Month: February 2011

creativity, invention

Beginning: The Great Work of Remaking You & 3 Tips for a Successful Reinvention

Christa Avampato

“As human beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world as in being able to remake ourselves.” ~ Gandhi

This winter weather can really take the wind out of our sails. Today it’s heading to 60 degrees in New York City and I think Central Park may have a mob scene on its hands by the time happy hour rolls around tonight. I might be part and parcel to it myself. I need to literally stretch my wings and let the sunshine pour down over me. I’ve felt too-couped up for the past few months. I needed the rest, and now it’s time to put my new-found energy to work.

All this excitement of remaking my life comes on the heels of having paid down a huge chunk of my student debt. With that goal accomplished far ahead of schedule, I’ve turned my attention toward reinventing my day-to-day life. The options of what to do next are endless, and paired up with a multitude of interests I’ve got more options for re-invention than I know what to do with!

The process of remaking our lives can be a daunting task, and luckily I’ve made a habit of it so this path is a well-traveled one for me. I’ve found that the keys to surviving and thriving during the reinvention process are:

1.) Make it a game. Try out new ideas. Put them to use, tinker, and see how it goes. Play.

2.) Don’t take any of your mistakes or successes so seriously that you’re afraid to make your next move. Don’t beat yourself up for wrong turns or paths that didn’t pan out. It’s all good learning (and good writing material.)

3.) A loose plan of how to move forward helps to focus your energy, but also gives you room to learn and change direction as needed.

If all else fails, reinvent again
Like any new start, remaking your life will have its ups and down, moments of excitement and anxiety. The greatest joy we have in this life is a new start every day. We can wipe the slate clean and start from scratch, creating something new that the world has never seen before. It’s the blessing of being an individual, and should be exercised and celebrated.

Get out there and start something, anything, that gets your heart jumping. Don’t worry about having to change and impact the whole world. Just focus on impacting your little slice of it and build from there. Reinventing our own lives is more than enough work for any of us.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

friendship, gratitude, inspiration

Beginning: How to Make the Most of Everything

Christa Avampato

“The happiest people don’t necessarily have the best of everything but they make the most of everything.” ~ Anonymous

This quote was posted on Twitter last week by @FamousWomen and retweeted by Kimberly Wilson, a yoga teacher I follow. I read it on a day just after hearing a friend of mine confess how small her life felt. She’s in a tough place at the moment, facing a lot of challenges that she doesn’t want to face because they’re painful and scary and overwhelming. Throughout the conversation I heard her lament about all of the things she doesn’t have and wants. I listened, though felt at a loss for words.

Twitter to the rescue
On the way home from seeing my friend, I scrolled through Twitter on my phone and found Kimberly’s tweet at just the right moment. We live in a society of deficits. We constantly obsess about what we don’t have and what we don’t feel. Money, material goods, time, space, fulfillment, peace. We want more and more, though when we get more where does it really lead us? Along the same circuit of attachment and attainment. Something wonderful happens, something we supposedly really wanted, and we barely give it a glance before we’re on to the next to-do list. That’s a lose-lose game.

Knowing how to really live
Whoever coined the quote above really knew how to live. There’s so much more joy to be found in being happy with what we have as opposed to striving for what we think we want. And that doesn’t mean settling and losing our ambition. I’m all for ambition and I’ve got it in spades.

Lately I’ve been feeling the soft and constant presence of true gratitude in my life. Thankfulness for my family and friends. For my apartment, as small as it may be, and my job. My yoga, writing, and art. My freedom and courage and strength and confidence that took so long to cultivate and really own. I live a blesses existence, despite its frustrations, set-backs, and disappointments. Those moments are a miniscule minority compared to the incredible number of opportunities and moments of happiness that are accessible to me all the time.

So that’s the message I’m going to give to my friend. Take the time and list out, on paper or simply in our mind’s eye, just how much you have, not what you lack. The more often we actively give thanks, the more we have to give thanks for.

Has that been your experience? Have you ever felt like you had nothing left to be happy about, and if so, how did you pull through?

