Healing with Jin Shin Jyutsu: Lessons from Animals

Insights from Adele Leas on the Art of Healing


In a recent interview on Jin Shin Jyutsu Official, Adele Leas, a renowned Jin Shin Jyutsu practitioner and founder of Jin Shin Jyutsu for Animal Companions, shared her profound experiences and insights into the practice. Her journey with Jin Shin Jyutsu has been deeply influenced by her beloved animal companions, providing a unique perspective on this ancient art.


The Connection Between Self-Help and Healing


Adele begins by expressing her gratitude and joy for being able to share Jin Shin Jyutsu with a worldwide audience. Her life was significantly transformed by self-help practices, and she now has the opportunity to extend this knowledge, especially alongside her animals.


How Animals Teach Us to Read Jin Shin Jyutsu


Adele fondly refers to her talk as "how my animals taught me to read." She explains that despite the seemingly simple nature of Mary Burmeister's self-help books, these texts have provided endless learning opportunities over the past 31 years. Each time she revisits the books, she discovers new insights, often guided by the interactions with her dogs, horses, and cats.


Harmonizing with Jin Shin Jyutsu


To begin, Adele recommends harmonizing oneself. She explains the significance of the 26 safety energy locks identified by Jin Shin Jyutsu, which are the energetic building blocks of the manifested body. By understanding these locks, one can unlock the secrets of the body and enhance overall wellness.


Practical Techniques for Daily Use


Adele shares a practical technique from Mary Burmeister's Self-Help Book 2. She demonstrates a simple hold:


  1. Right Hand Above Left Elbow: Place the right hand just above the left elbow.
  2. Left Hand Inside Right Knee: Cross the right leg over and place the left hand inside the right knee.

This hold helps harmonize the body, allowing for the flow of energy and release of tension. Adele emphasizes the importance of holding with compassion, love, and non-judgment.


Gems from Mary Burmeister's Teachings


Adele highlights several key teachings from Mary Burmeister's books that have guided her practice:


  1. Art of Living: Mary describes Jin Shin Jyutsu as an art that molds into one's individualized art of living, encouraging practitioners to trust themselves and their intuition.
  2. No Straining Necessary: Mary reassures that no straining is needed to unlock any of the 26 safety energy locks. Simply and comfortably apply the sequences.
  3. No Rigid Rules: Adjust sequences to your convenience and comfort, making the practice adaptable to various situations, including working with animals.


Applying Jin Shin Jyutsu to Animals


Adele demonstrates how to apply these principles to animals, showcasing a few quickies:


  1. Safety Energy Lock 3 and 15: Hold the top of the shoulder blade (safety energy lock 3) and the groin area (safety energy lock 15). This helps boost the immune system and release tension.
  2. Safety Energy Lock 19 and Opposite 1: This hold helps clear the waistline and harmonize the body. It is especially useful for animals that are not accustomed to being touched in certain areas.


Embracing the Art of Jin Shin Jyutsu


Adele's experiences with her animals have taught her the profound simplicity and efficiency of Jin Shin Jyutsu. By holding and harmonizing multiple safety energy locks simultaneously, she has found that the practice becomes even more effective.


Conclusion


Adele encourages everyone to study these quickies from Mary Burmeister's self-help books, apply them to themselves, and share them with their animals. The practice not only promotes wellness but also deepens the bond between humans and their pets.

For further details and upcoming classes, explore the website and join the Jin Shin Jyutsu community dedicated to enhancing animal wellness through this ancient art.


