Allow the statement to become a mantra during the week. For greater effectiveness post it on your mirror and every time you see it, remind yourself that you are a creation of, and an manifestation of, the divine breath.
Full Title: The Zygomatico Auricularis Muscle in Canines
Author: Patricia McLane
Date of Publication: September 23, 2015
PDF: http://petmassage.com/wp-content/uploads/The-Zygomatic-Auricularis-Muscle-in-Canines-by-Patricia-McLane-2015-09-23.pdf
Research Paper Text:
INSERT IMAGES
To pat a dog on his head and not touch a part of the zygomatico auricularis is quite a feat. The zygomatico auricularis (see figure no. 12) (1) is a band of muscle that runs (generally) from just above the eye to just below the ear. References were found that called the zygomatic auricularis the “smiling muscle” but this muscle also directs a canine’s ear toward sound.
To get a more complete picture of what the zygomatico auricularis muscle does we can first distinguish traits of the auricularis or auricular muscles of which there are three – the anterior, superior, and posterior. The largest muscle of this group is the superior with the smallest being the anterior. In mammals, and for our discussion, canines, these three muscles can direct the pinna, the visible part of the ear made of cartilage. This part of the ear can exhibit as a flap that covers the inner ear or can be stiff with the tip raise above the head, exposing the inner ear, or a variety of other shapes, angles and sizes, depending on the breed. The auricular muscles move the pinna toward the direction of sound allowing for keen focus. This is a trait humans do not posses.
As we look at the zygomatic muscles, we again see a team of muscles working together. In this case to move the angle of the mouth backward and upward, the job of the greater/major muscle and the upper lip upward and laterally, the job of the lesser/minor. The zygomatic major muscle is appropriately called the “smile muscle”.
The zygomatic auricularis muscle, with a location above the eye stretching back to the ear and employing auricular muscles and zygomatic muscle also travels along the zygomatic arch. The zygomatic arch is a boney structure formed by the temporal process of the zygomatic bone and the zygomatic process of the temporal bone (2). It should also be noted that zygo literally means yoke or union.
Other important finds to discuss as it relates to the industry of pet massage are the acupressure points that occupy the general area of the zygomatico auricularis. SI19 is found at the base of the external ear and is part of the Small Intestine meridian and includes auditory dysfunction, otitis, seizures, mania or anxiety. GB1, GB2, and GB14 run near the base of the eye and are part of the Gall Bladder meridian and include ocular disorders and facial paralysis (3).
When in a massage session with a canine client, or even in a casual petting scenario, this practitioner’s experience with the zygomatico auricularis muscle has always been positive. To massage in the area of the zygomatic arch is to offer the dog a soothing and calming touch that seems to provide relaxation and a sense of ease and trust.
When slow, gentle pressure is applied and partnered with small half-circular movements with the thumb, the client exhibits relaxation by closing the eyes and softening the ears. It has also been observed that in older dogs the zygomatic arch and thus the zygomatic auricularis muscle are very prominent as the fatty layer has diminished.
Whether the zygomatic auricularis muscle is the muscle responsible for smiling or for aiding one of the canine’s most exceptional senses, hearing, massaging this muscle should be part of the Petmassage session.
SOURCES:
- “Century Dreams – Zoology – Muscles of the Head.” Century Dreams – Zoology – Muscles of the Head. Serenity House Publishing Inc., n.d. Web. 16 Sept. 2015.
- “zygomatic arch.” The American Heritage® Stedman’s Medical Dictionary. Houghton Mifflin Company. 16 Sep. 2015. <Dictionary.com http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/zygomatic arch>.
- Snow, Amy, Zedonis, Nancy. Acu-Dog A Guide to Canine Acupressure. Tallgrass Publishers, LLC; 1st edition. (March 1, 2011)
If you are happiest when you are with dogs and your heart sings when you help them discover their optimal level of wellness and balance, you are already a member of a very unique “tribe” of like-minded, like intentioned, like destined people.
This book and set of DVDs welcomes you; encourages you to expand on your natural talents and values.
