Bodywork Services
Equine Bodywork
Horses are powerful beings and over time, along with the work they do for humans, develop fascial restrictions, inflammation, muscle imbalances, and sometimes physical injuries that can all contribute to pain, weakness, lameness, poor biomechanics and changes in structural alignment. Bodywork is a comprehensive approach to helping the horse re-discover the body's sense of ease, balance and harmony. A variety of modalities are used, including MFR (Myofasical Release), Trigger-point massage, Tui Na, and more.
MFR (Myofascial Release) is a whole body technique that connects with the fascial system. Fascia is a three dimensional web that surrounds every bone, muscle, nerve, organ, and vessel down to the cellular level. Restrictions in the fascia can develop from trauma, poor posture, injury, surgery or repetitive training/force, among others. As the fascia becomes rigid, the collagen and elastin...dense and fibrous, the surrounding tissue will react by becoming rigid/hard. Traditional massage often times focuses on the symptoms of the fascial restriction, whereas, MFR addresses the root cause. Standard tests do not show a fascial restriction. MFR differs from other hands-on modalities, i.e. chiropractic manipulation, massage, Masterson, etc. as it returns the fascial tissue to it's pliable web-like existence using gentle and sustained pressure that allows for release through several tissue barriers. Thus, pressure will be taken off painful, sensitive areas and motion improved or restored.
Massage for animals has been around for thousands of years, beginning with a form of ancient Chinese medicine, Tui Na, where the practitioner targets “ouch points” called Ah-shi points. Today we refer to those as “trigger points.” Trigger points often cause lameness in horses that goes undiagnosed.
Bodywork benefits include:
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Alleviation of tension and discomfort
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Increased circulation
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Increased lymphatic flow
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Improved joint range of motion
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Reduction of inflammation and swelling
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Relaxation
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Break down of scar tissue
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Reduction of post-event soreness
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Improved athletic performance
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Post-injury recovery
Click the link to read testimonials from a few happy clients. Depending on the needs of the horse the bodywork session will take 1-1.5 hours. For your convenience you may book online.
Equine Acupressure
Acupressure and Tui Na (an ancient form of massage) are components of Traditional Chinese Medicine, a wellness modality that focuses on helping humans and animals regain their natural state of harmony and balance. This is a gentle, non-invasive practice that is based upon thousands of years of clinical practice and observation.
Traditional Chinese Medicine takes a holistic approach to health. The acupressure practitioner uses a variety of tools to evaluate the whole horse (body-mind-emotions) to better understand the full picture including patterns of disharmony that may be contributing to the current state of health.
Using various forms of gentle, non-invasive touch the practitioner works with the horse’s chi (life-force) along meridians to help the horse’s own body re-gain balance and harmony. While acupressure may have many immediate benefits, including relaxation, improved circulation, etc. most of the benefits come over the course of several sessions targeting a particular issue or focused on seasonal environmental changes that can impact the health of the horse. Acupressure ultimately improves the horse's resilience to and enhance's recovery from external and internal stressors.
Traditional Chinese Medicine benefits (Acupuncture/Acupressure) include:
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Alleviation of tension and discomfort
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Increased circulation
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Increased lymphatic flow
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Relaxation and anxiety reduction
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Improved recovery from injury, disease or surgery
Click the link to read testimonials from a few happy clients. Depending on the needs of the horse the acupressure session will take approximately 1-2 hours. For your convenience you may book online.
Animal Reiki
Reiki is a helpful complement to your horse's health and wellness program. This particular type of Reiki, Let Animals Lead® Method created by Kathleen Prasad, honors animals not only as partners in the healing process but also as teachers and guides throughout the process.
Let Animals Lead® Reiki Method is practiced across the globe, including through the Shelter Animal Reiki Association (SARA), as a way of ensuring better healing practices for shelter and sanctuary animals. Reiki can help the animals become more adoptable and help their caretakers stay strong and calm in difficult situations.
Let Animals Lead® Reiki Method is ideal for many situations and horses, including: horses participating in a demanding work schedule (i.e. therapy programs, shows and events, lessons/schooling), horses living in sanctuaries/rescues; those horses who are overly sensitive/reactive to bodywork, not adjusting well to a new environment or situation, are on stall-rest, or recovering from surgery. There are times when a caretaker/owner needs to prepare a horse and the herd for euthanasia or must care for a horse in hospice and these are situations where Reiki can be particularly supportive.
Reiki benefits include:
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Stress reduction
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Pain relief
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Maintain or improve quality of life
Click the link to read testimonials from a few happy clients. Depending on the needs of the horse, the Reiki session may take from 30mins to 1+ hour. For your convenience you may book online.
Reiki for Humans
Reiki for humans is a practice of returning to our original core-self: our innate brightness, essence, true-self. Most of people loose track of the brightness over time and need support returning to the core-self. A Reiki practitioner may help remove the accumulated layers and uncover that essence. Sam's Reiki training lineage goes back to Usui Mikao, the founder of the Reiki system, through Kathleen Prasad, founder of Animal Reiki Source, and Frans Stiene, co-founder of the International House of Reiki. For more information, please visit: http://www.ihreiki.com
Reiki benefits include:
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Stress reduction
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Pain relief
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Maintain or improve quality of life
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Supports the body's natural healing process
Depending on your needs, the Reiki session may takes about 1 hour. For your convenience you may book online.