Learn More About Jin Shin Jyutsu for Your Animal Companions 

By Michelle Kuret June 21, 2025
Restoring a starved horse to health is a profound and delicate process, requiring patience, expertise, and a compassionate heart. While veterinary care and proper nutrition lay the foundation for physical healing, the gentle practice of Jin Shin Jyutsu can play a vital complementary role—supporting not only the body but also the emotional and energetic well-being of the animal. Today, we delve into how Jin Shin Jyutsu—an ancient Japanese art of harmonizing life energy—can be integrated into the care of a starved horse. The below video's demonstration, "Spleen Flow Variations for a Starved Rescue Horse," beautifully illustrates how this gentle touch can promote natural healing and restore vital energy. Combining Veterinary Care with Jin Shin Jyutsu Caring for a starved horse involves more than reintroducing food; it’s about reconnecting and revitalizing their entire energetic system. While veterinary oversight is essential, Jin Shin Jyutsu offers a subtle yet powerful way to support internal balance. Why Jin Shin Jyutsu is a Vital Part of Healing Energetic Balance: Jin Shin Jyutsu works to release energetic blockages—creatures like horses store stress, trauma, and physical depletion in their energy fields. Gentle holds help to restore the smooth flow of life energy. Emotional and Mental Well-Being: Starvation often leads to anxiety, fear, and trauma. Jin Shin Jyutsu helps to soothe the nervous system, bring emotional calm, and foster a sense of safety and grounding. Supporting Physical Healing: Specific "Safety Energy Locks" (SELs) correspond to various organs and systems. Addressing these can enhance digestion, strengthen tissues, and promote overall resilience—crucial for a starved horse rebuilding their strength. Focus on Spleen Energy: A Heart of the Healing Process In the video demonstration, Adele applies Jin Shin Jyutsu holds targeting the Spleen Flow, which plays an essential role in the horse’s recovery: Beyond the Physical Organ: The spleen in Jin Shin Jyutsu is associated with digestion, assimilation of nutrients and experiences, blood production, and tissue regeneration. Grounding and Security: The spleen energy fosters a sense of stability—something a rescue horse desperately needs after trauma or deprivation. Emotional Balance: By harmonizing spleen energy, we help alleviate worry and overthinking, supporting emotional resilience and inner peace. Application of Spleen Flow Variations Adele’s gentle holds focus on key SELs like Safety Energy Lock 1 (inner thigh), the coccyx, and Safety Lock 14 (base of ribs), moving to SL22 (below the collarbone). These holds promote digestion, energy distribution, and emotional calm, as indicated by signs like gurgling gut activity—positive symptoms of energy flow returning. An Integral Approach: The Synergy of Healing Modalities Combining Jin Shin Jyutsu with veterinary care creates a holistic approach to recovery. The practitioner’s attentive observation and intuitive response—adapting holds to the horse’s comfort—are central to unlocking their innate healing capacity.
 Empowering the Spirit
 More than just physical healing, Jin Shin Jyutsu supports the horse’s spirit—re-establishing trust, inner safety, and vitality. As they regain energetic balance, the horse begins to flourish, embracing life with renewed strength and serenity. Click the play button on the video box below to watch Adele provide Mariah with a loving JSJ Spleen Flow.
By Michelle Kuret June 17, 2025
Hello sweet friends! I hope the summer is finding you enjoying some time outside….especially with the animals you care about! I am getting ready to head to Europe to teach a few classes. I will teach a 5-day class Switzerland from June 25-June 29. Want to join? Please contact: Sonja J. Müller Mobile: +41 (0)79 716 86 mail@sonjamueller.ch. From there, I head to the south of the Netherlands for a 4-day class, July 3-6. For info and to register, please contact: Lidi Pijfers Mobile: +0 031 6 428 12855 lidipijfers1966@gmail.com. We recently had a fun class at Alaqua Animal Refuge, where I have worked and taught for 14 years. It was a first-of-its-kind class, focused on helping volunteers who are facing transitions and changes in life. I wrote a grant for it and was happy to offer it for free to the dedicated volunteers. Below is a clip of what one of the participants thought about the class: Do you work with an animals shelter/ rescue/ refuge? Would you like to bring some gentle energy work to this place? We can make that happen by organizing an in-person class taught by me or one of my gifted faculty members. Or perhaps a short on-line intro class? I am open to hearing what your ideas are about reaching the places where you work or volunteer. As this work spreads, more and more animals will become ever more adoptable and have happy lives. As we move towards the longest days of the year, exhale the unneeded and receive from the universe!
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!
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.
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.
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
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