Hands On Courses

The animal acupressure workshops are about 40% lecture and 60% hands-on. We focus on creating an interactive, participatory clinic. We encourage questions and set aside time for questions and answers. We provide a digital clinic manual to all participants that can be printed by the student (this manual is different from the books we sell on the website). We suggest that clinic participants purchase either ACU-HORSE or ACU-DOG (depending on the clinic they are attending) prior to class. Assignments are given to students from the books.

2 Day Course – Introduction to Acupressure

The Introductory course offers you the ability to perform a complete acupressure session protocol and gives you an understanding of the Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) concepts and theories underlying acupressure.

Time: Approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 Saturday and Sunday 
Instructor: Jesse McCowan or Kim Knutsen 
Course Level: Intermediate 

Prerequisites: The online course, Overview to Traditional Chinese Medicine. This course is required for the Practitioner Program.

Specific theory and hands on practice study includes:

• Yin/ Yang and 5-Element Theories
• 4 - Examinations - Demonstration and practice
• Acupressure protocol - Opening, Point work and Closing techniques
• Association points - location, assessment and energetics
• Source points - location, assessment and energetics
• Acupressure session, assessment, point selection & practice
• e-Class manual covering all of the above and more

A Participant Letter providing directions to the clinic facility, suggested area hotels and clinic logistics will be emailed approximately 2 months prior to the class.

4 Day Course – Meridians & Specific Conditions

Time: Approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 Thursday and Saturday and 9 am - 6 pm on Friday and Saturday.
Instructor: Jesse McCowan and Kim Knutsen
Course Level: Intermediate 
Prerequisites: The two online courses: Overview to Traditional Chinese Medicine and Meridian Theory. These courses are required for the Training Program.

This 4-day hands-on class provides hands-on demonstrations, practice and exercises for the acupressure session protocol, Association, Alarm, Source, Master points. Major meridian exercises, specific conditions and Assessment exercises.

Specific theory and hands on practice study includes:

• Yin/ Yang and 5-Element Theories
• 4 - Examinations - Demonstration and practice
• Acupressure protocol - Opening, Point work and Closing techniques
• Association points - location, assessment and energetics
• Source points - location, assessment and energetics
• Acupressure session, assessment, point selection & practice
• 5-Element Theory and use of Correspondence Chart
• Meridian system overview, demonstration, and exercises 
• Location, flow, function, and attributes of each of the 12 major meridians and 2 extraordinary vessels
• Common physical and emotional issues associated with each of the elements and meridians
• Acupoints that can benefit these issues; their location, energetics and reinforcement of acupressure protocol and techniques
• Further use of Association points and addition of Alarm points

A Participant Letter providing directions to the clinic facility, suggested area hotels and clinic logistics will be emailed approximately 3 months prior to the class.

2 Day Course - Introduction to Tui Na

Time: Approximately 9:00 am to 5:00 Saturday and Sunday 
Instructor: Jesse McCowan or Amy Snow
Course Level: Advanced 
Prerequisites: The online course Tui Na Preparatory Class

Never before has the original Chinese Acupressure-Meridian Massage, called Tui Na, pronounced “tway nah,” online course offered for horses, dogs, and cats to everyone who loves animals. Tui Na has been used with humans and animals for thousands of years and is the most commonly used form of bodywork in China today!

Tui Na is based on Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM). It can be best described as a combination between massage and acupressure. Massage is the manipulation of bodily tissues, while acupressure works with the energetics of the body. By combining these two powerful yet gentle forms of bodywork humans and animals alike receive the physical and emotional health benefits which include:

• builds the immune system
• releases endorphins necessary to relieve pain
• strengthens muscles, tendons, joints and bones
• releases natural cortisone to reduce swelling and inflammation
• resolves injuries more readily by increasing blood circulation and removing toxins
• balances the flow of energy and blood to optimize nourishment of internal organs and bodily tissues

Tallgrass Animal Acupressure courses are world-renowned in animal acupressure. This online course focuses on the theories and hands-on techniques needed to offer horses, dogs, and cats a highly effective Tui Na session. The techniques included are a variety of An Fa (direct pressure), Tui Fa (pushing/dredging), Na Fa (grasping), Mo Fa (rubbing), among other techniques. These techniques can help be both invigorating and sooth the spirit depending how they are applied.

Includes series of videos, photographs, a set-by-step guide to the Tui Na protocol, quizzes, and case studies for common equine and canine conditions such as arthritis, muscle pain, respiratory illness, digestion problems, hindquarter issues, and more.

A Participant Letter providing directions to the clinic facility, suggested area hotels and clinic logistics will be emailed approximately 2 months prior to the class.