If you have an anxious or overstimulated dog:
Remember... Talk Without Touch is overstimulating, confusing, and activates the sympathetic nervous system.
However... Touch Without Talk can soothe an overactive mind.
Petting is just petting, and often done in a mindless way, or worse, in a way that satisfies the owner's need to be validated and soothed.
If you want to truly start to heal your dog and the connection you have with yourself and your own nervous system, first:
Get quiet. Set an intention. Know that this will be healing for both you and your dog if you go about it in the right way.
Do you have quiet hands?
Do you feel embodied?
Check yourself. Don't unconsciously transmit your own inner turbulence.
Read your dog's invitation for touch. Adjust your pressure according to their need. Learn how to actually give a massage, with presence and poise.
The connection between you and your dog should fill you up, not drain you down.
Don't ignore your own needs, adjust your position and stop if you feel tired. Don't be a martyr. Don't give more than what you really have to offer.
Be in the right state of mind to give freely, but also be open to receiving back what you generously offer: Calm, loving presence, the very breath of life.
Join the Class at The Chattery
If you would like to attend the in-person class, being held in Chattanooga, TN, please grab a ticket at this link: Touch Without Talk
