Still time to join us for an in-depth Online Intro to JSJ for You and Your Animal Companion
Jan 25-Mar 15, 2025!

Staying Calm as a Pet Owner: Natural Anxiety Relief with Jin Shin Jyutsu

Creating a Calm and Harmonious Environment: The Role of Jin Shin Jyutsu in Pet and Owner Well-being


As a pet owner, your state of mind greatly influences your pet's well-being. When you are calm and centered, your pets are more likely to feel the same. Jin Shin Jyutsu (JSJ), an ancient Japanese healing art, offers a natural way to relieve anxiety for both you and your furry companions. In this blog, we’ll explore how JSJ can help you stay calm and centered, creating a harmonious environment for you and your pets.


Understanding the Basics of Jin Shin Jyutsu


Jin Shin Jyutsu is based on the principle that our bodies have energy pathways, which, when blocked, can lead to discomfort or illness. By using gentle touch on specific areas of the body, known as Safety Energy Locks (SELs), JSJ helps to release these blockages and restore the natural flow of energy. This process is beneficial for both humans and animals, promoting relaxation and healing.


Preparing Yourself with Jin Shin Jyutsu


Before you can help your pet, it’s essential to ensure that you are in a calm and relaxed state. Here’s how to use Jin Shin Jyutsu to achieve a state of relaxation:


1. Find a Quiet Space:
Choose a peaceful area where you can sit comfortably without interruptions. This could be a quiet room at home or a serene spot outdoors.


2. Relax Your Hands:
Make sure your hands are warm and relaxed. Take a few deep breaths to center yourself and set a calm intention for the practice.


3. The Initial Centering Hold:
Place one hand on your solar plexus (the area just below your breastbone) and the other hand on your forehead. Hold this position for several breaths, allowing yourself to relax and release any tension.


Using Jin Shin Jyutsu in Daily Life


Incorporate Jin Shin Jyutsu into your daily routine to maintain your calm and composure. Here are some practices to apply:


1. Self-Help Holds:
When you feel stressed or anxious, use self-help holds to bring yourself back to a state of calm. For example, you can hold your thumb gently with the opposite hand and take several deep breaths. This helps to calm the mind and reduce anxiety.


2. Observe Your Breathing:
Pay attention to your breath. Slow, deep breathing helps to activate the parasympathetic nervous system, which promotes relaxation. Practice taking deep breaths in through your nose and out through your mouth.



Creating a Calm Environment for Your Pets


Your calm presence can have a profound impact on your pets. Here’s how to use Jin Shin Jyutsu to create a harmonious environment for them:


1. Regular JSJ Sessions:
Integrate regular JSJ sessions into your routine with your pets. This not only helps them relax but also strengthens your bond.


2. Calming Space:
Create a calming space for your pets with their favorite blankets and toys. Use this space for JSJ sessions and quiet time.


3. Positive Energy:
Maintain a positive and calm energy in your home. Pets are highly sensitive to their owner's emotions and will respond to your calm demeanor.


Embracing Jin Shin Jyutsu in Your Routine


Incorporating Jin Shin Jyutsu into your daily routine offers continuous support for managing stress and anxiety. Regular practice helps maintain energy balance and promotes overall well-being, making it easier to remain calm during stressful situations.

For more detailed guidance, practical demonstrations, and additional resources, explore our workshops, video tutorials, PDF guides, and live Q&A sessions available on the site. These resources can help deepen your understanding and practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu.


Stay calm and collected as a pet owner by incorporating Jin Shin Jyutsu into your routine. Discover the natural way to relieve anxiety and enhance the bond with your furry, feathered, or hooved friends through the art of energy harmonization.


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.

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

By Adele Leas • October 23, 2024
Learn how to use Jin Shin Jyutsu to calm and harmonize your pets during storms. Discover simple techniques to help reduce anxiety and keep your animal companions feeling safe.

Exciting News from Our JSJ Program!

By Adele Leas • August 23, 2024
We're delighted to share some 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.
More Posts
Share by: