Reiki
What is Reiki?
Reiki is a safe, gentle relaxation and healing technique without massage or pressure. It can be used for both physical ailments and to help balance the 'whole' person - mind, body, spirit and emotions. Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) as we practice it today, originates from Japan and is now widely used all over the world.
The Rei part of the word refers to the divine energy source and ki is the lifeforce energy that runs through and around everything. Reiki practitioners are attuned and trained so they can allow the divine energy source to go to a person so that they can relax deeply and heal.
Reiki Treatments
" Each and every being has an innate ability to heal as a gift from the gods. "
Mikao Usui - Founder of Reiki as known today
What can I expect from a reiki treatment?
Before the treatment begins the therapist will have a short consultation with you to see what you want to get out of the session and to check in with how you're doing generally. The more comfortable you are with your therapist the more you might feel you want to share - so don't feel any pressure to share anything you don't feel comfortable with - reiki always goes to the person for their highest good so no matter what you do or don't tell your therapist the reiki will still flow for your highest good. But if there is a particular issue/pain you would like to address it is useful for the therapist to know so they can concentrate on the relevant physical or energetic part of your body. If it is your first time working with this therapist they will usually ask you to complete a client consultation form.
The treatment can be done lying down or seated, most people like to lie down so they can relax more deeply. Once you are comfortable the reiki therapist will usually take a few minutes to prepare themselves for the treatment - allowing the reiki to start to flow. The therapist will place their hands in positions around your body, either gently placing the hands lightly on the body or hovering just above the body.
The most common initial experience when receiving reiki is a feeling of deep relaxation and rest. This allows both emotional and physical healing to start to take place. The more reiki sessions you receive the more you will feel the benefits from it, and you might begin to feel the energy more - often a sense of warmth from the therapists hands, a tingling sensation, a release of emotion, some people see colours or symbols. It is really important you feel comfortable throughout the treatment so it is important you tell your therapist if anything doesn't feel right for you and they will be able to help you to be more comfortable.
Clothes are kept on during the treatment - ideally loose comfortable clothes. Shoes, coats and jewellery are usually removed. Often people like to also have a blanket over them to relax and keep warm.
After the treatment there is usually an opportunity for therapist and client to have a discussion about the treatment and any aftercare advice.
One stand alone reiki treatment is likely to be relaxing and most enjoyable but for deeper healing work to take place usually a number of treatments are required.