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

choices, decision-making, teaching, yoga

Beginning: So You Want to Teach Yoga? 5 Key Considerations When Choosing a 500-hr Yoga Teacher Training Program

Christa Avampato

“In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.” ~ Bhagavad Gita 2:40

What is all of this yoga teacher training for?
After completing my 200-hour yoga teacher training at Sonic Yoga in May, I immediately began to think about getting my 500-hour teacher training. I thought I would sign-up on the spot for Sonic’s training, though I decided to take a bit more time before jumping in. I wanted to make sure I fully understood why I wanted and / or needed this training, and that I thoroughly understood the financial and time commitments.

At that point I also wasn’t sure how my teaching would take shape and if I’d like to concentrate in a certain aspect of yoga. I needed to get clear on these points before moving forward, and since I didn’t have clarity at that moment, I waited. And waited and waited and waited for some wisdom, some sign, to arrive.

To hear the message, we need to quiet down
Recently, I’ve been staying in my daily meditations longer, practicing longer and more rigorous asana (pose) sequences. Every once in a while I would tap into something. A very soft voice, very far away. It had some sense of urgency though I couldn’t make sense of its message. Kind of like being at a cocktail party hearing lots of talking but not being able to decipher any specific conversations.

Discovering my path foward in my teaching required more patience than I originally thought I’d need. Eventually I knew the answer would surface in a way that I could understand. The Universe is like that – it’s on its own timetable, not ours. It will make itself known when it’s good and ready, and not a moment before.

So I went about my life, going to work, seeing my friends, walking Phin, teaching and taking yoga classes, following my own personal practice. I made pictures on my Wacom (see above!) and kept my eyes and ears open as wide as possible.

The Universe speaks in mysterious ways
The other funny thing about the Universe is that it has a marvelous sense of humor. It reveals itself to us in some hilarious ways, and when we make the connection we can’t help but chuckle. Just when I get clear on what I need, someone sends me a link or a message that points the way forward. Sometimes it’s through a random, unexpected conversation that comes about from just day-to-day living. It’s not that signs are scarce; it’s that we often miss them because we’re looking but not seeing.

After months of debating about how, why, when, and where to pursue my 500-hour teacher training, I’ve had a few revelations about choosing a program:
1.) My focus is most certainly providing yoga to under-served populations that are seeking yoga for therapeutic reasons that are vast and varied. It doesn’t need to officially be called “Yoga Therapy”, but that aspect of practicality is important to me. Because of my interest in anatomy, mechanics, and medicine, I need further training.

2.) The philosophy and reputation of the instructors is a critical factor to consider. Are the lessons and teachings that they have to offer what I need / want to learn? Does their teaching style fit well with my learning style?

3.) What’s the culture of the training, as well as the schedule and the cost? Here comes my rational brain that’s probing for the logistics. Can I feel comfortable spending many hours with the people in the program and at the studio? Can I get it to jive with the many other variable aspects of my life? It’s a heck of a lot of hours – they need to be enjoyable as well as beneficial.

4.) Ask questions. Lots and lots of questions. Of the instructors, students, yoga blogs and websites, and teachers using yoga in the way you’d like to use it. The world of yoga certification is murky and weird. Some of it’s legit and some of it’s a racket. There are incredibly humble and gifted teachers, and some who haven’t done their homework.

Ego gets in the way far too often on the teaching path, and you’ve got to be careful because this path can be expensive in terms of both time and money. Know what you’re getting before you buy because getting certified to teach is most certainly a business just as much as a spiritual path. There’s no lemon law when it comes to yoga teacher certification.

5.) Know what you want before you go shopping around. I have a nasty habit of just looking at the options out there and then choosing from that palette. Brian’s working with me to try to change that MO.

First, visualize what you want and understand your needs in a program. Then, and only then, begin scoping options. It’s like dating, finding a job, or getting an apartment. This is a search in the truest sense of the word.

If a program doesn’t fit into your vision, keep looking. Shop around. Go to classes. Take some workshops. We’re ridiculously blessed in this country to have more options for yoga teacher training that we know what to do with. Honestly, there are so many out there that I bet you don’t have to make a single compromise. Take your time – this isn’t a race. And as with any other aspect of life, we get what we settle for.

Do these tips resonate with you? Have you decided on a training program? I’m taking suggestions!

