Zendero Animal is a project created in 2016 by Maike Bosselmann, a specialist in shiatsu for animals, Traditional Chinese Medicine, craniosacral therapy, bioenergetics and sound therapy. Its objective is to provide emotional, physical and mental well-being to animals. We have known Maike for years and we have chatted with her to tell us more about her work.
After years of experience as an animal therapist, how do you assess the emotional state of dogs and cats today?
I think that in recent years, in general, the emotional state of dogs and cats has worsened, at the same time as there has been a worsening of the emotional state of those responsible for them. Social and work pressure have created a lot of stress, anxiety and fear in people, and by living with their animals they leave an energetic imprint on them. Since the pandemic this situation has increased, I see it a lot in my consultations. There are more animals with behavioral problems such as separation anxiety, but some have also developed autoimmune diseases and digestive disorders, which are often related or even coincide with health problems in people.
What are the most common problems in dogs, cats, rabbits and other animals for which they contact you?
The majority of consultations are related to a chronic or degenerative disease for which a supplement is sought that improves the animal's quality of life. I also receive many inquiries from clients whose animals received acupuncture, but the animal began to reject this therapy. In recent months I have had an increase in consultations related to digestive disorders of all kinds, anxiety problems and also palliative care accompaniments.
What consultations do you offer in Zendero Animal and for whaté Are they more indicated?
In my consultations I do not usually work with the techniques in isolation, but rather the approach is completely comprehensive. The base therapy with which I always start is Shiatsu, which means 'finger pressure'. It is a non-invasive technique based on the principles of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Shiatsu acts directly on the nervous system and brings great benefits to the circulatory, digestive and immune systems. This technique allows me to see the energetic state of the organs and detect energy blockages. From there, I continue working with the Shiatsu massage, but, depending on each case, I incorporate Cr therapyáneosacral and other tools of Traditional Chinese Medicine such as moxibustion, heat therapy with Artemis cigars, or sonopuncture, which consists of the application of tuning forks on acupuncture points.
The objective is always the same, to detect energy imbalances and restore its flow. Sometimes these are significant energy blockages that could cause some type of pain or discomfort and sometimes an energy deficiency manifests itself in a malfunction of an organ. Animals, especially dogs, cats and rabbits, are usually very receptive to this type of therapy. As they are energy techniques, I can work on them not only in person, but also remotely. In all these consultations, important aspects of nutrition and the use of medicinal plants are also considered.
In addition to consultations, at Zendero Animal we alsoéIf you offer shiatsu courses for animals, how do youé daily life situations can it be applied?
Shiatsu therapy is divided into two parts, one is the energetic evaluation of the state of the organs, which allows us to find the cause of the problem and this part is the most complex part. To learn it requires a lot of training, something that I usually teach in the 10-month training. The second part is the Shiatsu massage itself, and there are different levels of application here. This part is much simpler and that is why it is so easy to do in the animals we live with. Shiatsu massage should be part of the tools for general well-being in everyday life, both for people, like Yoga and meditation, and for animals. Its regular application not only brings more body awareness and presence, but also helps reduce stress, anxiety and increases self-esteem, which is very important in fearful animals. All of this can help, for example, prepare the animal to go to the vet or travel, also for cases of separation anxiety and social conflicts with other animals. Shiatsu in everyday life not only has great benefits on behavior and emotional management, but also on physical well-being. It helps, for example, to improve digestion, specifically the absorption of nutrients in cases of food intolerance, and also helps to regulate the appetite of a gluttonous dog or, on the contrary, to encourage a cat or dog that does not want to eat. . It also helps regulate diarrhea, constipation, vomiting, relieve itchy skin, etc.
To reinforce the effect of the natural therapies you apply, do you rely on nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, essential oils...?
Yes, I use medicinal plants in the form of natural supplements, Chinese herbal medicine and mycotherapy on a regular basis to support the body in a complementary way, something essential to strengthen the functioning of the affected organs. I usually use essential oils especially in animals that have an initial problem with physical contact or some behavioral problem and I always let the animal choose them. I have worked many years with Bach flowers, but I usually refer to a floral therapist when I see its use beneficial.
Howthey are medicinal plants, foods... what best results have they given you when it comes to helping with problems such as separation anxiety or fear of loud noises?
Before recommending anything, it is important to know the cause of separation anxiety or reactive behavior. And if this happens in a specific or continuous case. In general, these manifestations usually indicate some discomfort and first of all it is important to understand what the animal wants to tell us, what is behind this behavior. All animals have one need in common and that is to feel safe. An animal communication could help, but I have also detected the cause of anxieties and reactivity with Shiatsu, finding energy imbalances or blockages in the energy fields that can be rebalanced. When the energy flows again, and so that the blockages do not recur, it is interesting to add medicinal plants and/or floral therapy.
In the case of fear of noise, whether in a phase of adaptation of an animal to unknown noises, such as in cases of fireworks, floral therapy can work, but from my experience it is not always enough and sometimes complexes come in handy that contain calming plants such as passionflower, together with Vitamin B6 y GABA o tryptophan.
If these are frequent fear episodes, I would also check the eating of the animal, since it has an important role in the nervous system. Depending on the energy constitution of the animal according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, I choose the most suitable foods and, from there, I choose the supplements.
Do you collaborate with integrative veterinary professionals or others such as ethologists?
Yes, in most cases I collaborate with other professionals, be they integrative veterinarians, ethologists, animal communicators, canine educators, nutritionists and therapists from other disciplines. It seems essential to me to be able to turn to other people because I firmly believe that results improve much faster and better when each professional can really dedicate the necessary time to their discipline.
Finally, what three tips would you give to maintain the emotional well-being of a dog or cat?
First, I would try to understand the needs of the specific animal. The fact of being a dog or cat has some characteristics as a species, but the truth is that the individual need is essential, taking into account the character of the animal and its individual trajectory. What works for one does not always have to work for all.
Secondly, I would try to create healthy habits such as, for example, in the case of dogs and cats, adopting a fresh diet instead of processed food, a quality diet with common sense.
And thirdly, I would take care of our own human emotional well-being because our animals pick up all of our emotions. They are sponges and that is why they can get sick or have unwanted behavior. If we practiced a healthier lifestyle ourselves, they would be better off because they would see that they don't have to worry about their humans as much. We humans have endless possibilities to learn to manage our emotions and the stress to which we are exposed. It can be through Yoga or meditation, but if you live with a dog or cat, why not do something that can be enjoyed together, such as practicing Mindfulness or some energy therapy that benefits both. Shiatsu, for example, is practiced through the hands, which are the extension of the heart. Giving Shiatsu is a heart-to-heart connection that benefits both parties.
Contact: www.zenderoanimal.com
