What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei (Ray) which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki (Key) which is “life force energy”. So, Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.” While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing that you must believe in order to use Reiki or in order for it to work.
Benefits of Reiki:
Reiki is a simple, natural and safe method of spiritual healing and self-improvement. It also works in conjunction with all other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve side effects and promote recovery. A treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects. Some of the benefits of Reiki are:
- Reduces stress and promotes relaxation
- Balances the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional body
- Helps to relieve pain and muscle tension
- Supports the body’s natural ability to heal itself
- Releases emotional blockages
While Reiki indeed compliments any other medical or therapeutic technique, it is not a substitute for medical care.
What can I expect during a Reiki session?
During a Reiki session, the client will lie fully clothed on a massage table or a reclining chair. The practitioner will place their hands on or slightly above key areas of the body to transmit Reiki energy. Your practitioner will hold each hand position for 3 – 5 minutes.
People’s experiences vary during a Reiki session. Most people feel the energy as heat. Others may feel tingling, vibrating or waves of energy from the hands of the practitioner. Most people feel a great sense of relaxation, calm and peace during the session, and feel incredibly energized and clear after the session.