What is Reiki?
Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in Japan in the late 1800s. It was developed by Dr. Mikao Usui, who discovered the ability after a spiritual experience. Dr. Usui developed a specific system for channeling and directing healing energy hands-on the body, and even at a distance. Reiki is based on the concept of universal energy that flows through all living things, and can be channeled to promote healing and balance in the body.
Reiki gained popularity in Japan and eventually spread to the west in the early 20th century through Mrs. Hawayo Takata. It has since become a well known complementary therapy* that is offered in many hospitals around the world.
Benefits
Reiki offers many potential benefits:
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Stress reduction to promote relaxation and reduce tension.
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Pain relief to help alleviate physical symptoms caused by various causes.
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Improve quality of sleep and increase feelings of restfulness.
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Improve mood and reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression.
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Increase energy levels and improve overall well-being.
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Boost the immune system, helping the body to fight off illness and disease.
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Improve cardiovascular function and circulation and help lower blood pressure.
It's important to note that while Reiki is considered a safe, non-invasive practice, it's not a substitute for medical treatment, and it's always recommended to consult a physician or licensed healthcare professional before starting any alternative therapy.
How Reiki works
Reiki treatments can be performed both in person or at a distance—aka virtually.
In-person
In a quiet setting, clients lay down on a massage table clothed while I gently place my hands on or close to the body and move through a set of hand positions down the front and backside. Reiki energy flows through my hands onto the client, easing them into a state of deep relaxation—helping them balance their mind, body, and spirit into a cohesive unit.
Many people feel light physical sensations throughout the body as energy flows. A few common benefits that people notice are overall stress relief, a state of deep relaxation, a physical body detox, spiritual equilibrium, and a sense of well-being during challenging times, whether physical, mental, or emotional.
Virtual
Virtual Reiki aka distant Reiki is a method of channeling Reiki energy to a person remotely, without physical contact. I utilize a technique that combines the traditional Distant Reiki format with color visualization and Mindfulness-based stress reduction (MBSR) methods.
From a pragmatic point of view, distant Reiki works by utilizing the principles of quantum physics and the idea that energy is not bound by time and space. Reiki practitioners are able to connect with a person's energy field and direct healing energy to the specific areas of the body that need it. The theory is that the energy will still reach the person, even though they are not in the same location as the practitioner.
Virtual Reiki treatments are effective as a hands-on experience. However, some of the physical benefits experienced in-person (deep state of relaxation, body tingles, warmth) can be less noticeable.
*Source: Cleveland Clinic - August 30, 2021