In these works, Jonathan Rudinger, the founder and director of the PetMassageTM Training and Research Institute, shares his experience and knowledge of the skills and perspectives of The Art and Essence of Canine Massage, PetMassageTM for Dogs.
Begin or enhance your canine massage practice.
Learn the Art and Essence of Canine Massage, PetMassageTM for Dogs.
This book reveals
- benefits and applications for dogs and the canine massage practitioner
- canine massage theory
- vocabulary for this vocation of canine massage
- hand and body skills
- body and breath mechanics
- canine behavior. observing canine reflexive responses to your movements
The DVDs bring the written word to life. In them, Jonathan explains clearly step by step, and demonstrates how to use your body, mind and spirit, so that you and your dog will join forces for the time of the PetMassageTM session with common goals, confidence and safety.
PetMassageTM for Dogs DVD 1 and DVD 2 are two parts of one lesson. Each compliments the other. So, if you are asking which of the two to purchase, you need to get them both. Each is about 60 minutes in length and demonstrates different aspects of canine PetMassageTM. If you are serious about learning to massage dogs correctly and want to practice either on your own dogs or be a professional canine massage practitioner, you will want to have these lessons in your library to review over and over again.
Practice makes better.
You know, the more you practice, the better your skills will be. However, if you have ever played sports, you know that it is easy for your muscles to develop their own way of doing things. Holding patterns and habits form quickly and, if left unchecked, it can be difficult to resolve. Inefficient breathing, unclear intentionality and poor body mechanics can take over very quickly. If you notice that your back or shoulders tire during your PetMassageTM, your dogs do too!
Keep reviewing the book and DVDs.
Continue to refine and correct your breathing patterns and your posture. Your PetMassageTM will become more and more enjoyable and your efforts will be more effective. You’ll relish the opportunity to use your skills in assisting your dogs to the optimal quality of movement-and life-life they deserve!
If it has been a while since you took your initial training, this book and set of DVDs will reinvigorate your practice. Guaranteed. Just watch Standard Poodle Jacques-a-Poodle Do melt into a state of bliss as he experiences his PetMassageTM! Those of you who already have this video know exactly what I mean. That’s what I’m talking about!
The information in this book and 2 DVD set will complement every skill set of canine massage and care.
Are these texts only for people who want to pursue a career in canine massage? NO. Everyone who works in the animal care industry; dog handlers, dog walkers, pet sitters, veterinarians, techs and assistants, groomers and breeders, trainers for shows and competitions, will benefit from these lessons. After studying these texts, we are confident that you will not only understand more about how massage helps dogs, you’ll use the learned skills of intention, body language, and touch, the fundamental communication skills, to get all the dogs you work with, to cooperate with you. You will also connect with animals-and their humans- on levels you will not have dreamed were possible.
Bundle and save as a 3 part set
Bundle Art and Essence with both PetMassageTM for Dogs1 and PetMassageTM for Dogs 2 DVDs for just $89.00
Preparation for the PetMassageTM Foundation hands-on workshop
These are the texts that prepare you for the PetMassageTM Foundation hands-on workshop.
Our next PetMassageTM Foundation Workshop is scheduled November 5-9, 2015. We welcome you to register to fulfill your dream of helping dogs become more secure and balanced in their body, mind and spirit.
http://petmassage.com/?product=4-12-day-foundation-workshop-full-enrollment
Anastasia shares what she witnesses: reactions as a family’s dog gets her first PetMassageTM
Senior terrier needs to see her vet
A few weeks ago, 12-year-old Lily went lame from some unknown cause and was unable to use her hind end; unable to walk. She had a history of some serious arthritis and her vet suggested that she may need to be put down. This was horrendous news. Lily was prescribed an anti-inflammatory to reduce the inflammation in her rear legs and the family was told to “wait and see.” Within a few days, she was up. There was some movement. There was hope. Although a senior citizen, Lily still has lots of life left in her. Lots of life yet to experience. Concerned about the side effects of high doses of medications, Lily’s Mom, a nurse, decided to see if PetMassageTM could help.
