About Sarah Darling
The Past to my Present
For most of my life I have been a passionate advocate in promoting health and well-being for humans. I had a wonderful 23-year career as a personal trainer, remedial/sports massage therapist and nutrition consultant, which also allowed me the good fortune of working for many years with celebrity sports, tv and music personalities.
A fundamental area of my work which made my career incredibly rewarding, was the privilege of working regularly with clients who continually showed strength and courage while coping with long term conditions and challenges such as, amputees, Parkinson’s disease, Multiple Sclerosis, Chronic Osteoarthritis, as well as clients in their golden years.
My beautiful Golden Retriever Bella would often join me and my clients on our training hikes and was a great comfort to those who needed it.
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Unearthing a hidden passion
After the heart-breaking loss of my loyal companion, and while going through some life changes, I found myself at a crossroads. It was while visiting a friend whose dog was recovering from a cruciate injury, that I got chatting to her about how common the injury was with my sporting clients, and how the effects of the injury lead to other tensions throughout the body.
I found myself spending hundreds of hours researching our canine counterparts. Including the different breeds, sizes, shapes, lifestyles and challenges, as well as tensions and discomforts they could develop, whether through chronic orthopaedic issues, neurological dysfunctions, amputations, injuries, or from day to day activities they may participate in. If it wasn’t for the fur coats and cute faces, it was all sounding so familiar to what I had been working with in humans for all those years
The difference of course, is where we as humans can vocalise our pain and discomfort, sadly our brave and proud fury friends communicate through silent whispers. Needless to say, I was no longer at a crossroads, I had unearthed a hidden passion
‘Helping improve the quality of their lives, as they improve the quality of ours.’
Realising the dream
I began to volunteer at my wonderful local Hereford and Worcester Animal Rescue, where I still regularly foster dogs that are in need of physical & emotional support to help them find their forever home.
Soon after, I enrolled on the nationally recognised Merishia Canine Massage Practitioner course. With its in-depth training, it gave me the skills needed to interpret a dogs’ none verbal communication, allowing me to hear their voice through movement, appearance, touch and associated behaviours.
This enabled me to transfer my 23 years' experience in human Remedial/sports massage, to specialising in Canine Remedial Massage Therapy. I was finally able fulfill my passion of improving the physical & emotional well-being of your canine companions.
I have to say that having a career working with dogs allows me to wake up every morning feeling truly blessed.
Qualification and Training
Canine Merishia Massage Practitioner
• Canine Anatomy & Physiology
• Performance & health issues
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Common Orthopaedic & Neurological conditions
• Canine handling/Body language & feedback signs
• Muscular assessment
• Swedish massage/Deep tissue/Sports massage
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Myofascial Release
• Cranial work
• Postural & Gait analysis
• Joint assessments & Mobilisations
• Muscle balance touch techniques
• TTouch
• Canine Biomechanics
• Strengthening & Rehabilitation
• Canine positional release
• Animal Acupressure
• Canine Neurology
• Canine Behaviour & Training
• ITG Pet First Aid Instructor
• Energy healing for full body realignment & Psoas release
• Animal Reiki
. Canine Kinesiology Taping
. Full canine dissection
. Canine Hyoid functions & Treatment
As well as the above, I continue to develop my skills by attending regular CPDs.
Continued professional development is an essential element, enabling the therapist to stay up to date within their field of expertise and gain knowledge and skills that continue to enhance the well-being of animals.
“Thank you for giving me my cheeky chappy back.”
Jon & his 11 yr old Lab Jack, Hereford
“Sarah really helped speed up Sophie's recovery after her surgery.”
Mary & her 6yr old Jack Russell Sophie, Leominster
Association of Merishia therapists
Merishia therapists have completed a nationally recognised training programme, qualification regulators Ofqual, NCFE accredited. Regulated to the highest standards, ensuring continued professional development, are fully ensured and adheres to the Veterinary Act 1966, exemptions order 2015, by never working upon animal without prior veterinary consent.
International Association of Animal Therapists IAAT therapists are regulated to the highest standards, have completed recognised and thorough training programmes, are fully insured, committed to a high level of continuous professional development and adhere to the Veterinary Act.
ProTrainings Europe Limited
is a certifying organisation recognised for providing training and qualifications in England, UK and across the globe.
ProTrainings offer qualifications designed in-house and qualifications which are regulated by Ofqual through TQUK and FutureQuals.
