Retired Long Island nurse, health teacher uses ancient technique to calm anxious animals: ‘Just like people’

Animal Healer Soothes Anxious Creatures with Ancient Japanese Technique

A Long Island woman, Susan Denis, has dedicated her retirement to helping hundreds of anxious animals using an ancient Japanese calming technique called Jin Shin Jyutsu. This technique, which she first mastered on humans, has proven to be effective in reducing stress and anxiety in animals as well.

Denis, a former ICU nurse and health teacher, practices Jin Shin Jyutsu on various animals, including goats, chickens, horses, turkeys, pigs, sheep, cows, cats, and dogs. She believes that the energy flowing through our bodies can become blocked when we are stressed, and by using gentle hand placements, she can help release this energy and promote relaxation.

After becoming certified in Jin Shin Jyutsu for humans in 1998, Denis expanded her practice to include animals in 2022. She has witnessed remarkable results, with animals responding positively to the calming technique.

Denis volunteers at the Southampton Animal Shelter Foundation, where she works with anxious rescue animals. Her work has had a significant impact, with many animals showing lower stress levels and eventually finding forever homes.

According to Denis, it is essential to calm oneself before working with animals as they are intuitive and can sense our emotions. By practicing Jin Shin Jyutsu on herself, she ensures a peaceful and effective session with the animals.

In total, Denis has helped nearly 150 animals at the shelter, most of whom have shown signs of reduced stress and anxiety. She attributes the success of her work to the combined efforts of the shelter staff and the healing power of Jin Shin Jyutsu.