The image above is my latest doodle on my Wacom.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

profession, SXSW, technology, yoga

Beginning: Taming the Monkey Mind: Yoga and Creative Focus Is My Session at the 2011 SXSW Festival

Christa Avampato

Austin, I’m heading your way! A month from today I’ll be presenting at the SXSW Interactive Festival. Back in August I put together a proposal for a session entitled Taming the Monkey Mind: Yoga and Creative Focus. I’ve never been to SXSW, though from the description of it from friends who have gone it felt like the perfect setting to discuss my interest in helping creative professionals use yoga as a tool to spur their imagination at will. Plus, SXSW will allow me to indulge every nerdy tendency I have (and there are many!) In January, my session was accepted by the SXSW selection committee and I’ve been off and running on the planning and preparation front ever since.

As part of being a speaker, I have the opportunity to bring along a co-presenter. SXSW is such an incredibly inspiring experience that I felt selfish not sharing the goodness so I asked my friend Jennilyn Carson of Yogadork.com fame if she’d be interested in co-hosting the session with me. Thankfully she accepted, submitted to the SXSW committee, and was accepted. I couldn’t be more excited! Her blog on yoga pop culture is one of the funniest, savviest, and honest channels out there. She’s an incredible writer, community-builder, and meticulous researcher. I feel honored to have her join in the fun.

Our session will be on Tuesday, March 15th at 5:00pm, room TBD – the last slot of the interactive festival. It’s the perfect way to close out the SXSW experience – sharing ideas and thoughts about the creative process and the use of yoga to enhance our imaginations. No pressure, all fun. Stop by and see us!

I’ll also be teaching a yoga class on Monday, March 14th at 9:30am thanks to the gracious Ari Stiles. Again, it’s a very chilled out beginner level session that’s meant to help you relax and recharge for the last two days of the SXSW Interactive Festival. Come play!

Here’s a description of the session from the SXSW site:
The perfect way to wrap-up your SXSW experience: a lively and carefree conversation about how yoga can help you easily access your creativity and imagination at will. We all know this feeling of being under the gun with a deadline, needing to access our most creative ideas at a moment’s notice. When we really need our creative muse to show up, she somehow has the uncanny ability to hide like a needle in a haystack and then show up at 3:00am as we bolt upright out of bed, making our way in the dark to scribble down the ideas she’s handed to us. For too long we’ve accepted that’s just the way creativity and imagination work – unpredictably.

Yoga – physical postures, breathing techniques, and visualization – helps us tap into our imaginations at will and with ease, exactly when we need them. A regular yoga practice keeps our minds sharp, helps us make connections between seemingly disparate bits of information that may otherwise go unnoticed, and imagine solutions to complex challenges. It gives us a way forward. This session is helpful for everyone who needs to tap into their own creativity on a regular basis – from performers to programmers, in all mediums.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

business, social entrepreneurship, yoga

Compass Yoga Featured Today on SocialEarth

Christa Avampato

SocialEarth is a website and blog that gets the word out about businesses and social ventures that have a positive impact on the world. Thanks to a prompt from Tristan Pollock, co-founder of SocialEarth and a Twitter friend of mine, Compass Yoga is featured today as a business that make a difference. Check out the story here.

love

Beginning: A Day of Many Valentines and 5 Ways to Find More Romantic Love in 2011

Christa Avampato

“To love and be loved is to feel the sun from both sides.” ~ David Viscott, How to Live with Another Person, 1974

If you have a valentine to snuggle up to today then it’s possible that you see February 14th as a day of great excitement. Maybe a romantic dinner, flowers, chocolates, cards. Being in love is one of the very best things that our human existence has to offer.

If you don’t have a valentine in the traditional sense of the word then February 14th may be a day when you curl up on your couch to watch Sleepless in Seattle and hope that next year will be different, chocolates in hand. You might make a promise to yourself that in the next year you will get out there and mingle some more, increasing your likelihood of meeting the right one by next Valentine’s Day.

Or maybe you’re someone who doesn’t even equate February 14th with cupid’s arrow. You’re someone who sees every day as a day when love should be valued. And isn’t this a holiday that Hallmark invented to sell more cards? Your friends, family members, and your pet are your valentines, today and every day.

I fall somewhere in between those latter two groups – someone who would love to be in a committed relationship (after a long time of thinking that a lifetime of first dates and new loves was more fun) and someone who really sees February 14th as a reminder that love is all around us, in a multitude of forms that all deserve to be celebrated. (And for the record, I love Sleepless in Seattle and chocolates.)

