Whole Horse | Perspectives on compassion fatigue + a chat about spines with Dr. Tracy Rainwaters

It was so great to have Dr. Tracy Rainwaters back on the podcast this week. Tracy reached out to me after listening to my last episode -  Unpacking the impact of burnout and adrenaline poisoning in horses and humans with Lockie Phillips and Elsie Reford (Episode 104) - to express how much that conversation landed for her. As the two of us got to talking, it became clear that she and I have been on a parallel path as of late, navigating serious health events and discovering how to find more sustainable ways forward in our professional lives. We delved into the compassion fatigue and grief that can often accompany us in our role as equine care providers, and how learning to hold space for the hard moments rather than working to “fix” them is an ongoing journey. I was grateful for Tracy’s vulnerability in continuing this important discussion, and delighted that we also managed to keep our promise to finally talk about spines!  Mid-way through this podcast we switched gears and Tracy shared how she has come to appreciate the spine as a gateway for health and well-being. It was fascinating to hear how she has woven her shamanic, energetic and spiritual lens into her scientific and chiropractic understanding of this incredibly important structure. I hope this episode is both as supportive and interesting for you as it was for me!  Dr. Tracy Rainwaters is a human and equine chiropractor with over 16 years of experience in helping animals and their humans thrive. Tracy brings a whole-being approach to healing by looking at a being from the perspective of the energetic/spiritual & the mental/ emotional in order to bring harmony & vitality to the physical body. Tracy uses her skills as an intuitive channel to anchor in the wisdom & healing from the highest aspect of a being, along with her shamanic healing techniques to provide a powerful healing container for animals and their humans. Tracy obtained her Bachelors of Science degree in Kinesiology with an emphasis in Exercise Physiology. She obtained her Doctorate in chiropractic from Palmer College of Chiropractic, West and her animal chiropractic certification from Options for Animals where she was on the teaching faculty for 6 years. Tracy’s equine practice quickly revealed her animal intuitive abilities as animals started showing her what was occurring energetically and spiritually with themselves and their humans. Horses have been Tracy’s greatest teachers and have ushered down her spiritual path. She spent 2 years training in shamanic energy healing with The Four Winds Society. The shamanic healing practices have profoundly influenced and enhanced how she helps animals and humans heal. Tracy offers classes on intuition development & animal communication, 1:1 healing sessions for people & their animals as well as healing workshops on her farm in western Washington that focuses on allowing the horses to be our guides through a journey of transformation using shamanic medicine wheel as the foundation. Website: www.tracyrainwaters.com Instagram: @dr.rainwaters