Origins of Massage to PetMassage

When we look back at the origins of massage, we see that massage, as a therapeutic medium and skill set, was primarily used to enable people to self-heal.

From the earliest times, humans recognized that the body could realign itself in the presence of a healer’s hands and intentions. Rituals employed dancing and stretching, soaking (taking the waters), applications of oils, herbs, and a little sumthin’ to drink. Most powerful were, and are, on the body hands-on work and off-the-body distance healing. We couldn’t realign the stars; but we could shift the relative positions and functionality of solar plexus systems within the body.We couldn’t change the patterns of tea leaves; but we could reinterpret them.

The aspect of massage that we now define as Energywork has a long heritage as a powerful means of assisting the imbalanced elements within the body to realign for wellness and function. Energywork helps reestablish homeostasis.

Homeostasis comes from two Greek words homeo, meaning “similar” and stasis, meaning “stable.” It is a key concept in understanding how the body works. It means “keeping things constant.” It is a state of equilibrium or a tendency to reach equilibrium, either metabolically within a cell or organism or socially and psychologically within an individual or group.

Much later, approximately 10,000 years ago, in Asia, we discovered systems that would help the body establish even more balance within itself. Scientists, philosophers, martial artists, and healers used these newly intuited holistic interpretations to define the world and the well-being of its inhabitants. We were striving to support with the health and well-being of the earth, its animals, plants, rivers, mountains, its weather, and its people.

The concept of a life force, chi, is at the core of this healing/wellness philosophy. Chi is more complicated than a just sense of general vitality. It is much more nuanced. It is pervasive. Chi is sub-categorized into various aspects; each of which has an influence on a person’s, an animal’s, or a plant’s quality of life. And combined, well, promotes homeostasis. Here are some of the applications of Chi.

There is air chi, which is air quality. The energy of the air. Fresh, clean air is more healthful to breathe than polluted air. Various fragrances in the air can have anticipated effects. Hello Aroma Therapy! Climate, and air temperature have various effects. The air in the mountains is thinner than in the valleys. Fast moving air, wind, can alter the shapes of landscapes, from blowing leaves to shifting sands to resurfacing mountains. The quality and composition of the air in your lungs is a result of, and can be altered with, exercise, massage, changes in life style and health.

There is water chi. Water is necessary for life. Most of ancient humanity lived near large bodies of water. Currently, about 40% of humanity lives within 100 meters of a coast. Fresh, clean water is a prized resource. It is more healthful to drink than dirty water. Cold water has a different effect on the body than tepid, hot water, or steam. Rainy weather, humidity, fog, ice and snow, all have pronounced affects on our physical and emotional states. We all (people, animals, plants) are affected by water availability, barometric pressure and changes in the weather. The movement of body water, blood, lymph, hydration of interstitial tissues, is affected by massage.

There is food chi. Food chi includes not only the freshness of the food and where it was grown; it also includes its physical temperature. It includes the effect it has on the body. Does the food create internal heat or cool? Habanera peppers or cucumbers? Does a food enhance digestion or restrain it? An apple a day keeps the PetMassager okay. How does a food or drink affect one’s mood? Consider chocolate, pizza, pecan cinnamon rolls, pumpkin pie. Mmmm. Tripe…Yuck. What happens when a food or a spice combined with other foods and seasonings? Some dishes in a meal compliment, support or diminish the meal’s healing and/or social effects. Were you aware that the intentions and emotional states of food preparers and servers have an effect on the quality of chi in your food? That’s the reason dogs do so well with the bones and raw food diet. It’s the reason why Mom’s or Dad’s home cooking tastes so good. And the reason processed foods taste bland and leave you with an empty feeling. The chi in these foods has been processed out.

There is the chi you were born with, and Shen, spiritual chi. These, as with the others, are enhanced or diminished with your lifestyle, the people and sounds you listen to, and your thoughts. And, of course, massage,

This awareness of the intentionality and the intuitive valuing of the ancients’ wisdom has become the hallmark of PetMassage_TM. PetMassage_TM is a discipline based on the appreciation and valuing of the creative application of a particular skill set of PetMassage_TM techniques. Of course, PetMassage_TM values and incorporates the most current Western medical understandings of anatomy, movement, pathology, of genetic propensities, and of nature and nurture.

Dogs are still hard wired to experience their world through the senses and perceptions of their ancestors. This was a time when dogs knew what and how the pack functioned. Dogs are bombarded, harboring and resonnating to all manner of stimuli. Could be external. Could be internal. Could be current. Could be from their past. Could be inherited. Dogs are often placed in situations which they may be ill equipped, mentally and emotionally, to handle.

PetMassage_TM provides the dog with opportunities for gentle course corrections to balance the energy of its life and times.