But let’s assume that you’re reading this post because you do want to find more romantic love in 2011. How is an adventure-loving single in New York City to meet an equally adventurous single who’s looking for the same? Here are my 4 top ideas for more romantic love in 2011:

1.) If you like the idea of online dating but hate the trolling through profiles a la Match.com and eHarmony, check out Howaboutwe.com. Howaboutwe is a dating site that introduces you to profiles of singles based upon the types of dates they want to go on. You get a feel for the person’s personality as well as their interests, perhaps a better indicator of whether or not they’re a match for you rather than simply using the standard issue headshot and “witty” descriptions of themselves.

2.) Get out there and live. And I don’t just mean taking up residence at your local pub. To find someone who has similar interests and passions, chance are you have a better chance of meeting that person if you are out there participating in those interests. Meetup.com, classes, sports team, speakers, conferences, book readings, art exhibits. In New York City there is no excuse for boredom. At every moment there is something cool happening. Pick your interests, open up your Google search window, and away you go!

3.) Is speed dating your thing? A few years ago this was a very popular trend. I think it’s died down as of late but there is a company, SpeedNY, that I recently found thanks to Bloomspot.com that takes a British twist on speed dating. Fun, classy, and with free makeovers to boot, it’s worth a go just to get yourself out there and practice your flirting.

4.) Tell everyone you know that you’re looking. It’s true for a job search and it’s true for a mate search, too. You never know where an introduction may lead, and if someone else matches you, they have some seal of approval by someone who knows you well. Sometimes it helps to hand our romantic fate to someone else, and just take up the adventure of a blind date.

5.) Don’t give up, unless you really want to. I have a lot of friends who are so frustrated with dating that they’ve just thrown in the towel. If you really are happy alone, then all the power to you. I think that’s awesome that you are clear on that and have shrugged off the pressure to be coupled off. Some of the happiest people I know are in fact people who consciously decided that a romantic partner is not something that’s very high on their priority list. But here’s the thing – that was a willful decision. They didn’t stop looking because they were annoyed or depressed by the search. They gave up because they didn’t want the end goal of a romantic partner. If you really want a romantic partner, then keep looking. There will times of discouragement. All journeys have that, no matter where they’re heading. Life’s a treasure hunt, and so is the quest for love. It’s a game so enjoy yourself.

What are your top suggestions for how to find more love in 2011? And if you do have a valentine, just how did you meet? Share the love story!

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

books, design, experience

Beginning: Finding Beauty in Interactive Design and Life Thanks to Jenifer Tidwell’s Latest Book, Designing Interfaces

Christa Avampato

“Looking closer can make something beautiful.” ~ Cynthia Lord

As a customer experience designer I spend a lot of time thinking about aesthetics. I recently finished up an excellent book by O’Reilly Media on the topic – Designing Interfaces by Jenifer Tidwell. Yes, the book focuses on the design of interactive experiences – online and for mobile. Tidwell has used the idea of pattern finding as a basis for exploring interactive design. Patterns, a way to recognize the structure of past experiences and relate to new one, make us feel comfortable and secure. So it’s not surprising that we find beauty in them.

What Tidwell highlights so well in the book is the idea that patterns don’t just show up by accident, and they aren’t recognized accidentally either. Patterns need to be sought out, pursued, and practiced. Of course you can and should vary a pattern based upon the audience you’re targeting and the medium you’re using. However, a pattern, even if rough form, gives us a place to begin, a root to branch from, and eases the anxiety we feel at the start of a new project on a very blank canvas. Just beginning can be the very highest hurdle. Patterns give you a way over that hurdle so you can get to the fun stuff.

And this true whether you’re working on interactive design, painting a mural, or designing your life. While Tidwell wrote the book for software developers, web / mobile designers, and usability experts, the truth is that the interactive space highlighted in the book can be a metaphor for anything that can be designed, which is to say that it’s for everyone living, breathing, and creating. Patterns are where we start. According to Tidwell they have a 5-fold purpose:
1.) We learn from them.
2.) Teaching us what has worked and what has not worked, and why.
3.) They give us a design vocabulary that allows us to exchange thoughts and ideas with other folks like
us.
4.) Patterns serve as comps for projects we are currently engaged with.
5.) Patterns inspire us – and that’s true whether we’re trying to copy them or break them.

