News for You and Your Pet
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June 1, 2009
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Dear ,
-What's new with Ingrid?
Last week, I came one step closer to making a life-long dream come true. I submitted the manuscript for "Buckley's Story - Lessons from a Feline Master Teacher" to my publisher. This was a huge milestone for me!
-In This Issue:
I've been doing Pilates for about five years now, and it's made a significant difference in how my body feels. For much of my life, I had minor back issues, but ever since I started doing Pilates, I haven't had any problems. Find out about The Benefits of Pilates and whether this form of exercise might be right for you.
We all know the joys of living with pets, and none of us can imagine our lives without the unconditional love they bring. However, we're also very much aware that much as we would like them to, they don't live as long as we do. Dawn Kairns, author of "Maggie: The Dog Who Changed My Life," shares her 10 Steps to Deal with the Loss of Your Pet with us.
-Ingrid Recommends
Are you still using disposable plastic water bottles? Why not try the eco-friendly bottles I'm introducing below?
With best wishes for you and your furry family members,
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The Benefits of Pilates
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By Ingrid King
"I must be right. Never an aspirin. Never injured a day in my life. The whole country, the whole world, should be doing my exercises. They'd be happier." -- Joseph Pilates, in 1965, at age 86.
Pilates is an exercise system which was developed by Joseph Pilates in the 1920s, drawing on Eastern practices such as Yoga and Zen and inspired by perfection through body,
mind and spirit. More than 40 years after Joseph Pilates' death, this exercise system of stretching and strengthening exercises is in more demand than ever. Devotees praise the exercises for their ability to develop the body's core, mobilize the spine and build flexibility.
There are three main benefits of Pilates:
1. Body Awareness
Pilates teaches you to be more aware of your body - being aware of how you stand, sit or move, and being able to relate those habits to the ache in your neck or the pain in your back. By teaching proper alignment and movement, the student can then translate these lessons into daily life, for example, by pulling the shoulder blades down before reaching for an item on a higher shelf, thus avoiding tension in the neck and shoulders.
2. A Stronger Core
Everybody is looking for exercises to give them flatter abs, and most people think Pilates is a way to achieve that goal. However, a flatter stomach does not necessarily mean a stronger core. Pilates will strengthen your core and create a stronger, healthy back and body. As students develop body awareness, flexibility and strength, Pilates will shift the body's shape.
3. Body Control
Pilates works because it teaches you how to move properly. Instead of working major muscle groups in isolation, it teaches the student how to move the whole body syngergistically, which is how we should be moving in daily life.
Pilates can be done on equipment or on a mat. Proper instruction is key. While there are plenty of DVD's and how to books on the market, they are not a substitute for instruction by a certified Pilates teacher.
If you have any physical limitations, check with your healthcare provider before beginning a Pilates program.
(c) Ingrid King 2009 |
10 Steps to Deal with the Loss of Your Pet
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By Dawn Kairns
Sometimes special animals come into our lives and touch our hearts in a way that leaves us forever changed. A chapter ends as the familiar road you traveled together comes to an abrupt and. You are in uncharted territory without a map. Lost. The world as you know it may look totally different.
Not everyone realizes that the bond between humans and their pets can be deeper than with a loved human. Some people often spend more time with their pets than they do with family members. Pets don't judge or hurt us the way humans can. The loss of their constant, unconditional love can leave us empty.
There is no best way to get through the loss of a beloved pet. The way through the grief process is different for everyone. Here are some things I found helpful when I lost Maggie, my beautiful black lab with whom I had the most precious of relationships:
1. Hold a ritual after your pet dies and invite friends and family who knew and loved your pet. Share stories about how your beloved animal enriched your life and other lives she touched. You may also want to create a memorial altar with a candle and your pets' photo, along with other items that belong to or remind you of your pet, such as her dish, special toys, and a lock of her hair.
2. Recognize that the grief of pet loss can be exceptionally profound and honor that by giving your grief the space to be. Allow your tears. Set-aside quiet time each day where you can decrease the demands of the outside world. Write in your journal. Allow your pain to express and release.
3. Let in the compassion and understanding of supportive family friends and strangers.
4. Don't be surprised if some family members or friends are not as supportive as you might expect them to be. Allow yourself to take time off from friends who don't understand the depth of your grief, who try to downplay your loss because it's an animal rather than a human, or who have unrealistic expectations of you at this very vulnerable time.
5. Let people know if you need to talk about your lost pet. Many well-intended people may try to change the subject to make it easier on you and you may need to let them know that it's okay to talk about it.
6. Find a pet loss support group locally or online and make use of the national pet loss support hotlines.
7. Nurture yourself. Get a massage. Take walks that nature. Meditate. Have lunch with a supportive friend. Do what feeds your soul.
8. Know yourself well enough to know if getting a new pet at this time will help or hinder your grief process. Some people do fine jumping right in with a new dog or cat. Others may resent having a new animal in the house too quickly.
9. Help animals at your local humane society or get involved with the many breed rescue groups in your area. It may help ease your pain if you allow your love from your lost animal to become part of a bigger purpose, such as assisting and caring for homeless animals.
10. Try new things to discover more of yourself; those creative endeavors you have often considered but have never tried.
We all have to face grief and loss eventually. It's one of the great equalizers in life. Allow your pet's death to ripple the foundation of who you are, as death often does. When we experienced loss, it may be a good time to let go of what no longer fits in your life; what isn't you. In my case, after I lost Maggie, I changed both personally and professionally. I hope my steps on the road from loss to healing can now benefit you in your time of loss. As devastating as the loss of our beloved animals can be, this time can also be an excellent opportunity to examine our purpose in life and find new meaning.
Dawn Kairns is the author of "Maggie: The Dog Who Changed my Life: A Love Story". A family nurse practitioner turned writer, Dawn Kairns has also published in nursing journals, American Fitness magazine, The Daily Camera, and Real Travel Adventures Magazine. A lifelong animal lover, her passion for dogs led her to volunteer with the Humane Society of Boulder Valley, Front Range Labrador Rescue, and Freedom Service Dogs. In the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina, Dawn volunteered with the Humane Society of the United States in Mississippi, assisting the displaced Katrina dogs. Her own dog and cat are rescues.
For more information about Dawn and her book, please visit her website at www.dawnkairns.com. |
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Ingrid Recommends
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Eco-Friendly Water Bottles
I go this super-cool water bottle for my birthday, and I absolutely love it. It's made by SIGG, and the bottles come in a large variety of designs. They're lightweight, reusable and eco-friendly. Aside from the fun design, I love that I no longer have to lug water bottles home from the grocery store - I just refill it with filtered water and I'm good to go!
(c) Ingrid King 2009
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