PetMassageTM pre-assessment
That’s where I had the opportunity to share my PetMassageTM skills with a delightful family and their delightful terrier. I asked the family to observe her first session. During the oral history taking, the three of them shared their individual stories of their dog. Each of them, I learned, had their individual relationships, assessments, fears, and hopes for their beloved Lily.
PetMassageTM canine massage session
When we began the session with assessment walking, Lily was stiff and double tracked, hopping forward, her body angled to the side. When I hefted her onto the table I noted aloud that she was a bit overweight and that that, could be contributing to her discomfort. Lily immediately settled onto the massage table and accepted the entire session, focusing herself on whatever was happening in her body when my hand touched it. She was very communicative and shared her reactions of what felt good, what felt hurtful, and when she thought I was not paying enough attention to her.
Anastasia shares what she witnesses: the family response to their dog getting PetMassageTM
Anastasia wanted to share some of her perceived reactions from a family observing their dog being PetMassaged by Jonathan for the first time.
Son
He was fascinated, impressed, amazed, enthusiastic, and delighted with learning about PetMassageTM. At one point, Jonathan asked him to feel the heat over her flank. After a quick energy release, where he had felt heat, he could feel that the area was now noticeably cooler. Jonathan showed him how to do some other techniques such as skin rolling and side-to-side rocking. He was enthralled. He realized how valuable PetMassageTM on his dog helped her (Lily). He commented about how, after her PetMassageTM, when the massage was complete, she was able to sit more balanced and walk freely, and straighter, and even had a little bounce in her gait.
Mom
Throughout Lily’s PetMassageTM, she was thrilled to witness how happy Lily appeared. She noted the improvements Lily experienced. She happily commented on how the PetMassageTM created a beautifully balanced, peppy, happy dog.
Dad
Lily had helped Dad through some emotionally tough times in the past, so with scheduling PetMassageTM for his dog he was indeed giving back to her what she had given to him. He was in deep gratitude to Jonathan for helping his dog become more comfortable and happier through PetMassageTM.
Lily (the dog)
Lily was very expressive and smiled a lot during the entire PetMassageTM (see her photo). She became entrained with Jonathan very quickly as he did his meditative deep breathing and vectoring. At times when he became involved in conversation teaching the son or sharing a story with Mom or Dad, Lily needed to bring Jonathan back to the massage. So she would spin and turn to look at him. When Jonathan touched a sore point on her body she would chew the air, chattering her teeth as if to say “I hurt.” When he skin rolled her neck and shoulders she looked up to Jonathan, smiled and arched her neck and attempted to lick his face.
She enjoyed her entire session. The variety of PetMassageTM techniques Jonathan used helped Lily to sit square/balanced, walk on a straight line -with a spring to her step, and appear more content in her body.
Jonathan (now part of the family)
During and after the PetMassageTM, Jonathan was glowing. He was so delighted to have the opportunity to use his skills to help a dog and her family. He was in his element, a master of his craft, a teacher, a supporter of health, wellness, and quality of life for the dog, the dog’s people, and himself. On the way home, he kept smiling and describing how gratified he felt; so validated and reassured of the tremendous value of PetMassageTM. He said, “I’m so happy I discovered what I’m good at; and how what I have learned to do, helps so many.”
When was the last time (if ever) that you were able to describe your life’s work in such radiantly glowing terms? Are you ready to change careers or expand on the career you already have? Start the new year as a PetMassageTM for dogs Practitioner. We still have openings for the November 5-9, 2015 Foundation workshop.
The Look
A workshop student became irritated that her dog had embarked on a barking jag. What had started as a simple call for attention had escalated into a loud unstoppable flood of rhyming sounds, much like an urban poetry open mic night. My student was unable to concentrate on the lecture and felt responsible for her dog, who was obnoxiously distracting the rest of the class. She turned toward her dog, opened her eyes wide, furrowed her brows, and silenced him with the powerful energy of her glare. It was a look that froze him in his tracks. Her message was clear and unequivocal; as rock steady as her eyes.
