Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Institute

The Tallgrass Training Program is offering elective and advanced courses so that participants and practitioners can continue to expand their knowledge in Acupressure, and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), and other Animal Healthcare Modalities.

Participants enrolled in the Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Practitioner Certification Program are required to successfully complete Two Elective Courses for a total of 40 Learning Units. It is not required that these course be taken through Tallgrass, but we do suggest that you review our course schedule for these electives. We are currently offering:

Equine and Canine Tui Na (Chinese Meridian Massage)
Spirits in Transition (Supportive end-of-life care)
Equine Aromatherapy & Acupressure

Participants in the Tallgrass Practitioner Program are welcome to submit letters or certificates of completion in other areas of complementary medicine from other educational programs. Participants who have completed extensive studies in TCM, massage, essential oils, Reiki, kinesiology, TTouch, homeopathy, etc. will receive the 40 Learning Units upon demonstration of successful completion.

Our purpose in requiring electives is to add to participants’ knowledge base. The more you know, the better you can serve animals. Rarely does any single modality stand alone. It is best to have many resources available.

Elective Courses

Tallgrass encourages participants to expand their knowledge of animal healthcare modalities such as massage, Shiatsu, Jin Shin, Reiki, food therapy, essential oils, further study in Traditional Chinese Medicine, etc. To become a Tallgrass Animal Acupressure Practitioner, people are required to complete 40 hours of addition Electives. Though Tallgrass does periodically offer some of these courses, we accept documents such as letters, certificates, and diplomas that indicate that you have successfully completed a course of study.

We have selected a few learning organizations that are pre-approved to provide Elective Courses. These schools include:

Animal Spirit Network

Bancroft School of Massage Therapy, Dog Gone U.

Boulder College of Massage Therapy

Hocking College, Natural Resources, Equine Complementary Therapies

Northwest School of Animal Massage

Spirits in Transition: Supportive End-of-Life Care

If a Tallgrass participant attends other schools or clinics and wishes to submit the course for consideration as an elective, please submit a description of the course and the number of hours involved in completion along with the document indicating attendance.

Equine Aromatherapy & Acupressure
Instructor: Marie Soderberg

Aromatherapy and acupressure make a powerful combination in supporting equine healing and health. This course offers acupressure students and practitioners instruction in how to make the most effective use of essential oils during an acupressure session. It is suggested that participants be familiar with the location of acupoints, but it is not required. This course identifies the essential oils and the acupressure point to be used for specific purposes. Participants will learn a few different techniques of working with the oils.

Advanced Courses

The Advanced courses Tallgrass offers to the Certified Animal Acupressure Practitioners serves to support continued learning and incorporation of new skills and knowledge within their practice of acupressure. There is always so much to learn and add to your “medicine bag” to provide optimum healthcare for animals.

Equine and Canine Tui Na
Instructor: Shauna Cantwell, DVM

All massage is based on the original Chinese Meridian Massage, called Tui Na, pronounced “Tway” with a long “a” sound and “Nah.” Tui Na is one of the five branches of Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine (TCVM) which also includes: acupuncture/acupressure, herbal therapy, food therapy, and qi gong (exercise).

Tui Na is a form of body work and manipulation that has a long history in Chinese medicine. Practitioners since 2700 B.C. have used these techniques in working with acupoints and meridians, as well as limb stretching and manipulation to prevent and treat disease. The art has definitely improved over time, and is being used very successfully on animals.

Tui Na regulates meridians, promotes circulation of Chi and Blood, and strengthens the immune system. These techniques can be applied in musculoskeletal conditions, arthritis, peripheral nerve disorders, wei syndrome (wasting and weakness), and internal conditions. As part of TCM and as an adjunct to veterinary therapy, Tui Na will facilitate and dramatically improve therapeutic results for horses and dogs while contributing to their well-being.

Course Objectives:

Learn Tui Na techniques
Understand basic muscle and nerve physiology
See the results of application to horses and dogs
Be able to apply techniques to horses and dogs

Requirements: to participate in the Tui Na Course, you must know the Meridian System. Tallgrass participants need to have completed Meridians & Specific Conditions I & II.

Dr. Shauna Cantwell is currently on faculty at the University of Florida veterinary college and teaches equine acupuncture and Tui Na at the Chi Institute of TCVM in Florida . Dr. Cantwell lectures on pain management and teaches chiropractic techniques at the Healing Oasis School of veterinary spinal manipulative therapy in Wisconsin . Additionally, she has her own complementary and alternative medicine practice for horses and small animals called Medicine Wheel Veterinary Services in Newberry , Florida .

Her career goal, along with improving the well-being of individual animals, is to demonstrate that alternative medicines can be integrated with conventional medicine to create a new and better veterinary medicine.

Fee: $365.00