BUDDHA DOG ANIMAL MASSAGE KEEPS PETS ‘BEGGING’ FOR HANDS-ON HEALING
By Stacey Kumagai
Stress. Everybody feels it from humans to animals.
And at Buddha Dog Animal Massage, they realize that pets are people, too. Just like humans, they need massage for peace, relaxation, and above all, good health. Providing alternative therapies such as massage, Acupressure, TTouch and Reiki here in Los Angeles, Registered Veterinary Technician, Pam Holt started Buddha Dog Animal Massage with one very important thing in mind, to help animals.
“My extreme love of animals and a need to help them was most definitely my inspiration. My best friend Amy has been an outstanding human massage therapist for many years, and so I have been lucky enough to experience firsthand how beneficial massage is. As soon as I heard the term "animal massage", I knew I wanted to be a therapist,” states Holt. “I worked very hard to get through the Registered Veterinary Technician program at Pierce College, and studying for the state and national RVT exams to become as knowledgeable as I could about all aspects of animal health and care. Every single day of my last five years in business has been a learning experience for me, and I will continue my education forever to be as useful to my clients as possible,” she explains.
Animals, like people require massage treatment. And not just for relaxation, but particularly for injury, disease-prevention and therapy/rehabilitation. It promotes well-being and noticeable improved movement and performance in daily activities as well as overall health, posture and energy. Holt tries to walk a dog both before and after massage – and utilizes this as a method of measurement for flexibility, range of motion, in addition to speed and ease of movement, particularly after the massage for a noticeable difference, further validating and reinforcing how important massage is for animals. Emotional and physical health in animals is recognizable by lack of energy, response, mood, sluggishness as well as behavioral signs of depression, withdrawal, lack of interest in wanting to play or eat or participate in normal everyday activities.
“When an animal is due for a massage, you might notice a reluctance to get up, and they'll move slower with more stiffness. If you notice your friend seems a little depressed, a massage will get the endorphins flowing and make them feel good. But many animals are so stoic that they just somehow compensate for their pain, and you might not even know how they're truly feeling. I tell my clients that once a week in between professional massages is great, but ideally, you should put your hands on your animal's body with a loving intent every day. Your intent is as healing as touch. Just putting hands on the muscles warms them up, and a gentle massaging of the joints can make a huge difference in their comfort without taking too much time from your busy day,” states Holt.
Also mimicking today’s human health pharmaceutical industry, sometimes animals are placed on a cocktail of meds allocated for conditions which often cause other symptoms, allergic reactions or new conditions, unrelated to the condition being treated, Those into homeopathy and holistic medicine are actively seeking alternative healing methods to address this situation and massage seems to fulfill this need and then some. “Animals are living longer these days, and are more commonly dealing with age-related conditions such as arthritis and cancer. As complementary and alternative therapies are becoming more popular with people, we realize that our animals can benefit just as much as we can from these methods, with the assurance that holistic is perhaps "kinder", and definitely safer than excessive medicating,” confirms Holt.
Massage benefits for people and animals are the same. It’s a great part of the health routine and as beneficial as great nutrition for the body. It helps the body to release toxins absorbed by the body which are ingested from food and medication, and self-imposed toxins like stress, worry, grief, fear, negative energy and emotions and physically demanding/taxing activities which cause strain on muscles, tissues and nerves as well as lactic acid and metabolic waste, which have been loosened from the massage. We usually flush these toxins post massage by drinking plenty of water and eliminating waste, further assisting in the detoxification process. But how do animals instinctively know to do this or comprehend this is necessary? Holt tries to coax the animals to their water bowl, but says that they often hydrate themselves on their own.
Information is power. And Holt is pro-actively getting information out to her clients and to the public with her work. Her mission is clear, to help animals and their owners become more informed and empowered.
“I try to provide my clients with the tools they need to feel comfortable giving their animal an effective massage. My hope is that they will feel empowered in having hands-on participation in their animal's healing and overall wellness. I want everyone to realize that this is something they can do themselves that will provide endless benefits not only for their beloved companion, but also for themselves, as their blood pressure will decrease, their immune system will be positively affected, and their bond with their best friend will grow even deeper,” states Holt.
She helps you, help your pet. And in turn, the loyalty, happiness and harmony create the ultimate best friend Zen.
Buddha Dog is owned by Pam Holt, RVT. 818.300.4478.
For more information and to download your free copy of Pam Holt’s “Massaging Your Animal” go to http://www.buddhadog.webs.com