Body Awareness: The Skill That Builds Root-Cause Awareness (for You + Your Dog)

In fitness, I teach body awareness as a practical skill rather than a vibe. Because when something emergent happens, we don’t need perfect answers.
We need a calm, repeatable plan:

Stop → Breathe → Observe → Take the next step.

This is also the foundation of Root-Cause Awareness (my Detective PAWer approach):
we follow clues, spot patterns, and choose the simplest support without spiraling.

Why I use this approach (and teach it)

When we skip observation, we jump straight to “fix it.” And when we jump to “fix it,” we often guess. Body awareness keeps us out of panic-mode and puts us back into decision-mode.

Real-life example: when my dog, Makoa, runs out the gate

Let’s say Makoa bolts out the gate and runs alongside a cyclist moving 30 mph (yes this happened fast). When she comes back, I don’t assume she’s “fine” just because she looks happy.

I do a quick body check:

• Paws: what do her pads look like? Any scrapes, heat, or worn spots?
• Nails: any cracks, breaks, bleeding, tenderness?
• Legs + joints: is she favoring a limb, stiffening, licking, or shifting weight?
• Skin: any cuts, punctures, abrasions?
• Breathing + recovery: how fast does she settle? Does anything feel “off”?

Rather than, fear it’s information. Information gives me a better next step.

Gut example: diarrhea or vomiting is more than random

When diarrhea or vomiting shows up I ask a Root-Cause Awareness question:

“What did she eat or get exposed to 24–72 hours prior?”

That window matters. It helps me consider:

• new treats or chews
• trash, compost, wildlife poop
• stressful events or schedule changes
• new environments (parks, daycare, travel)
• meds/supplements changes

Then I choose a simple support for her gut based on the clues—not a rushed reaction.

Here’s the honest truth: sometimes I choose wrong

This is important!

Sometimes I make the wrong decision and something gets worse. Rather than feeling I failed, it means I got new data.

So I do what I teach my clients to do. I support her, reverse what isn’t working, and start over gently. That’s what Root-Cause Awareness looks like in real life. Releasing perfection. Just responsiveness.

The same plan I use for my own health

This is also how I approach my own body.

When something feels off, I return to the same process:

• Stop
• Breathe
• Observe
• Choose one next step
• Reassess

It’s how we build confidence—because confidence isn’t “always being right.” It’s knowing you can respond well if you need to pivot.

Your 2-minute Detective PAWer check (use this today)

Pick one area: gut / joints / skin / stress and ask:

1. What changed in the last 24–72 hours?
2. What’s the first sign I notice?
3. What’s one simple step that supports the system rather than  just the symptom?
4. How will I reassess in 24 hours?

That’s it. Calm. Clear. Repeatable.