Snow Angels Sanctuary Blog: A dog named Silly

Snow Angels Sanctuary Blog: A dog named Silly

A dog named Silly

One of my dogs is actually called Silly. He is visually impaired and sticks very close to me and his dad, Milo.  Silly is named Silly, because he is different. He is always barking, talking, running around. He barks to the beat of a different, but a very special drum. He is a happy dog, enjoys life, but most important, enjoys himself. He and his dad are always teasing each other and playing the silliest games I have ever witnessed two dogs playing. He really has embraced the art of being silly, never mind that he is a dog. I always say we can learn from the animals.

This is Silly's favorite joke - What does an agnostic dyslexic do when experiencing insomnia? Sit up all night wondering if there really is a dog.
I love my Silly!

BAH HUM BUG!

Over the past 12 days, I posted the Bah Hum Bug series on our FaceBook Fanpage. Bah Hum Bug is a series of tips to help you put the JOY back in Christmas. Life can get pretty crazy and stressful, it seems the Christmas season has put us all in a tail spin.
Also check out our page for lots of fun stuff at www.tinyurl.com/snowangelssanctuary


In case you missed the series here are the 12 tips again for you.

Bah Hum Bug tip#1 -Stressing over not having lots of cash for gifts?
Make your gifts, put a price limit on them.
With family, do a draw for one gift, and one gift only.


Tip #2
Spending xmas alone? you don't have to, have your own feast and invite others, or volunteer at a shelter, you will feel great after!

 

Tip# 3
Be a mall Santa and catch the Christmas fever from children!

 

Tip# 4
Join a xmas group, a group that is xmas focused, for example carolers, food drive organization, xmas choir, etc

 

Tip #5
If give out xmas cards and gifts, do a list, date it, and then stick to the time line. This will keep you focused and on track, cutting down on stress. When you are finished, reward yourself with some "me" time.

 

Tip #6
Make xmas your own, do a theme tree, create new traditions, host an open house, do a cookie exchange, go to a restaurant for xmas dinner, do something completely different!

 

Tip #7
If you work at a place that is open during Xmas, ask to work during the holidays. Take your time off when you really enjoy it, maybe during the summer on a nice warm day. Your coworkers who want it off will love you, you will feel like a superstar and it will keep you busy. You can then look forward to some well deserved holidays when you really want them.

 

Tip #8
Get bored during xmas? Plan a home project, redecorate a room, begin a sweater, start that photo album you keep putting off! Immerse yourself in a special project and you will forget that you hate xmas!

 

Tip #9
Take a holiday! Go far, or stay close by, go on a cruise or rent a log cabin close to home. Don't do much planning, make it spur of the moment.  

 

Tip #10
Volunteer at a hospital or seniors residence and help entertain on xmas day, or just keep people company who are ill and alone. You could also ask your community church or local senior centre who will be alone and will need some help during this time. Become Santa, bring joy to others, you will feel amazing!

Tip #11
Rent every xmas movie ever made, especially the classics, invite at least one person over who is a movie lover, and enjoy the day! Eat, watch movies and relax! Make your xmas something different and totally you.

Tip #12
Well here we have it, the final Bah Hum bug tip for now...........
When planning your new year's, why not consider something totally different this year? Something that will really uplift you, like a yoga retreat with the Snow Angels Sanctuary? :)  

Kundalini Yoga has been referred to as the "yoga of awareness" because of its spiritual practises and its use of meditation and mantras.  I often wondered if barking for dogs, was a form of a  mantra, that helped them relax.  In this very short video, lead dog Oreo and her sister Kodi, are preparing for lunch.....

A mantra is the process of using sound to project the mind. Sound vibrates.  Mantras work because sound is a form of energy that has the power to affect the chakras, which are the energy centers of the body,  and the human psyche.  Mantras use formulas that can alter the chemistry of the brain. The power comes from vibration of the sound.   The specific mantras that are used in Kundalini Yoga can modify our consciousness through their meaning and, the use of repetition and rhythm.  It really helps raise the energy when you link the mantra to breath.

The goal of a mantra is to bring intuition, inner strength and to become completely open to doing what needs to be done to develop into total being. We are created with 72 surs that are similar to strings.  The central sur is the vagus nerve of the parasympathetic nervous system which is called the ik tara or one star. It helps tune all the other surs.  When the central channel of the sushmuna in the spine is activated the support channels of ida and pingala move along with it, and the whole system now vibrates.  The mantra helps achieve this because when we resonate the specific sounds and vibrations are first out loud. Eventually it becomes mental. Your central nervous system is balanced and you just listen. You become Anahat, when your nervous system vibrates the mantra without conscious effort and you are attuned to the Infinite.

Follow Oreo on twitter at www.twitter.com/oreoAsnowAngel , she would love to hear from you.  

Meditation

At the Snow Angels Sanctuary, we talk a lot about the dogs, but we have cats that are snow angels too! And they are wonderful.

This weeks video features Paddy the cat, telling me about Puss Puss, his sister, whom he finds very annoying.

Stress does not seem to affect cats as much as it does us. What do they know that we don't? They know they need "me" time and they take it. They stretch it out, relax and go to sleep. Something we can do is learn how to meditate.  The benefits of meditation include feeling relaxed, having increased concentration and feeling peaceful.  You can start meditating by following these simple steps:

• Sit on the floor with legs crossed or in a chair. Make sure you are sitting with your spine straight.
• Breathe slowly.
• Close your eyes.
• Listen to some relaxing music if possible. If you are outdoors, listen to the sounds of nature.
• Tune out the noise of the outside world and turn your focus inward, on you.
• Relax.

Take time for yourself, take time to meditate.

Our first Post!