I am often asked, what is reiki? Similar to yoga, reiki is becoming more and more popular. Most of us spend a majority of time in our “heads” processing, anaylzing and thinking critically. This has led to a disconnection between mind and body. Reiki can be a vehicle to help one re-connect with their own essence. What is reiki exactly?
Reiki is a Japanese technique based on the idea that unseen life force energy flows through us all and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s life force energy is stuck or low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress. When life force energy is flowing unhindered, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.
Reiki, according to Linda, is similar to cranio sacral therapy in that the therapist is moving energy through the client’s body in a subtle way. The therapist finds blockages in the body’s energy field and facilitates the person letting go of that blockage. The therapist intuitively locates the congested area and by acknowledging it (by holding their hands over the area), allows it to release. Linda likens it to a full-body scan, with the therapist moving their hands to find an area where the person’s energy is not flowing clearly, and shift that as much as they can.
Reiki can be incorporated into a massage therapy session but as Linda shares, there’s no telling where you are going to encounter resistance when doing Reiki. Often it can take the whole hour to re-set the body’s natural flow of energy. Linda suggests if you are looking to try Reiki to start that at the beginning of a session and if the whole body is done before the full hour, then the therapist can do body work for the remainder of the time.
If scheduled the other way around, you may run out of time and not receiver the full benefits Reiki.
The actual Reiki session is based more on intention than the therapist holding their hands in exact, precise positions. Positions are of course taught to the beginner Reiki practitioner, but the way the therapist moves their hands from the head to the feet to flush the energy may look different for each client, and even each session.
by Penni Louise & Linda Moiseyev
