PetMassage Paw Prints

Dogs Kids PetMassage Course

In my presentations in Seattle, at the IAAMB conference and at the H. H. Backer Pet Industry Christmas Show in Chicago, the PetMassage for Kids program attracted a huge amount of interest…especially from elementary school educators.

Just why is this course so important? Children learn the skills of awareness, which will keep them safe as they see how an animal is responding to them. They learn compassion, taking them out of themselves as the center of the universe. They learn the power and healing effects of intentional touch. This socially appropriate touch honors the space, the body, and the emotional states of their dogs.

Kids learn the basic handling, touching, holding, stroking, and other PetMassage techniques with their stuffed dogs. Confidence in their new abilities grows while important psycho-social skills develop. The PetMassage for Kids™ program teaches children the basic hands-on skills of canine massage and principles of dog handling safety. This course will reduce the incidence of dog bites in the U.S.

The book, DVD and audio CD, individually or as a three-part set is the perfect gift for any child who loves dogs. The Dogs Kids PetMassage book by itself, at only $16.95 is at a great price point. All three are only $45, plus we’ll include the official PetMassage patch, for FREE!

Order the entire PetMassage for Kids™ program. It includes the PetMassage:A Kids Guide to Massaging Dogs DVD, the book, Dogs Kids PetMassage, and the audio CD and the curricula. PetMassage for Kids™ Curricula: Five Day: 3 hours per day and/or Ten week: one hour per week are great programs for after school, summer school, home school, camp, and scouts. One for $50, or purchase both for $75. Call 800-779-1001.Order online www.petmassage.com

We’ll even include a free official PetMassage patch so the kids can identify you as the expert. The package including one curriculum, and either the five day course or the ten week course, is only $95. If you would like both the curricula, the price, including the DVD, book and CD is only $120.

PetMassage is delighted to host its first One-day, Animal Reiki workshop.

The course will be taught by Jennifer Ortman (executive director) of the Reiki Center, Columbus, OH. Sunday November 8th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Please register with the Reiki Center by October 30, 2009 phone 614.486.8323, email info@thereikicenter.net.

When Jonathan and Anastasia Rudinger were hosting their booth at the Backer show, several people asked about Reiki and energy work. Here is a short definition taken from a newsletter by Nationally Certified Reiki Master Instructor, Debbie Glasgow RN, CRMI. toledotlc@yahoo.com.

What is Reiki?

What is REIKI?

Reiki a type of hands on holistic healing therapy which can provide the client with much comfort, relaxation and healing in the most natural setting. Reiki can be very transforming because it helps balance and energize your energy system. “Chi” is universal life force energy which we all have. It gives us life. Chi flows through the body through pathways called meridians, chakras, nadis and the energy field around the physical body called your “aura.”

Your physical and emotional health and well being is directly related to the free flowing Chi energy in your energy system. Reiki uses universal life energy flow to assist in healing and removal of any emotional or energetic blockages you may have. These blockages are what causes symptoms you may have. Symptoms can be anything from pain , depression relationship problems, poor health – the list is endless. Reiki is also great because it incorporates concepts of positive thinking and living in your life according to the universal laws of attraction.

Humane Society and PetMassage

Since 1997 each PetMassage workshop class has spent a half day at the ASPCA, Maumee Ohio, honing the hands-on skills with the willing canines in residence. The students get to experience dogs outside of the “cloistered” security of the PetMassage school, getting a feel for the “real world.”

The dogs love it too.

They get to experience a high quality full body massage in an environment of respect, honor and compassion. Who could ask for more than that? The staff at the Humane Society expressed their appreciation for our twelve years of consistent volunteering and shared with the class that PetMassage helps make their dogs more adoptable!

One of the several “aha” moments that I had at the IAAMB conference was during a discussion we had about working with aggressive dogs. At one time or another we all experience the feeling of vulnerability and risk while in the presence of dogs who might injure us.