Interested to start seeing patterns in your own life? Here’s a fun exercise I like to do whenever the way forward on one of projects seem murky and I can’t find the beauty in what I’m currently doing. Hint: take Cynthia Lord’s advice and look closer:

1.) Think about a time when you felt blissful, when everything, literally everything, in your world fit perfectly in its place. Where were you, who were you with, and what were you doing?

2.) Think about a time when you felt totally disillusioned, disappointed, and frustrated. What are the events that lead up to that circumstance? How did you remedy the situation? How did it resolve?

Through the careful and honest assessment of these two exercises, you will see some patterns in your life that lead you in two polar opposite directions. And this little trip down memory lane can be scary for some people. Looking at our successes and failures and seeing how they came to be forces us to see how we play a hand in shaping our own life. Life doesn’t happen to us; we build it. That responsibility can feel empowering to some, and downright terrifying for others. If you’re in that latter group, take comfort that the patterns that emerge will provide you with a great understanding of how your life has come to be where it is now, at this very moment. And knowledge is power.

Still nervous? Here’s an example for each of the exercises from my own life to get you going:

1.) Last Fall, I was walking through Central Park by the Metropolitan Museum of Art. It was a warm, sunny Fall day, and Phineas and I were enjoying one of our marathon morning walks. (How I miss those days as the frigid winter wind now howls outside my window at this very moment.) There was nothing extraordinary about that moment, but just as the Met came into view, I felt this surge of joy rush through me and overflow.

Patterns: Walking my dog (and exercise in general) is very therapeutic for me. Our desire for happiness can be fulfilled in every moment, even when doing the simplest things. Happiness is always accessible to us as long as we remain aware.

2.) When I first started at my current company two and a half years ago, I was in a miserable work situation. I had the worst boss of my career, and faced some of the toughest projects I’ve ever done with very little support from her. Oh, and the economy was falling apart and there was a very real possibility that I would be laid off at the height of the recession. Those were scary, sad, anxiety-filled days.

Patterns: I rushed into taking that job, even though my gut told me this boss was not the right one for me. I didn’t ask much of my boss, even though I was frustrated with her lack of support and lack of engagement. Though outwardly confident, I was a nervous wreck inside, which caused my health to be compromised for far too long.

Just writing that out now did me a world of good. I’ve moved my life much more in the direction of my joyful experience and further away from circumstance that disappointed me. And this exercise spurred me to look for even more patterns from other experiences.

I think Jenifer Tidwell would be proud, and she should be honored that her book about interactive design can really serve an even higher benefit – it can help someone build a satisfying, fulfilling life.

This blog is part of the 2011 WordPress Post Every Day Challenge.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

determination, education, loans, money

Beginning: How I Got My Financial Life on Track and Paid Off My Private Student Loans

Christa Avampato

In May 2007, I graduated from Darden Business School and moved to New York City. I didn’t have a firm job offer and I had run out of money. In June, I got a full-time job offer and to tide myself over until I got my first paycheck in July I had to take a cash advance on my American Express card at an ATM and only making the minimum credit card payment that month. This was incredibly upsetting to me because I have always prided myself on never carrying any credit card debt. Though I could see the light at the end of the tunnel, I felt that financially I had hit rock bottom. I remember standing at that ATM machine in Astoria, Queens, where I was subletting an apartment month-to-month from a friend. I must have stood there for 20 minutes before making the cash withdrawal. I felt afraid, alone, and very, very broke.

Pulling myself together
I had gotten some gift certificate money on Amazon.com and with it bought Suze Orman’s just-published book Young, Fabulous, and Broke. I tore through it in an effort to put together a plan of how to get myself back on track. In addition to having run out of money, I also had over $100,000 of school loans hanging over me. It felt like a crushing amount of debt. It was a crushing amount of debt, particularly for someone starting at $0. To make matters worse, the interest on the loans was not tax-deductible because my income was too high – no consideration for debt-to-income ratio is given by the IRS with regards to this tax rule. That rule motivated me to get rid of these loans as quickly as possible. I didn’t regret my education, though I definitely felt like I would be in debt for many years to come and have to delay a lot of my dreams, which were precisely the reasons I went to graduate school in the first place.

