In honor of our sweet girl, Maya

As my journey continues, I find myself ever-awakening to the depth of the relationship that is possible between humans and animals. There’s so much more than meets the eyes. Our dogs can go way beyond companions. Although I share about this often, through having my own direct experience with the miracle of this bond, I’m reminded in a way that is deeply personal, intimate, and hard to articulate with words. But I will try.

On January 7th, 2021, we lost our beautiful dog Maya. She was an 11 yr old Cockapoo who joined our family when she was just 1 year old. Her loss was sudden and shocking, and required some time to process the emotions of it all.

We adopted Maya through an independent rescuer who took her out of horrendous conditions. The woman was hesitant to show Maya to us because we were there to meet a different and more ‘adoptable’ looking dog. In fact, Maya’s mats were so thick, her entire coat had to be shaved off in one chunk. You’ve probably seen some sad videos of dogs like that online. So when we met her she was completely shaved to the skin with only a tiny bit of hair around her eyes. She was wearing a Christmas sweater, even though it wasn’t the season. She approached my husband Rene right away, and they fell in dog-love at first sight. She knew immediately that Rene was her soul partner.

Turns out, she was one of mine too.

Maya’s loss was particularly difficult because we weren’t physically with her at the time of her passing. Rene and I, along with two of our dogs -Violet and Benny, were on a road trip. Maya and our other dog Graham were being cared for back at home.

Apparently the cause of her death was a blood clot sustained during an injury. A couple days prior, she wasn’t feeling her best, was restless, and had refused to eat. Although we knew something wasn’t right, and we were working with our vet to figure it out, we certainly didn’t expect this.

Although it feels strange now to look around at our fur family and notice the physical absence of our beautiful Maya, her subtle energy is incredibly present. I can tell that the other dogs feel that too.

Many of you probably know the story of Maya… she played a significant role in Sama Dog’s creation. About 8 years ago, it was Maya who taught me that the methods of Ayurveda are transformational and healing to animals too. By being my little “guinea-pig”, she allowed me to help her heal from a life-threatening condition by using a variety of foods, supplements, herbs, smells, sounds, behavior techniques, daily practices and bodywork.

She would look at me with her big, warm, brown eyes, and although a bit apprehensive of what mom was getting up to this time, she would accept each step willingly. Maya was brought to a full recovery, medication free, ever since. 

By witnessing her amazing transformation, and learning SO much about myself and our connection through that process, I was called at my soul-level to help other dogs heal and live healthier through Ayurveda. With Maya as my muse, I created a series of courses to teach people exactly how to apply Ayurveda and natural wellness routines to their sweet, special dog friends too. You can learn more about those here.

The rich science and methods of Ayurveda are pretty unfamiliar territory for most people and pets, but there’s nothing we enjoy more than guiding you to learn more and more. A great first step to take, if you haven’t already, is our Dog Dosha Quiz.

Every day we enjoyed a meditation with Maya. Actually, we still feel her with us when we sit down to practice each morning. In Maya’s honor, here’s a meditation to share with your beloved companion. It explores the miraculous human-canine bond.

With our hearts filled with gratitude, we thank our precious girl Maya, and feel blessed with all we shared over 10 beautiful, life-changing years.

Maya, you are forever a huge part of our lives, our marriage, and our family. Please continue to guide me and the work that we do, on earth as it is in heaven.

We love you eternally,
~ Amanda, Rene, Graham, Violet & your little buddy Ben

Pictured above: Maya (left) & Violet (right) after their grooming.