I wrote three cryptic notes in my notebook: 1-stay grounded, 2-stay aware of the dynamics between you and the dog (so either of your emotions don’t escalate the drama, from what is really happening to the terrible things that could be happening) and 3-maintain a high vibration.

These are only possible when, as Dr. Deepak Chopra describes, we become our own seers. When we observe our actions and life conditions we have less chance of being controlled by them.

At the conclusion of the 6th Annual IAAMB Educational Conference in Seattle in September, Jonathan and Anastasia met with Cindy Horsfal, founder of the ACWT in Sequim (pronounced squim) WA, to officially accept leadership of the association membership and to sign the documents to welcome ACWT members into the IAAMB.

As Jonathan, wearing the hat of the president of the International Assn of Animal Massage and Bodywork, I encourage everyone who practices animal massage and bodywork, wet or dry, to join this organization. There is strength in numbers. There is support in numbers. There is communication and growth and development in numbers. For more info: www.iaamb.org, email: info@iaamb.org, phone: 800-903-9350

It’s time to act on your dream: Learn PetMassage for Dogs.

Change your career path. Learn techniques that you can combine with the way you already connect with animals. With PetMassage you’ll astound and amaze all the dogs you touch. Do it. Now’s the time for this all important continuing vocational — personal development education. Call now to reserve your space in our workshops, 7-day Foundation, 7-day Advanced and 5-day PetMassage WaterWork.

There are still three workshops this year: Advanced (for graduates of the Foundation workshop) October 18-24, Foundation November 1-7, and PetMassage WaterWork November 16-20. Need more information? You have but to ask and we’ll snail mail your PetMassage Pet-a-log and Travel Information brochure, with all the information you’ll need, to you. Call us at 800-799-1001 or email info@petmassage.com.

2009 H H Backer Christmas Pet Industry Show in Chicago: debriefing:

Jonathan at 2009 H H Backer Christmas Pet Industry Show in Chicago

Jonathan was honored to be one of the premier speakers in the educational module of the convention, entitled, “Go from surviving to thriving.” PetMassage was the only exhibitor that represented the animal massage and bodywork community. We are happy to report that our booth was continuously busy, providing information, products and support to the attendees, buyers and fellow exhibitors.

Sunday, October 4th, 9 AM Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont IL, Ballroom 44: a small ballroom was set up with tables and chairs for sixty. The title for the presentation was “Canine Pet Massage: A Great Service Opportunity.” The 90-minute PowerPoint made a connection with the hearts and minds of many of the eighty or so attendees who crowded into the room to hear about Pet Massage. They must have liked what they heard because almost all of them scored “5′s” on the evaluation sheet (5 is the highest number) and many requested that Jonathan be invited back next year.

PetMassage Booth

Most of those who attended later stopped by our booth to introduce themselves, get more information, and share their stories.

To all the people we met at the show: thank you. And, hey-glad to meet you. We appreciate your financial support in purchasing all the books, DVDs and CDs we’d brought to the show. We look forward to working with you again soon, perhaps in one of our workshops. Welcome to this email newsletter. We hope you enjoy what you read here. Please write us, too. We are growing, too. We appreciate any and all of your comments and suggestions that will help us.

Tribalism alive and well

One part of the presentation at the Backer show that seemed to resonate with attendees was my reference to us all being members of the same tribe. We may not be related by blood, but on a deeper, soul–level. We are the ones who were born with the natural ability to connect and communicate, honor and respect animals. We know each other when we meet. We are immediately comfortable with each other as we share the commonality of being able to easily and naturally live and work with animals. Not everybody shares this gift, or passion, or natural preference. Just as not everyone has the gift of easily understanding how to prepare tax forms, or fill cavities, or ski downhill (three activities that elude me). Thank you for acknowledging that you are in the tribe. My enthusiasm for connecting with like minded people, or our tribe, led me to create the IAAMB.