The Benefits of Reiki Therapy
Reiki is a healing art that uses gentle touch and energy to heal and balance the body. Even though we can’t see it with our physical eyes, there is energy flowing through us all the time. And we all have the ability to connect with this healing energy and use it to strengthen the energy within ourselves and in others. Think of it as a mother’s touch comforting her child when he or she is hurt or feels sad. There are concrete physiological benefits to this.
What is Reiki Therapy?
With Reiki treatment hand are generally either lightly touching the body, or a few inches away.
Reiki is another type of energy healing, similar to acupuncture. It promotes healing, reduces stress, and helps with relaxation. During treatment, your Reiki practitioner will lightly touch you or hold his or her hands just above your body, allowing the healing energy to flow to you.
Reiki is very soothing and comforting for the nervous system. It helps get us out of that low-grade fight-or-flight state that is so common in the stress-laden modern world. You will feel a deep relaxation come over you, and the stress will flow out of your body. You will also likely experience a sense of calm and mental clarity. When done alone, sessions are usually between 60 and 90 minutes and like acupuncture, rarely have side-effects. The first night after treatment you will likely sleep well and deeply.
When I practice Reiki, it is typically in conjunction with acupuncture, and for a shorter time. In my experience I have found that the combination of the two is far greater than the sum of the individual parts. I’ll never forget when I first started incorporating Reiki into my practice. There was one patient in particular that I was trying to get to slow down and relax. She was always go go go, and even during acupuncture sessions she wouldn’t relax as much as I hoped. Well the first time I incorporated Reiki into her treatment, the results were dramatic. I gently applied my hands to her feet, and within 30 seconds she was asleep and even snoring! It’s so subtle, but that doesn’t mean it’s not powerful.
Reiki comes from the two Japanese words: Rei, meaning universal life, and Ki (aka Qi), meaning life force energy. We all have life force energy that flows through us. When the energy is low, it manifests in our body as fatigue or sickness or tension. When the energy is high (and balanced), we feel energized, healthy and happy.
Reiki helps us maintain physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual balance. During Reiki treatment, the life force energy will flow to the parts of your body where it is needed most – if you have a knee injury, the energy will flow to your knee to assist in the healing process.
Health Benefits of Reiki
Reiki doesn’t cure illnesses, but it assists the body in creating an environment conducive to healing. It’s a great addition to other healing treatments, both conventional and alternative.
Reiki has the following reported health benefits:
Even though most people’s hands can’t power a light bulb, there is still strong energy flowing through them.
- It helps with relaxation
- Management of pain becomes easier
- It reduces anxiety and depression
- It improves sleep
- Digestion is improved
- Reiki enhances overall well-being
- It strengthens self-esteem
- Reiki supports substance abuse recovery
- Surgical recovery becomes easier
- It reduces side effects from radiation, chemotherapy, and other medicine
- Reiki increases self-awareness
Choose a practitioner you feel comfortable with. Make yourself at home and try to relax. Reiki is non-invasive and should not make you feel uncomfortable or experience any pain. If you have any injuries or concerns, make sure you discuss with the practitioner before the start of the session.
If you’d like to try out Reiki or are curious about how it works, contact me or visit my acupuncture and Reiki healing clinic in San Francisco.