Fortunately for me, she was defining her dog’s behavior boundary. The dog, who was fixated on her, instantly got the message, mumbled some canine expletive, and jumped back onto the safe side. My student was the one in control. And control, she did, wordlessly, from across the classroom.
Master dog handler with his hunting dogs
Several years ago, in 2000, I had the opportunity to demonstrate PetMassageTM at a massive dog show in the UK; the Crufts Show in Birmingham. While I was waiting one of my turns to enter the arena to give my presentation, I had the opportunity to watch a profoundly amazing presentation given by an incredible dog handler with his half dozen hunting dogs. The crowd watched as he and his assistants constructed several blinds around the arena, mounds of straw and twigs, and hid decoys in them.
He directed all of his dogs the movements of his eyes. When he was ready to begin, he stood, leaning forward slightly on his cane; his dogs all crouched at attention, watching him, waiting for instructions. He worked each dog, one at a time by looking at them, making his connection and shifting his eyes to where he wanted the dog to go. His eyes signaled them move right, move left, stop, back up, and turn around. He maneuvered each dog to a different blind where they discovered the decoy and retrieved it to him. The other dogs watched and waited for their time in his eyes.
You know the look
You know what I am talking about. You’ve seen it. You’ve felt it. You’ve used it with your dogs, your family, your significant other(s), your coworkers, your clients, and your friends.
Effects of eyes
Looks are often louder and clearer than our words. A look can be warm and loving. A look can be devastating. A look can make the difference between a loving, nurturing experience and one that initiates a fight response. The intensity of a look shows intent. The direction of the look is directive.
Looking at PetMassageTM dogs
Most dogs come to the (PetMassageTM) table open, friendly, ready to accept any affection that is offered. These dogs are easy. We do not have to walk of eggs, concerned that we might inadvertently push the wrong button that would spark the mal-intentioned response. These dogs you can look at all you want. We can gaze into their eyes. We can closely examine areas that might be causing them discomfort.
Look like a leader
Other dogs, those who have different histories and different temperaments, can interpret the way you are looking at them with suspicion and fear. We need to be more restrained and controlled with the way we look at them. A direct gaze is confrontational, as we saw above. A direct, controlling gaze is threatening to a dog and can quickly develop into aggression. The leader owns the space. The leader is the one who controls the look and administers the look; not the one who obeys it.
Awareness and care in using eyes
So with some dogs, and every new client who I am first meeting, I am careful about how I use my eyes. Then, when I have established what is and what isn’t safe and comfortable for both of us, we can begin our PetMassageTM.
In PetMassageTM the effects of eyes, hands and breath are the same.
Soft flexible eyes, like soft flexible hands are welcoming, supportive and nurturing. Hard fixed eyes, like stiff, inflexible fingers send the message of a hard correction. Held breath creates a feeling of inflexibility, discomfort, fear and anxiety, while continuous easy breathing allows our bodies to feel balanced, and present.
Soft eyes, hands, and breath work together to promote comfort and well being in our dogs.
Curtain of distraction
Recently while walking Lola and Camille, I had a conversation with a neighbor who was watching her kids playing badminton using a structure made of 3” PVC piping as a net. She described it as the “Curtain of Distraction.” While cleaning out their garage her kids and their friends had discovered this structure and it was immediately pulled out and set up for an improvised game of badminton. She sighed as she watched the kids, who had been helping to clean the garage, happily smacking the shuttlecock back and forth over the horizontal pipe. The contents of her garage lie strewn across the driveway and back yard, still, scattered and forgotten.
Jody, my neighbor, told me that the “Curtain of Distraction” is a recently devised psychological weapon of amusing distraction now used in college basketball games. It is supposed to distract the visiting team while they shoot free throws. It is similar to fans waving towels, chanting cheers, or shouting insults; though more focused and planned. It is obviously very effective in disrupting concentration – and execution – in emotionally charged, pivotal moments. The distractions have a measurable impact on the opposing teams’ score. There can be more than a 10% reduction in the number of completions. In a close match, that’s the difference between winning and losing scores.
YouTube videos show the curtain of distraction in action
“Curtain of Distraction” YouTube videos showed them to be creative and entertaining and, from the standpoint of my old fashioned 20th Century version of fair play and sportsmanship, disturbing.
In the end zones of the college games that I saw online, there is a structure, like the one in Jody’s yard, with two vertical PVC pipes supporting a horizontal pipe upon which is hung “the curtain.” At the opportune moment, the curtain is flung open and whoever is shooting is exposed to some random form of craziness. Players have no idea what they can expect to see. One cannot prepare for a writhing Elvis impersonator or a vignette in which a young woman struggles as a comic dentist employs huge pincers to extract an enormous tooth from her mouth.
Cheerleaders from another school were interviewed to find out what they thought about it. They were so enthusiastic; they decided that they needed to step up their game to make even more competitively devastating distractions.
Internal curtains of crazy thoughts
This curtain doesn’t have to be an actual fabric curtain. It can be just as readily the crazy thoughts that distract us while we are in a highly charged emotional state.
For me, my meditation time can easily morph into a highly charged emotional state. Highly charged doesn’t necessarily mean confrontational and dangerous. I get charged witnessing the bubbles on the ponds’ still surface; wondering what stories the fish beneath the surface might have. Each of my imaginary bubbles can be a portal to a whole new world with plots, subtexts, interwoven tangents, and occasionally, insights. It takes just a gentle suggestion of a suggestion, to get me to plunge into some fish-breath rabbit hole.
While my morning meditation often becomes wildly entertaining, I find a lot of value identifying the curtains of others. This happens during a PetMassageTM.
The process of PetMassaging: being mindlessly mindful
When I am fully immersed in the process of PetMassaging, I enter a meditative state of mindful mindlessness. I am being. I am being aware that I am touching, feeling, and experiencing. I am being present for the dog. I am not looking for anything in particular. If a lump or knot presents to my fingertips, I acknowledge it and let it go. You’ll understand why by the final paragraph. I am being open to acknowledging deeper curtains of distraction.
Opening potentiality
The back of my mind opens to the diffused softness of images which slip shyly into my awareness. They could be from me; my memories, concerns, and plans. If the images or contexts are foreign to my experience, they must not be mine. They must be from the dog in my hands. I must be witnessing their memories, concerns, and plans.
The curtain opens and who knows what’s behind it. For the dog, I’m the visiting team.
I ask the dogs’ humans to corroborate what I believe I have imagined. Although it’s unlikely that they and their dogs would put the same significance on an event, they often tell me they recognize the description of the scene where the memory occurred.
Sharing memories of dogs
The experience could be of smelling the musky wind while on a rocky boat ride. It could be the sensation of standing on the steps outside a back door at dusk, a chorus of cicadas above, a solitary cricket below, waiting for someone to open the door so I can come back inside. It could be the feeling of aliveness, galloping full speed, across a sweet wet field. It could be the scent and texture of wet foam rubber ripped from a freshly degassing sofa pillow. It could be the confusion of not being able to find the cat that has been around my whole life. It could be the curious new set of disconcerting scents that are not supposed to be in my master’s body; but are, and are growing in intensity, daily.
What’s behind the dog’s curtain?
Something important happens when I glimpse what’s behind the dog’s curtain. By sharing the image of what the dog is processing, I am the buddy, the witness, the seer. We share the image and the emotion that gives it meaning. Together, we identify it, and we name it. When it is joyful, we celebrate its place in the dog’s life. When it’s restrictive, it is defused. Together we dilute its power to distract.
This shared moment shifts the direction, the tone, and the intent of the PetMassageTM. The session can then move from generalized relaxation and stress relief toward addressing and resolving long-term, habitual distractors at deeper levels. The body-mind moves toward resolution. The body-mind becomes more balanced and health-accepting.
PetMassageTM is a support system for being. That’s how PetMassageTM works.