How to Calm Your Animal Companion During a Storm Using Jin Shin Jyutsu

Bring Calm to Your Pets During Stormy Weather with Jin Shin Jyutsu

Stormy weather can be stressful for our animal companions. The sounds of thunder, flashes of lightning, and sudden changes in atmospheric pressure can all lead to anxiety in our pets. Many pet owners are familiar with the signs: trembling, hiding, restlessness, or even excessive barking or meowing. While there are various methods to help soothe your pet during these unsettling times, Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ) offers a gentle, natural way to harmonize their energy and ease their stress.

What is Jin Shin Jyutsu?

Jin Shin Jyutsu is an ancient Japanese healing art that works with the body’s energy pathways. These energy flows can become blocked or imbalanced, leading to discomfort or emotional distress. By gently placing your hands on specific areas of the body known as Safety Energy Locks (SELs), you can help restore balance and harmony. While this practice is often used on humans, animals can also benefit greatly from its calming effects.

How Storms Affect Animals

Just like humans, animals are sensitive to changes in their environment. Storms bring loud noises, flashing lights, and shifts in atmospheric pressure, all of which can be disorienting and frightening for animals. Their heightened senses make them more vulnerable to these disturbances, leading to signs of anxiety such as:

  • Shaking or trembling
  • Hiding or seeking comfort
  • Panting or drooling
  • Restlessness or pacing
  • Excessive vocalization

While it’s tempting to simply cuddle them or use distractions like toys, JSJ offers a way to directly address the root of their stress by harmonizing their energy.

Using Jin Shin Jyutsu to Calm Your Pet During a Storm

Here are a couple of simple yet powerful Jin Shin Jyutsu holds that you can use to help your animal companion through a storm. These holds not only reduce anxiety but also help them feel safe and grounded in the face of unsettling weather conditions.

1. Safety Energy Lock 26: Helps to Ground and Provide Security

Location: Right behind the front leg, where it meets the body (on the chest area).

This area is known as Safety Energy Lock 26, and it's all about "total and complete" harmonization. During a storm, placing one hand gently on this spot helps your pet feel grounded and secure, like they are connected to something stable amidst the chaos.

How to Apply:

  • Sit next to your pet in a calm, relaxed manner.
  • Gently place one hand behind their front leg, just where the leg meets the body. This is not only soothing but also provides a comforting touch that helps them release fear and tension.
  • Hold this position for a series of slow breaths, focusing on your pet’s response. Signs of relaxation such as a deep exhale, softened eyes, or even a gurgling stomach mean they are starting to let go of their stress.

2. Safety Energy Lock 4: Helps to Adapt to Change

Location: Behind the ear, where your hand naturally rests when you’re petting them.

Safety Energy Lock 4 helps animals adapt to new and unexpected situations. This is the perfect hold for when the storm brings sudden loud noises or flashes of lightning. It helps the animal relax and accept the situation without fear.

How to Apply:

  • While holding SEL 26 with one hand, place your other hand behind your pet’s ear, as if you were petting them.
  • This position not only feels natural but also supports the release of tension and fear. It’s an excellent way to help your pet process the sudden changes brought by the storm.
  • Hold the position for several slow breaths, allowing your pet to ease into the calm.

Signs That Your Pet Is Responding to JSJ

As you apply these holds, watch for signs that your animal companion is relaxing:

  • Deep, calming breaths
  • Ears that soften or relax
  • Less tension in their body
  • Yawning or licking their lips
  • A gurgling stomach (a sign that the parasympathetic nervous system is kicking in, helping the body to rest and digest)

Each animal responds differently, but these are all positive indications that the Jin Shin Jyutsu holds are working and that your pet is releasing the stress caused by the storm.

Incorporating JSJ into Your Pet’s Wellness Routine

While JSJ is especially helpful during stressful events like storms, it’s a wonderful practice to incorporate into your pet’s overall wellness routine. Regular JSJ sessions can help keep their energy balanced, reduce general anxiety, and even improve their physical health, such as boosting their immune system or helping with digestive issues.

The beauty of Jin Shin Jyutsu is that it’s gentle, non-invasive, and can be done by anyone with love and intention. You don’t need to be a trained practitioner to offer your pet the benefits of this ancient healing art.

Conclusion: Bring Calm to the Storm

Storms may be out of our control, but with Jin Shin Jyutsu, you can provide your pet with a sense of calm and security in the face of unsettling weather. By holding Safety Energy Locks 26 and 4, you not only help harmonize their energy but also deepen the bond between you and your animal companion.

If you’d like to learn more about using Jin Shin Jyutsu for your pets, visit our website for courses, video tutorials, and resources. Together, we can help our animal companions feel safe and balanced no matter what life throws their way.

Learn More About Jin Shin Jyutsu for Your Animal Companions 

Aries and Storms

By Adele Leas • February 4, 2025
One of the things that makes my soul sing the most is when I have unscheduled time at Alaqua Animal Refuge to just BE with the animals and see who is open to - calling for - some loving Jin Shin Jyutsu. This last Friday I was given one of those gifts. Alaqua Animal Refuge is a beautiful no-kill facility founded in 2007. Located on 100-acres in Freeport, FL, it offers second chances for abused, neglected and abandoned animals from the Emerald Coast and beyond. I have worked there, sharing and teaching Jin Shin Jyutsu for over 15 years. Tens of thousands of animals have passed through this loving place and I have been privileged to work with so many. Each one carves out a little place in my heart. Sometimes we get large numbers of animals from a severe abuse case. Sweet Aries was from one of those cases. Most of the other dogs who came in with him last year have found their people, but this sweet - and in his own way - perfect guy is still waiting. On Friday, while I was working in the Dog Adoption Center, a really big storm came up with crazy winds, and driving rain. I knew it was time to settle in with Aries. I made sure to be calm and centered before going into his run. He greeted me with a full body wag but he was also visibly shaking and in distress. Dogs have heightened senses of smell and hearing, allowing them to detect changes in barometric pressure and the way odors travel when that happens. Dogs may show signs of anxiety and panic by cowering, panting, howling, pacing and sniffing the air. You may see them exhibit sinus issues and joint pain when a storm comes up. Jin Shin Jyutsu to the rescue! It is a perfect, usable and immediate aid for this situation. I sat down on the side of the dog bed as he quickly cuddled into my side. He made it so easy to naturally share the work. Not all dogs can handle this level of contact immediately, but he was eager for me to wrap my arms around him and tuck him in with the opposite side Safety Energy Lock 26, up where the front leg attaches to the body. My other hand naturally could reach under his body and hold his Safety Energy Lock 13, at the center of the breast bone. This hold is all about our “feeling” nature, our respiration and unconditional love. We stayed this way for about 20 minutes, while he stretched out on his bed and felt safety. Whenever I get to BE like this, at just the right moment with a rescue animal, I feel like my life is really on purpose. It is so easy to start to learn to share, so life-changing when offered. And brings so much joy to all involved! ** If Aries looks like he is right for you, please reach out to me! I would happily do all I can to make that happen. Remember, I deliver! Here is what is written on his chart: Aries is a mixed breed, 4 year old male. House trained, selective with other dogs, (no cats). Aries, once timid and scared, has transformed into a beacon of hope and determination. Despite missing all of his teeth and an unimaginable past, he has learned to love and be a dog. He is a true example of Resilience. He is a loving boy who deserves a second chance!

Avoiding a costly vet visit

By Adele Leas • January 8, 2025
Early on New Year’s day I was just getting up and doing the most important thing I could do… feeding the cat her first breakfast of the day/year! Suddenly I heard a crashing sound and my Scirroco came limping out of the bedroom, putting no weight on his front right paw. Now my rescue fella is around 13 years old but he is a real athlete, part lab and part whippet and usually fast as the wind. He was clearly in pain, so everything else got put on hold and we got comfy down with him in the best dog bed and me on a blanket next to him. What had he done? Where exactly was the injury? Luckily this beautiful Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu does not require all of those answers before you can start. I put one hand up behind his right ear, the other hand on his right 13, above the breast bone. This holds calms and centers and clears the energy of both right legs. I watched carefully how he shifted his body, and I held different Safety Energy Locks that he seemed to ask for. Understanding WHO the SEL’s are and what their jobs are makes you able to help your animals in ways they are open to in almost any situation! We worked about 3 times a day for around 20 minutes at a time for 3 days. He made steady improvement till he was back to his normal super-fast self. Because he knows that this is what I do, he comes and asks for a session when he is ready. This is what I mean when I say that JSJ is really an Art of living with animals.

Exciting News from Our JSJ Program!

By Adele Leas • August 23, 2024
We're delighted to share some good dog news! By now, many of you may have heard about the program I started through Alaqua Animal Refuge , where a group of volunteers and I take shelter dogs to a senior living center for a fun-filled JSJ love fest. Well, one particularly perfect sweet mid-aged, mid-sized dog came with us for every single visit. She was so good-natured with dogs, residents, and even cars. Every month I hoped she would not join us again because she had left the refuge. But each month, there she was… wagging and ready to show all the other dogs just what to do. I kept writing up stories about her and posting pictures. Still she sat for 8 long months… Till the magic happened! A family read the write-ups about her and set up a “meet and greet.” They took her home for a “sleepover”… and adopted her yesterday! I am crying even as I write this. This is how it happens… love triumphs one animal at a time! ~ Adele Leas

Alaqua Dogs: A Tradition of Joy and Healing at Senior Living Facilities

By Adele Leas • August 20, 2024
Monthly Visits That Bring Comfort and Connection For years, Adele Leas, founder of Jin Shin Jyutsu for Your Animal Companions and a renowned practitioner of Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ), has led a heartwarming initiative at Alaqua Animal Refuge in Sanctuary, FL. This program beautifully combines the healing power of JSJ with the companionship of rescue dogs. What started as a dream has evolved into a beloved monthly tradition. Each month, Adele, along with a dedicated team of volunteers, takes a select group of dogs from the refuge to visit a nearby senior living facility . Residents eagerly look forward to these visits, finding great comfort and joy in the dogs' presence. The dogs thrive on the residents' affection, becoming more social and adoptable. Adele also uses these moments to connect with the residents, deepening their bond with the animals. The impact of these visits has been profound, creating lasting memories and fostering deep connections. A particularly touching moment was when the residents asked to make homemade treats for the dogs during their cooking class—a beautiful gesture that exemplifies the spirit of this program. This longstanding tradition reflects the deep healing and connection that Jin Shin Jyutsu fosters between humans and animals. To learn more about how JSJ can enhance the well-being of your animal companions, or to explore classes, videos, and other resources, simply explore the rest of our website. Visit Alaqua Animal Refuge to learn more about the refuge and its mission.

Easing Shelter Pet Anxiety: How Jin Shin Jyutsu Aids Adoption

By Adele Leas • August 20, 2024
Shelter pets often face significant anxiety due to the overwhelming and unfamiliar environment, making it challenging for them to relax and connect with potential adopters.

Fostering Animals in Need: A Path to Healing with Jin Shin Jyutsu

By Adele Leas • July 25, 2024
Discover the gentle power of Jin Shin Jyutsu and help your animals live happier, healthier lives. Embrace this natural approach to anxiety relief and enhance the bond with your furry, feathered, or hooved friends through the art of energy harmonization.
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