Most canine are much less lively throughout the winter months. Find out how Tui na can assist stop early season accidents as your canine “springs into motion” once more.
Spring is within the air and your canine is aware of it. She needs to run, play, and frolic. It enjoyable to see her feeling so exuberant — however is she actually able to “spring into motion” after being a sofa potato all winter? This is precisely when accidents typically occur. Let’s have a look at why, and find out how the traditional Chinese strategy of acupressure-massage — also called Tui na — can assist preserve your canine from hurting herself.
THE BODY’S “RUBBER BANDS”
Muscles, tendons, and ligaments are the “rubber bands” of the physique. If they’re tight, stiff, or chilly, they will’t carry out their job, which is to comfortably flex the canine’s neck, 
trunk, and limbs. The tendons connect the muscular tissues to the bones to type a lever system. One muscle and its tendon prolong the limb ahead, and the other muscle and tendon draw the limb again. Ligaments maintain the joints collectively; they’re hooked up to the bony constructions to allow them to stabilize the joints.
After a interval of restricted working, enjoying and leaping, corresponding to typically happens throughout the winter months, sudden vigorous exercise could cause the muscular tissues, tendons, and ligaments to snap off the bone or tear. The older the canine, the extra conscientious it’s important to be about rebuilding and strengthening her muscular tissues, even once you begin up the train slowly and thoroughly. Young canine have extra capability to bounce, stretch, and transfer with ease — so long as they don’t overdo it.
FAST FACT: Another difficulty to look at for is when your canine’s muscular tissues tire; many an damage outcomes from shaky, drained muscular tissues.
ANCIENT CHINESE ACUPRESSURE-MASSAGE
Ancient Chinese medication medical doctors used acupressure-massage methods to boost flexibility and heat muscular tissues and joints. These methods are known as Tui Na (pronounced “tway nah”). They are an necessary a part of Chinese medication and have been used on each animals and people for hundreds of years.
Some Tai na methods are warming in nature as a result of they convey nourishing blood and Chi (life-promoting power) to the affected space of the physique.
FAST FACT: These methods improve the pliability and stability of the encircling muscular tissues, tendon attachments, and joints.
The two methods we’re going to discover listed below are thought of rubbing methods that heat, improve circulation, and invigorate the tissues. They could seem superficial, however they loosen the fascia — the fibrous layers of tissue under the floor of the pores and skin — and open up the muscular tissues beneath the fascia. In this manner, they put together the tissues for motion.
TRY THESE TUI NA TECHNIQUES
1. Mo Fa (“moo fa”) includes rubbing in a round movement. Use the tender pad of your center finger or the palm of your hand, relying on the scale of your canine, and gently transfer your hand in a round rotation. Keep your wrists and palms relaxed. Begin slowly with gentle stress, then after about ten rotations, improve the pace and stress till you are feeling the heat of the tissues.
Mo Fa might be utilized instantly on muscular tissues and joints. You can shift the round movement alongside the neck, trunk, and limbs.
FAST FACT: This approach is instinctive when both you or your canine are damage or really feel stiff.
2. Cou Fa (“soo fa”) is a mild but vigorous approach that have to be utilized rhythmically. Place one hand under the limb and the opposite on high. Start nearer to the hip and transfer your palms reverse one another, ahead and again, whereas slowly shifting them
down the canine’s leg. Again, press down gently at first, then improve the pace and depth of stress till you are feeling the tissues shifting flippantly beneath your palms. Repeat this motion three to 4 occasions.
Cou Fa might be utilized from the highest of a limb right down to the paw; from head to shoulder on the neck; or shoulder to tail on the trunk. As wanted, repeat this system 3 times in your canine’s limbs, neck or trunk, to heat and really feel the light motion of the fascia and muscular tissues beneath. Early season accidents might be painful, and put an actual damper on the remainder of your canine’s spring and summer season enjoyable. Start the season off proper with these two Tui Na methods, making use of them to your canine earlier than heading out for a stroll, run or romp. It could make an enormous distinction.
Amy Snow is without doubt one of the authors of ACU-DOG: A Guide to Canine Acupressure, ACU-CAT: A Guide to Feline Acupressure, and ACU-HORSE: A Guide to Equine Acupressure. They based Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Resources, which provides books, manuals, on-line coaching programs, DVDs, apps, meridian charts, consulting, and plenty of extra acupressure studying instruments and alternatives. Email: tallgrass@animalacupressure
Nancy Zidonis is without doubt one of the authors of ACU-DOG: A Guide to Canine Acupressure, ACU-CAT: A Guide to Feline Acupressure, and ACU-HORSE: A Guide to Equine Acupressure. They based Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Resources, which provides books, manuals, on-line coaching programs, DVDs, apps, meridian charts, consulting, and plenty of extra acupressure studying instruments and alternatives. Email: tallgrass@animalacupressure
