What is Reiki? (ray’-kee)
Reiki is an ancient Japanese method of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes self-healing. Reiki is a disciplined practice; much like Tai Chi or Qi Gong, it requires training and self discipline, yet is so easy to learn that even children can learn it. The current technique was developed in the early 1900’s, and is diverse in it’s branches of training. Reiki practice is based on the understanding that all living things have a natural energy flowing through them, a life energy (ki in Japanese, chi in Chinese). When our life energy flows in a natural and balanced state, we feel strong and confident, and are more relaxed and centered, thus less likely to get sick. When life energy is stressed, we often feel tired and become less resistant to illness or traumatic events. Reiki works by aiding and strengthening a person’s own ability to balance life energy, thereby helping him or her to heal and stay healthy in a natural way. The cumulative benefits of Reiki are truly life changing for those who practice as little as 15 minutes each day.
Practitioners are trained to work with clients and help them feel the practice of Reiki. This can be done with a person lying flat or sitting in a chair. As the Practitioner practices Reiki, the client feels the balanced state and soon can sense the inner harmony and flow that modern science refers to as the parasympathetic state. When we are in our balanced parasympathetic state, our bodies can to heal faster and with less effort.
Is Reiki something new?
Reiki and the medical world
Reiki therapy is is non-invasive, can be practiced anywhere, and has no unwanted side effects, and is recognized throughout the world as a form of complimentary healing therapy. As long ago as 1997 a study by the National Institute of Health’s National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) found 60 percent of physicians referred patients to CAM practitioners. Most modern hospitals offer CAM support for patients and Reiki is often included in the Integrative Therapy programs of health care facilities alongside acupuncture, aromatherapy, massage, meditation, yoga and other therapies.
According to the results of a 2011 survey released by Health Forum, a subsidiary of the American Hospital Association (AHA) and Samueli Institute, a non-profit research organization that investigates healing oriented practices, hospitals across the nation are responding to patient demand and integrating complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) services with the conventional services they normally provide.The survey shows that more than 42 percent of responding hospitals indicated they offer one or more CAM therapies.
“The rise of complementary and alternative medicine reflects the continued effort on the part of hospitals and caregivers to broaden the vital services they provide to patients and communities,” said Nancy Foster, vice president for quality and patient safety at the AHA. “Hospitals have long known that what they do to treat and heal involves more than just medications and procedures. It is about using all of the art and science of medicine to restore the patient as fully as possible.”
source: http://www.aha.org/search?q=alternative&site=redesign_aha_org
How is Reiki administered?
Once a person learns how to practice Reiki, it is easy to do this alone or with another person, or even a pet! When having a professional session, a trained Reiki practitioner begins practicing Reiki and then comes close to another person with his or her hands, which are lightly placed on or over areas of the client’s body. The client may lie down, or simply sit in a chair. There is no manipulation of the body, no massage, and touching the person is not even required. The feeling of relaxation is felt by the client without the aid of any tools, devices or medicines. The process is known as “energy entrainment” in the scientific world, and is a natural law of physics.
How can a sensation move from one person to another? Think of the gap in a spark plug – it’s the same principle of transfer between people. Humans are electro-magnetic fields and respond as such. To learn more about energy entrainment, visit this link, or do research for yourself:
What does Reiki feel like?
Reiki feels different for everyone, but most people report a gentle warmth or slight tingly feeling. Each person is unique, and how one senses Reiki depends on the level of stress when engaging in the practice. Mostly, a treatment feels like a wonderful glowing radiance and calmness that flows through and around you. Reiki affects the whole person – body, emotions, mind and spirit – creating many beneficial sensations reported as feelings of peace, security and well-being. Many people fall asleep, because they are so relaxed! If you have been totally “wound-up” from stress for a long time, you may be very surprised at how restful and calm you feel after a Reiki session. It’s wonderful!
Occasionally a person will not sense anything at all, or it may take two or more sessions to really “feel” the relaxing effects of Reiki, especially if under chronic stress over a long period of time. No matter – it is working whether one feels it or not. Usually, the more aware you are of your own body and energy, the more you “feel” it.
Is Reiki a religion?
Does Reiki have adverse side effects?
Slight effects after a session may include a need to use the bathroom more frequently, the sniffles or other cold like symptoms as the body flushes out illness, but not everyone will experience this. If your body begins cleansing itself and rebalancing, drink plenty off water, rest, and be grateful for what’s leaving you life!
Can anyone learn to do Reiki?
Absolutely! And, I encourage you to seriously consider learning this healing art form. To help yourself – that’s what healing is all about. And, for the price of 3-4 sessions, you could learn this technique and have the benefits for a lifetime.
Like other self-care practices, Reiki is cumulative, and builds stronger results with ongoing practice.
There are inevitably times in everyone’s life when our own healing resources are not enough. We need to seek professional help during those times. But, as a general rule, each of us can use our own healing resources to better our lives and to aid our health responsibly.
For more information about learning Reiki, please contact me or check the calendar for upcoming classes.
What is the goal of Reiki?
The goal of every Reiki session is to help a person regain the natural, healthful state of balance and wellness, and by doing so, to alleviate the symptoms or conditions that make us feel ill. It is well documented that people who live with less stress live happier, healthier lives!
Please contact for more information, and please, continue to research Reiki online, or at your local library.
- NEVER UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE STOP TAKING MEDICINES OR TREATMENTS WITHOUT FIRST CHECKING WITH YOUR PHYSICIAN!
- I DO NOT OFFER MASSAGE, MEDICAL ASSISTANCE OR MEDICAL ADVICE- I ONLY OFFER SESSIONS AND INSTRUCTION IN STRESS REDUCTION AND RELAXATION ENERGY WORK.
- THIS IS FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY.