Meet Your Practitioner
About Shayna Woods
20+ years of partnership with horses, guided by compassion and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Meet Your Practitioner
20+ years of partnership with horses, guided by compassion and a commitment to lifelong learning.
Her Story
Shayna Woods has always had a deep connection with horses. Over the past 20+ years, she has worked with, trained, and managed many different equine herds, developing a deep understanding of horse behavior, body language, and what horses need to thrive, not just survive.
Her equine background is diverse: English and Western pleasure, showing in local open and APHA circuits, working with hackneys and saddlebreds through the ASHBA. Her first horse, PT Snap Crackle Zip, known as "Zipster," ignited a lifelong passion that only deepened over the years.
When Shayna lost Zipster unexpectedly, she found a new path forward by adopting through the Midwest Horse Welfare Foundation. In that experience, she discovered her calling: to support horses with trauma, neglect, and difficult histories. That calling grew into SHAkti Equine Services.
"I was taught at a young age, there was always someone who knows more than I do. I will forever keep learning."
Shayna began her formal training journey in 2022, earning her equine myofascial massage certification through Therasage EMC. She has since added Reiki Level 2, equine nutrition education through Angels Animals and Dr. Eleanor M. Kellon, and specialized masterclass training in BTMM and Kissing Spines rehabilitation.
She is currently developing practice through BTMM (Balance Through Movement Method) with Celeste-Leilani Lazaris and Western saddle fitting mentorship with Tina Fox, a local saddle fitter. Her learning never stops.
"My goal is for the human and equine to reach their potential together through connection, compassion, and communication."
The SHAkti Approach
Three principles that guide every session, every interaction, and every relationship Shayna builds with horses and their humans.
Holding Space
Creating an environment of safety and non-judgment where the horse can express what they feel without consequence. Shayna holds the space; the horse leads.
Sharing Space
Being present with the horse, not just performing a task, but genuinely being in relationship. Awareness, breath, and quiet energy shared between practitioner and horse.
Giving Space
Respecting the horse's autonomy. Liberty-based work when possible, allowing the horse to move, communicate discomfort, and choose engagement. Their voice matters.
"The mission at SHAkti is to foster an equine-human partnership by restoring balance and connection."
SHAkti Equine Services Mission
SHAkti Methods
Shayna's practice draws on a range of therapeutic traditions: physical, energetic, and relational. Each is centered on what the individual horse needs.
Myofascial Bodywork
Manual fascial release and massage techniques address the connective tissue system throughout the horse's body, finding and releasing restrictions that impact movement, posture, and comfort.
Reiki & Energy Work
Certified in Reiki Level 2 through Triple Moon Healing, Shayna incorporates energy healing as a calming and restorative complement to physical bodywork.
Kinesiology Taping
Using Equi-tape, Shayna provides therapeutic taping to support muscles, joints, and soft tissue between bodywork sessions, continuing the therapeutic benefit beyond the appointment.
Holistic Nutrition
A forage-first, science-grounded approach to equine diet. Shayna's nutrition education includes Angels Animals and Dr. Eleanor M. Kellon, informing plans built around each horse's environment, workload, and physiology.
Connected Horsemanship
Trauma-informed partnership work centers on the relationship between horse and human, building trust, quieting the mind, and learning to listen to what the horse is already saying.
Acupressure (TCM)
Traditional Chinese Medicine-based acupressure targeting specific meridian points to support energy flow, organ health, and systemic balance in the equine body.
Photonic Light & Essential Oils
Photonic Health Multi-light Pen therapy and Young Living Essential Oils are used as complementary tools for pain relief, relaxation, and energetic support during sessions.
In the Field
Credentials
A commitment to continuous education, because the horses deserve it, and so do their humans.
Equine Myofascial Massage Certification
December 2022
Therasage EMC
Magnawave PEMF Certification
October 2023
Magnawave
Equine Nutrition Certification
November 2023
Angels Animals and Dr. Eleanor M. Kellon
BTMM (Balance Through Movement Method) Masterclass
June 2024
Celeste-Leilani Lazaris
Kissing Spines Masterclass
August 2024
Dr. Barbara Parks with Imagine Equine Services
Western Saddle Fitting
April 2025
Dr. Angelique Barbara
Nerve Release Practitioner
Currently studying
Celeste-Leilani Lazaris
Training Lineage
Shayna believes deeply that good practitioners are built through community, mentorship, and the willingness to keep learning from people who know more. These are some of the teachers who have shaped her approach.
Pegasus Clinic & Dr. Anne Clary
Professional Education & Mentorship
Professional education and mentorship through Pegasus Clinic and Dr. Anne Clary inform Shayna's ongoing commitment to thoughtful, horse-centered care.
Bethany Carlson
Bravehooves
Training with Bethany in 2023 brought a deeper focus on trauma-informed horsemanship, including what horses who have survived difficult circumstances need to feel safe, valued, and willing.
Stacia Strong
Balance Through Movement Method (BTMM)
Continued training with Stacia in 2024 through the BTMM Masterclass, integrating movement-based rehabilitation and balance principles into Shayna's bodywork and horsemanship practice.
Celeste-Leilani Lazaris
Balance Through Movement Method
Shayna is currently developing her practice with Celeste-Leilani through ongoing BTMM coursework, building on the foundation of helping horses move with more ease, balance, and partnership.
Dr. Barbara Parks
Imagine Equine Services
Through this intensive masterclass, Shayna gained specialized knowledge in Kissing Spines Syndrome, one of the most commonly misunderstood conditions affecting performance horses, and how to support horses dealing with this condition through bodywork and management changes.
And the horses themselves
Every horse is a teacher
Above all, Shayna's greatest teachers have been the horses. Every horse she has worked with has shaped her practice, sharpened her awareness, and reinforced why this work matters.
"I will forever keep learning. The horses deserve nothing less."
— Shayna Woods
Let's talk about your horse and find the right care approach for them.