“Learn How You and Your Canine Companion Can Feel Better at Any Age!”
Title: Grow Young with Your Dog
By Mary Debono, GCFP (Creator of Debono Moves)
Copyright 2014
Non-Fiction
231 pages
Mary Debono is a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner. The Feldenkrais Method teaches how to use gentle movement and directed attention to improve flexibility, range of motion, and coordination in humans. Mary always knew she wanted to help animals using her hands, and she adapted this method to do just that.
As someone who suffers from chronic migraines, with two active dogs who are showing more stiffness as they age, I was intrigued by this concept. I also feel that stiffness sometimes from exercising as well!
Throughout this book the author shares stories of dogs she has helped, as well as sharing exercises for humans and dogs. These are not strenuous exercises, they are slow fluid movements designed to help with relaxation and getting in touch with our bodies by focusing attention on how we move. Once you purchase the book, you also have access to audio and video instructions for these exercises, which makes it much easier to learn them.
The author not only shares these exercises to do by ourselves or with our dogs, but she also shares her philosophies of life. These include encouraging positive reinforcement training for dogs, and guidelines that provide anti-aging benefits to both you and your dog. I found her thoughts on aging and time very interesting: “Have you noticed that the older we get, the faster time seems to fly by? Well, that’s not your imagination. The fact is, our brains tend to process time differently as we age. The good news is that we can slow time down, or at least our perception of time.” She goes on to explain how a neuroscientist found that engaging in novel activities can change how your brain processes time and makes it seem longer. It makes sense to me that your brain can process routine activities more rapidly, making time seem to go by faster. Processing new information can in a sense slow it down.
Now I have to tell you that I didn’t really try the exercises yet. I am honestly not very good at taking time for relaxation (I am fidgety by nature). I did try one with the dogs, and it seems that they aren’t either! Every time I tried to get the girls to lie down next to me and relax, they thought I was up to something, or heard a noise and had to go inspect it. But I can see the benefits of these exercises for all of us, so I am keeping this book handy and plan to try it some more when I have more time to devote to it (and you don’t have to have your dog to try them either). I can see how this could really help active, aging, or injured dogs, and people with types of chronic pain as well. Actually, I think it could benefit everyone to learn to slow down a bit and focus on relaxing and getting more out of life. Sometimes we just have to be reminded of what is important, to live life better, and that’s one thing I definitely took away from this book.
The book is available on amazon.com in both kindle and paperback versions, or you can purchase the e-book directly from her website debonomoves.com. If you visit that purchase page as well you can see some photos of the dogs she has helped. Don’t forget you also get access to the video and audio with your book purchase. The author also holds workshops where she teaches her methods (she has one on July 12th in NYC).
*Disclaimer: I was provided a copy of this book free of charge in exchange for my honest review. Wag ‘n Woof Pets only shares products we feel will be of interest to our readers and all reviews are our own honest opinion. Neither author nor publisher is responsible for the contest of this post.
Sounds like a great book. Thanks for the review.
Great review, thanks for sharing this book with us.
Interesting – might be a good read for Jack who has a hard time settling.
When I was still working — and for a few years after being laid off — I found it nearly impossible to relax. I always had to be doing something. When I realized a big part of it was due to my upbringing, I resolved to slow myself down. My father had always made it known that we had to be “productive” in one way or another almost every waking moment until we were old enough to retire. Thankfully, Mom was more reasonable; but Dad’s attitude permeated every inch and ounce of my existence. I’ve gotten pretty good at relaxing over these last 5 or 6 years, but sometimes I still have to make myself sit still long enough to “chill out”.
BTW, do you get enough magnesium in your diet? The daughter of one of my co-workers used to get debilitating migraines so often that she spent Thanksgiving weekend in the hospital several years ago. None of the doctors could figure out what was wrong with her until Marilyn read an article about it and mentioned it to the doctor. The doctor was like “yeah, I knew that”. Marilyn then asked “if you knew it, why didn’t you mention it when this all started?!” The doctor’s nonchalant attitude earned her the loss of a patient. The daughter started eating more green veggies (and other foods with magnesium in them) and soon stopped having those frequent migraines.
I wasn’t always this fidgety…it seems to have gotten worse as I’ve gotten older. Maybe once I’ve retired I’ll learn to relax!
Thank you for mentioning the magnesium. It’s something I have heard about in the past but never really pursued. It certainly can’t hurt to look up what foods have it in them and try to eat more of them.
When I got diagnosed I found the doctor’s answers were usually drugs that made me feel worse than the actual migraines. I had to read a lot to try to help myself. I have them far more under control than I used to, but I’d be happier if they would just go away completely (and mine aren’t debilitating, thank God, but they are tiring).
I love our family doc — when my arthritis used to bother me constantly, he gave me a bunch of exercises to do to battle the discomfort. And they all work great! I haven’t had to take ibuprofen but one time in about 5 years; and that was for my TMJ, not the arthritis. I wish he knew what exercises to put Callie through on a daily basis so I could take her off the Rimadyl!! I really have to get her back on the treadmill again!
I would far rather do exercises than take drugs, it sounds like you have a great doctor.
I don’t know with the dogs, I think the best thing for them is just to get them moving every day (I love your treadmill, that’s so great for them). I keep bugging the hubby that a swimming pool would be the best thing for Sheba (and Luke with his knees). Unfortunately we need a new furnace more. 🙁
That sounds very interesting. Another book for my list!
This looks like such an interesting read.
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This sounds awesome. Having arthritis makes me need to move more to avoid pain. This book would be inspiring!
sounds like an interesting book. I am like you, fidgety by nature. Not sure why or what causes it, but I always seem a tad on edge I suppose you would say, or I just have a need to be doing something, keeping busy.
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That’s exactly how I would describe myself too, Jenna. I just can’t sit still for long, unless I’m really focused on reading or writing something. Even then I have to get up and move every so often…and my brain has to be always stimulated, if that makes sense. I could never meditate or anything like that, even though I know it would be good for me!