Reiki

What is Reiki?

For thousands of years, Eastern medicine in particular has accepted the idea of a Universal Energy or ‘Life-Force’ that permeates everything. The word Reiki itself literally translates from the Japanese as Universal or Divine Life Force or Energy and it is this unseen energy that flows through us all giving life. When this energy is removed completely, life has departed. If our life force energy is low, then we are more likely to become sick; if it is high we are more capable of health and vitality.

How does Reiki work?

One theory is that the deep calm and relaxation that Reiki promotes helps to boost the immune system so that it can operate smoothly and more efficiently and thus resist and overcome illness more readily.

Another theory is that Reiki healing works by opening up the communication channels that enable cells in the body to communicate with each other and by opening up the terrain through which cells are able to migrate to places where they are needed to initiate repair or to fight diseases.

What happens during a Reiki treatment?

Reiki treatments start with an opportunity for patients to discuss any particular problems or health issues they may be experiencing as well as to ask any questions they may have about the Reiki session itself.

For the actual session, patients are asked to lie comfortably on their back on a massage couch with their shoes removed. No clothing is removed; patients always remain fully clothed. Loose, comfortable clothing is recommended.

The practitioner will then place her hands lightly on or just above the patient in a series of positions that cover the seven main chakras of the body. These include positions around the head, neck and shoulders, the heart, stomach and abdomen, and the hands, legs and feet. Each position is held for several minutes depending on how much Reiki is needed. Halfway through the treatment, patients are asked to turn onto their stomach so that positions along the back and backs of legs can be performed.

The whole treatment usually lasts about 90 minutes. Treatments can also be given while patients are seated or even standing where to lie out is not possible.

After the treatment there is time for the patient to discuss their experience of the Reiki session: perhaps any sensations they may have felt, or thoughts or emotions that may have arisen. It is an opportunity too for the practitioner to discuss any issues that arose during their experience of the treatment.

What does a Reiki treatment feel like?

In many ways there is no typical Reiki session or experience as each person is different and has their own individual response.

Perhaps the most common experience is an almost immediate release of stress and a feeling of deep relaxation. Some people will even fall into a deep, sleep-like meditative state. Other common experiences are feeling intense heat coming from the practitioner’s hands or feeling subtle pulsations where the practitioner’s hands are placed or waves of pulsations throughout the body. For some the experience is quite dramatic, for others it is more subtle.

Beside the immediate experience of a Reiki session, changes will often continue to unfold after a treatment is over: perhaps a greater ease of movement; stronger digestion; a sense of being more centred and balanced; an increased motivation to do things previously avoided; a deeper, more refreshing sleep at night.

The important factor to remember is that the experience of Reiki is subjective and changeable; there is no right or wrong response and each person’s experience is equally valid.