you think? Does the FDA have the best interests of your family and animal companions in mind?

You've read my thoughts about conventional processed food and it's no secret I am a proponent of raw and species appropriate food. Susan Thixton writes another thought provoking article. How trustworthy is the FDA really??

"It's perplexing how the FDA can tell consumers to "not feed your pet a raw diet" but it is acceptable to the agency for euthanized animal remains or animals that have died in the field – lying in the sun decomposing for days – to be cooked into a slurry or powder and dumped into dog and cat food.  Raw pet food made from USDA inspected and approved meats are dangerous for your pet and you – but decomposing, diseased animals are "suitable for use in animal food" and perfectly safe for you to handle.

The FDA cannot see they just discredit themselves with each 'announcement' like this.  They lose more and more respect from the public.  How sad.  This raw pet food witch hunt needs to stop.  The outright FDA permission for pet food to violate federal law needs to stop.   Who is the FDA really protecting?"

http://truthaboutpetfood2.com/is-it-an-fda-lie-or-fda-neglect