Certified Module #6 for Certified Practitioner Students

KIM KIZZIER SHERRODD, LMT, NBCAAM Certified Equine Massage Therapist CREATOR & DIRECTOR

I read once that if you want to write a book, you should write the book you want to read. Taking this advice, I have spent the past ten years creating the course(s) I would want to take while keeping within rigorous standards. All this information and training was not available in any one program when I first imagined such a gratifying career and there were few coaches to guide me.

When I am performing bodywork on horses, there is SO much more going on with them than I could possibly put into categories, theories, or techniques. Although I always feel an awesome surge of validation when a horse awards me with what we call a “release” (yawning, stretching, licking and chewing), I somehow know that isn’t the full story. When I am deeply tuned in to the energy, I almost sense the horse will offer the “release” just to help me through the energetic moment; as if to encourage me along. So, I went deeper, learning from every avenue I could – especially the horse. In developing this program, my goal is to help students learn how to “feel”, gain empathy, and mostly to believe in themselves. I want to bring out that deep childlike depth and conviction which, to me feels like the same space that horses hold (and they are just waiting for us to catch up). This space has no rules or validation because it is nothing more than the present moment being shared between two souls. This is where magic happens.

The scientific approach to bodywork often felt cold and emotionally void to me; while the excited, “look she’s yawning” as the end answer to what is going on felt very shallow. I wanted to offer a deeply rich and intuitive experience while still teaching the scientific basics of anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and pathology.

For a long time, I was afraid people would take what I have to offer as too “Woo-Woo”. Fortunately, my faith and an incredible business coach prevailed and The School of Applied Integrative Therapy ~ Equine essentially birthed itself. This program is not only nationally and Internationally accredited, but weaves itself around stories from my own truly incredible journey with learning, growing, and intimately experiencing bodywork, natural and ancient healing practices, horses, and spiritual and personal development. Students not only gain knowledge, but also inner growth, depth of connection, and hopefully, a renewed belief in themselves and the world of equine. I would love to share this knowledge and deep experience with anyone wishing for such a valued and rewarding career or addition to horsemanship.

Kim is a licensed human and nationally certified equine massage & bodywork therapist. She has trained and worked in the veterinary industry and has decades of experience with all animals and most especially horses. When not teaching or doing bodywork, she loves to spend her time in nature and continuing studies in the healing arts. Kim makes her home with her husband Lowell, and many animals (both domestic and wild) in Northwest Wyoming near Devils Tower National Monument. Kim is currently the co-chair for the National Board of Animal Acupressure and Massage. *****************************************************************************************************************

CHRISTINE WALKER, LMT, NBCAAM Certified Equine Massage Therapist - ASSISTANT DIRECTOR.

Born and raised in Northern Pennsylvania, Christine grew up riding hunter/jumpers and retraining thoroughbreds to be hunters as a working student. She obtained a B.A. in Equine Business from Midway University in 2000 and a Medical Massage Therapist Certification in 2007 from Blue Heron Academy. She was on both the Open hunt seat and stock seat IHSA riding teams and served as the team captain three consecutive years at Midway and also served as a Student barn manager three years.

Christine has worked, ridden, and educated in many facets of the equine industry, including thoroughbred racing, hunter/jumpers, dressage, reining, and eventing. Her primary focus of her degree in college was working within the nonprofit industry and a strong interest in rules and regulations of competitive equine sports. She has worked in the offices of the United States Pony Clubs, United States Equestrian Federation, International Hunter Futurity, and the United States Dressage Federation.

Her massage career began when a career opportunity for her husband moved them to Indiana. Massage as a profession has had Christine working alongside chiropractors, other massage therapists and spa owners. She has been an employee and has owned her own practice. In 2019-2020, she helped establish the Massage Academy of Therapeutic Indulgence in South Bend, IN. She joined the School of Applied Integrative Therapy in the spring of 2020 and now has a thriving equine and human massage practice, specializing in the equine/human athlete connection.