After a mini-breakdown at the ATM, I pulled myself together, talked to some friends about this situation, and eventually toughened up. To be honest, I made the choice to go to school, take these loans, move to New York City, and try to make a go of a career as a product developer. I had to take responsibility for this debt; I had to own it and get it paid down as fast as I could without missing out on the fun of life in the meantime. A delicate balance. I was on the road, and I just had to chin up and keep going. Feeling sorry for myself just made the situation worse so I stopped whining, poured my heart into a solid plan to put away an emergency fund (which turned out to be very important considering that the recession would hit full force 6 months later), pay down my loans, and still enjoy all of the amazing experience that New York City has to offer. That last piece was key – if I couldn’t find a way to enjoy NYC while managing my finances, what would be the point in living here?

A plan is formed
With help from Suze’s book and my own experience of never really having much money to begin with, I put a plan in place. I had a goal amount to save every month that would first be put away for my emergency fund (the amount it would take me to live for 12 months if I lose my job.) I would make the minimum payments on my school loans until my emergency fund was in place, and then use the monthly savings amount to pay down the loans. Little by little I squirreled away money while still enjoying New York City in an affordable way. I’ve never been a shopper or much of a collector so resisting the endless temptations in New York City to buy-buy-buy was easy for me – and it was key to paying down my debt. My personal yoga practice helped A LOT, as did running, taking long walks in the park, and seeing my friends as often as possible. I had a lot of anxiety about the loans and when I felt it overwhelming me, I would get out into the world to shake it off.

A huge goal realized in 3 and a half years
Friday, February 11th, was a big, beautiful day. A little over three and a half years since putting my plan into action, I paid off over half of my student loans – the entirety of the private loans I took to go to graduate school. I still have government loans from both my undergraduate (which I also paid for myself) and graduate studies, though they have a locked interest rate. I will be turning my attention toward them next, though for today I’m doing a little jig of celebration. I threw off a great big heavy chain of debt today and it feels amazing!

My book about yoga and personal finance
I’m using this experience as a basis for a book I’m working on that combines the principles of yoga and solid guidelines for developing your own personal financial plan. I want this story of debt relief to be useful to as many people as possible, and the best way to make that happen is to tell the story.

Have you accomplished a big fat goal recently or have you put a plan in place to pay down your debt despite the tough economy? Let me know your story!

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

change, health, teaching, yoga

Beginning: Teaching Yoga Requires An Ability to Ebb and Flow at Every Moment

Christa Avampato

After a few weeks of teaching my yoga classes on Sunday nights at Pearl Studios, I’ve come to fully appreciate the power of knowing a craft well enough and having the confidence to make it up as I go. Getting used to a new space and a new class always takes time. I expected that. What I didn’t expect, and what I am absolutely delighted about, is the incredible variety of people who are attending the class. Truly an open-level class (from the newest beginners to long-time practitioners), come as you are environment, it’s both challenging and exciting.

The universe is also sending me a sign about where my yoga teaching is headed – in the yoga therapy / medical application setting. To-date, I’ve had several shoulder injury students, and students with fibromyalgia, spina bifida, low back strains, fused vertebrae, and scoliosis. Age has ranged from 18 to 67. Thanks to Meetup, my blog, the Compass website, and general word-of-mouth, the diversity is stunning. And what a gift!

What all this means is that the class I prepare is not the class I give. Every moment, I have to connect with the students, figure out what they need most at that very moment, and provide it. I change out cues and postures. I alter the pace. I offer different imagery. And the students let me know what’s working and what’s not working, and we figure it out together. I’m learning as much as they are, if not more.

Teaching yoga is equal parts giving and receiving. It requires listening, compassion, and empathy. And above all, it requires the ability to throw away everything you thought you knew and had rehearsed for many hours for the sake of providing students with exactly what they need, exactly when they need it. Ego and pride have no place on the mat or in the studio.

This blog is also available as a podcast on Cinch and iTunes.

animals, dogs

Beginning: 10 Things I’ve Done to Ease My Dog’s Separation Anxiety

Christa Avampato

Last week Phin, my faithful and adorable dachshund, had a bit of a setback in his training. To be fair, his schedule was a little out of whack with me coming home after work to walk him and then leaving again to meet friends, as well as having friends visit us before we all went out together, leaving Phin at home on Saturday night. His separation anxiety came back with a vengence with these changes and sent him into a panic, shaking and crying, sometimes for hours. Most of my neighbors were exceedingly kind about the situation and concerned about Phin since he has been fine for months.

