Reiki (pronounced Ray-key) is an ancient japanese healing technique that offers a profound system of healing and yet it is so simple. That is the beauty of Reiki. During a session, the practitioner places their hands over the body and this universal life force energy begins to flow.
Where does Reiki come from
The history of Reiki can be traced back to the early 20th century and the teachings of a man named Mikao Usui. Mr Usui was born in Japan in 1865 and was a devout Buddhist. He became interested in healing after spending many years studying various healing practices and religions, including Shintoism and Taoism. in 1922, Usui had a sprititual experience on a mountan that led him to develop a new healing practice which he called “Usui Reiki Ryoho.”
Usui taught his healing practice to many students, who in turn passed it on to others. One of Usui’s students, Chujiro Hayashi, opened a Reiki clinic in Tokyo where he treated many patients and trained many Reiki practitioners. One of Hayashi’s students, Hawayo Takata, brought Reiki to the West after World War II and helped to popularize the practice in the United States.
How does Reiki work
Reiki is based on the belief that energy flows through our bodies, affecting our physical, mental, and emotional well-being. When this energy becomes imbalanced or blocked, it can manifest as illness or discomfort. A Reiki practitioner acts as a channel for healing energy, using specific hand positions or even working remotely, to facilitate the flow of energy and remove any blockage.
What does a Reiki session feels like
Reiki feels healing, loving and deeply relaxing. It is a gentle, non-invasive experience. Clients report experiencing a deep sense of relaxation and restoration as the body’s natural healing is activated. I have had clients experience tingling sensations, a release of tension (muscles often release and melt), reduction in pain. I have also witnessed patients go thru disolving of emotional blocks, which can bring on tears, etc. Sometimes recipients don’t perceive that anything is happening, only to experience changes in the next 24-72 hours. What you feel differs from client to client and from session to session.
The recipient lies fully clothed on a treatment table, while the practitioner places their hands lightly on or just above specific areas of the body, following a predetermined ssequence. The energy transferred through the practitioner’s hands works to realance the recipient’s energy, promoting relaxation, reducing stress and encouraging self-healing.
“our recent study has shown that Reiki induces relaxation, decreasing anxiety, stress and a patient’s perception of pain,”
~Jun Mao, MD, director of the Integrative Oncology Initiative at the Abramson Cancer Center
Reiki and medicine
In a recent article, Penn Medicine described the anecdotal experiences of one Reiki patient: Joan Pouch. Pouch was in the middle of treatment for Stage 3 breast cancer when she began using Reiki to help her cope with the symptoms of the disease and the side effects of treatment. According to Pouch, Reiki sessions relaxed her. Pouch also said that Reiki sessions helped to restore her sense of mental and physical balance. In fact, Pouch found the treatments so beneficial that she later became a Reiki practitioner.
In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, September 2010 edition, a study from Yale University published a study on Reiki and heart attack recovery. Three groups were studied. One group had uninteruped rest. The second group listened to relaxing classical music and the third group received a 20-minutes Reiki treatment from trained staff. Of the three, the Reiki group experienced a more relaxed mood and showed improved heart rate vaiability a key physiological indicator of the stress response.
Reiki has also been shown to help with other illnesses. It does not replace or compete with the patient’s regular treatment, but helps them to cope.
Reiki is not a cure and you should always consult your physician.
Ready to experience for yourself?
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I am excited to meet you and bring you a little time of relaxation!