What is Reiki?
Reiki is an ancient Tibetan technique, later brought to Japan, for restoring the body’s natural energy and self healing abilities by a gentle placing of hands on or near the energy path ways. “Reiki” is a Japanese word which can be translated to mean, “Universal Life Force Energy”. “Ki” refers to this life force energy which occurs around the body and it is called “chi” in Chinese or “prana” in the East Indian tradition. As Reiki practitioners we receive an attunement ceremony as part of our training to channel the “Ki” through our hands as well as learning a series of hand positions on key energy centres. We also learn symbols and meditations. With the attunement ceremony and continuous practice, practitioners may also sense where the energy is most needed in the body by a change in temperature or other sensation. Often we tune in to loving, compassionate guides to direct the session. The treatments clear and strengthen the weakened parts of the client’s energy field which often leads to deep relaxation and many other benefits.
Many believe that Reiki is as old as humanity and the capacity for Reiki is somewhere in all of us. Ancient Buddhist sutras refer to hands on healing. However, Reiki is not confined to any religion and does not contradict any religious practices. Nor is one required to be religious to practice or enjoy the benefits of Reiki. Reiki is now practiced and taught worldwide by many different faiths and has been enjoyed by agnostics and atheists. Most modern day Reiki practitioners, including myself, follow the methods derived from Dr. Mikao Usui who lived in Japan in the 1800’s. He was both a Christian Minister and a Zen monk who spent years developing his spiritual practice by studying ancient scripts and meditating. This method is called Usui Reiki or Usui Shiki Ryohoi .
What happens during a Reiki session?
In my practice, Reiki may be combined with Kripalu Massage or a complete session may be devoted to Reiki. If combined with Kripalu Massage you will be lying on a massage table undressed but discreetly covered with a sheet. If you choose to have Reiki alone you will be lying fully clothed on a massage table. I will ask about your wishes for the session and I may do a guided visualization or guided breath awareness. I may follow a sequence of hand positions over different energy points or chakras or be guided to certain areas of need. The session may be completely silent like a meditation or you may be guided to talk about an important issue. Most clients report a deep feeling of relaxation but there are a variety of individual reactions that may occur such as muscle twitching, falling asleep, experiencing an emotional release of tears or a sense of joy or peace, or falling into a meditative state, having new perspectives, thoughts, images or insights. Often people report a drop or rise in temperature or the alleviation of pain. Many people feel a sense of comfort and greater spiritual clarity. After the Reiki session it may take 10- 20 minutes to come back to full alertness and awareness. Sessions last an hour and cost $60.
Benefits
Besides relaxation, comfort, emotional release and gaining new perspectives and insights, there are many anecdotal reports of the physical/mental benefits of Reiki for various conditions and according to Karen D’ Alessio, Reiki Master and Holistic Social Worker (2009) some studies performed in New York hospitals suggest benefits such as improved pain control and quality of life, reductions in depressive symptomology as well as decreased levels of stress hormones and reductions in heart rate and blood pressure during Reiki sessions. Visit reikiinmedicine.org for more research.
Course of Treatment
For relaxation, rebalancing and re-energizing many people enjoy just one Reiki session from time to time. For a specific health issue three or four sessions in a row close together are usually recommended, ideally for four days in a row. Thereafter, Reiki should continue until the health issue has been resolved.
Credentials
I am a registered Reiki Practitioner with the Canadian Reiki Association and adhere to their Codes of Conduct, Codes of Ethics and professional standards. I have my Level 2 Reiki Training and have practiced Reiki since 2007 at the Lotus Wings Centre in Perth Ontario. Since 1999 I have also practiced yoga based pranic energy balancing with Kripalu Massage.