Monday, June 19, 2017

Great Reasons to Adopt a Rescue Dog


A former senior physician at the Sarasota County Department of Health, Dr. Patricia Lynn Hough has a career in public health that spans more than four decades. In her current role, she serves as staff supervisor at St. Francis Animal Rescue in Venice, Florida.

Adopting a rescue dog affords a pet owner several benefits compared to purchasing a newborn puppy from a breeder. Here are three reasons why a rescue animal may be a better fit for your household:

1. The majority of dogs that are housed in rescue shelters have already been house-trained. By adopting a rescue dog, the owner can bypass much of the frustration that comes with having to train a puppy to use the bathroom outside and not chew furniture. 

2. For dogs that have been fostered, the potential owner gets the benefit of knowing how the dog will behave in a home environment before taking the pet home themselves. This is especially helpful for owners who already have animals in the house since it will be important to know if the dog can get along well with other pets.

3. Rescue dogs have already been vaccinated, as well as spayed or neutered. Therefore, when potential owners choose to adopt from a shelter, they know they are getting an animal that has undergone thorough health screenings by trained personnel.

Monday, June 12, 2017

Three Mistakes Yoga Beginners Often Make


Since January 2016, Dr. Patricia Lynn Hough has served as the staff supervisor for the St. Francis Animal Rescue of Venice, Florida. Outside of Dr. Patricia Lynn Hough’s work with the shelter, she practices yoga. 

There are a number of mistakes common to new students of yoga. Avoiding these mistakes will help you get the most out of your practice, both physically and mentally. 

1. Wearing Loose Clothing - Many beginners mistakenly assume loose clothing will hide their bodies, leaving less to the imagination than the tight clothes you often see in a yoga class. In actuality, the tight clothing does more to protect your modesty, as loose clothing is more likely to slip or fall off. 

2. Pushing Too Hard - Many beginners have the misconception that yoga will be a breeze, especially if they have a history of sports or strenuous exercise. While yoga may be simple, it is not always easy. Yoga stretches and works deep muscle tissue, requiring careful attention to avoid strain or injury. While it might be a good idea to push yourself to your limit on the basketball court, beginners may want to reconsider that approach on the yoga mat. Yoga is not a competition. 

3. Unhealthy Comparisons - Since yoga is not a competition, there is no point in comparing yourself to others, especially more experienced practitioners. Comparing yourself to an expert will likely leave you overwhelmed and intimidated, and may even lead to jealousy. If framed correctly, however, comparison can be healthy: instead of asking why you cannot do what they can, ask what it will take to get there, and use the experts as inspiration and motivation.