Yoga and dogs
For a moment I stepped back and thought how ironic it is that I am a yoga instructor who teaches relaxation and stress reduction, and my dog has separation anxiety. Then again, if anyone can understand what he’s going through and ease that feeling in him, it should be me. This is the professional calling of my life – to help others find ease and to become aware of their own inner confidence.

The toll of stress
The weekend with Phin was stressful, and it was a wake-up call for me. I had forgotten how much stress can harm us if left unchecked. Within hours I had developed a stiff neck, a loss of appetite, restlessness coupled with exhaustion, tight muscles, a general state of nervousness / anticipation, a fuzzy mind that made it difficult to think clearly, and my skin broke out. I wanted so much to help Phin, and yet felt so unstable myself. If I felt this badly, I could barely imagine how upset he must have been! It was a reminder of how important the work of stress reduction is, and how much of my life I used to spend in this state.

Calm, assertive, and relaxed
Several days later, and back into a normal routine, I’m glad to report that Phin is back to his sweet, calm self. Animals, and dogs in particular, are creatures of habit. They thrive on rituals and predictability. Stability and structure is something Phin needs as we slowly work toward his rehabilitation, and as his loving caretaker it is my responsibility to provide that for him. It will take patience and time, and there will undoubtedly be stumbling blocks for us. I sometimes forget that Phin and I are still at the very beginning of our relationship because I feel like I’ve had him forever.

Tips to ease anxiety in dogs
Here are some tips that so many incredible friends and animals advisors gave to me over the past few days that have helped Phin and I by leaps and bounds. There is no way to thank so many people for their support and love:

1.) I put his playpen back into place, leaving the door open but giving him a room of his own

2.) I put him back on his homeopathic anxiety relief supplement that helped so much when I first adopted him

3.) When the cold weather set in, I gave Phin a down comforter to snuggle into. I had put it into my laundry bag last week and now that he has it back he seems to feel much more secure. Just like Linus.

4.) Despite the cold, I am waking up earlier and walking Phin for a full hour every morning. Bundle up!

5.) He’s got a stash of new toys that seem to keep him more occupied: an extreme kong (which I now stuff and freeze), a tuffy circle, and a kong bouncy ball.

6.) Rather than just leaving music on during the day, I leave the TV on for him so he has the comfort of hearing human voices. I’m relying on him to keep me up-to-date on breaking news.

7.) Taking a cue from Temple Grandin’s research, I purchased a Thundershirt – a soft, close-fitting shirt that applies very slight compression to Phin and is said to ease anxiety in 85% of dogs. $36 and it comes with a money-back guarantee if it doesn’t work. I have nothing to lose so we’re going to give it a whirl.

8.) I’ve decided to have my dog walker come back regularly in the near future. Walking with other dogs gives Phin the experience of being with a pack of his canine pals. Walks with Jamie, my dog walker, helped him tremendously when I first adopted him and also eased up my after-work schedule. It’s important for him to be able to walk well with someone other than me, and it will make it easier on him whenever I might need to board him in the future.

9.) One of my neighbors suggested that a stuffed animal might help Phin feel less lonely when I’m gone. Kind of like a teddy bear helps little kids go to sleep. I gave Phin a plush Kermit the Frog, expecting him to rip it up in no time. He chewed it a bit and now happily uses it as a pillow.

10.) I had been leaving one my t-shirts in his travel carrier and moved that t-shirt to his dog bed. With that t-shirt, he knows I’ll always come back to take care of him.

My role in Phin’s rehabilitation
I’m not sure if it’s just one of those things or the combo that is really helping Phin. All I do know is that he seems to be in a more zen state in our home, and to me that’s all that really matters. As his owner, it’s incumbent upon me to be his leader and to constantly provide him with my calm, assertive energy. And not just 99% of the time, but all of the time. I saved a life by adopting him, and I want our life together to be well-lived.

If you have rescued and rehabilitated animals, I’d love to hear your stories! Any advice is most welcomed here 🙂

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