Feeling Anxious, Stressed, or Emotionally Stuck? Reiki Healing May Be the Answer
Reiki is having a major moment right now — but it’s no passing wellness trend. In fact, it’s been around for about 100 years. But it wasn’t until more recently that it went from “woo-woo” to mainstream, at least in the Western world. Nowadays, reiki is practiced everywhere from luxury resorts to hospitals and hospices. So, what is reiki, and how can it help you?
The word “reiki” comes from a combination of two Japanese words: “rei,” which loosely translates to “the higher power,” and “ki,” which means “life force energy.” The practice of reiki is based on the notion that we all have life force energy flowing through us and around us, says Rebecca Mihopoulos, a reiki master at Release Well-Being Center in Westborough, MA. It’s also based on the Eastern belief that the body’s natural healing capabilities depend on free-flowing energy. Reiki healing is aimed at identifying any energy points in the body that are blocked and promoting well-being.
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While research on the potential benefits of reiki is still somewhat limited, there is promising evidence that it can have a positive effect on your physical, emotional, and mental health.
Before you go ahead and book that reiki session, here’s what you should know about this popular alternative healing technique.
What Is Reiki?
On a basic level, reiki is a practice that involves manipulating the flow of energy in your body. A reiki practitioner uses their hands to channel and guide the energy to create balance so the body is better able to heal itself.
It was originally developed in the 1920s by Buddhist priest Mikao Usui after he had a transformative experience while meditating and fasting on Mount Kurama. One of his students, Chujiro Hayashi, then opened a clinic in Tokyo to hone this new healing technique and practice it on others. Reiki master Hawayo Takata is credited for bringing this technique to Hawaii — where it then continued to spread to the U.S. in the 1970s.
What Happens During a Reiki Session
Every reiki healer has a slightly different way of working. I booked my first reiki session with Mihopoulos with the intention of getting to the root of my anxiety and relationship issues — and kickstarting the healing process from some childhood trauma. Based on my experience, here’s what you can generally expect.
A reiki session usually lasts about an hour. Mihopoulos often begins her practice with a short meditation.
“The client lays down face up and is asked to take some deep breaths in and out to help them ease into relaxation,” she explains.
During the meditation, she invited me to imagine I had roots growing out of me that were connecting me to the earth beneath me, which made me feel grounded, present, and very much in my body. I kept my eyes closed for the entire session, and after she verbally guided me through the meditation, there was no talking for the remainder of the reiki work. Mihopoulos used crystals to complement the healing work, but note that not all reiki practitioners combine these modalities.
Mihopoulos always asks her clients if they’re comfortable with some light touch. If they’re not, she’ll hover her hands a few inches above the body instead. According to Mihopoulos, both are equally as effective, so it really comes down to your own personal preference and comfort level.
“Then I move throughout the body using the seven chakras (energy centers) as my guide,” says Mihopoulos. “I start at the top of the head (the crown chakra) and move down, but some practitioners start at the feet (root chakra) and move up.”
Everyone’s experience of reiki is different, but Mihopoulos says it’s not uncommon to see colors, feel warmth or tingling, or feel as if you’re floating. You may even have some kind of emotional release. For men especially, who often hold the subconscious culturally-driven belief that they can not show their emotions, this release can be especially powerful.
In my experience, a wave of unparalleled relaxation came over me and my body felt so heavy and yet so light at the same time. At one point, while Mihopoulos cradled the back of my head, I felt a sudden and unexpected outpouring of emotion. When I later asked why that may have overcome me at that exact moment, she told me: “Some say the back of your head represents your past.” I truly felt I had released some “stuck” emotions that related to my childhood.
At the end of the session, the reiki practitioner will typically tell you which of the seven chakras need the most healing, and what they mean.
For example, in my case, the throat chakra and root chakra were blocked. The throat chakra is related to communication and self-expression — and this made sense to me, given that I often hold back my honest thoughts and feelings for fear of pushing people away or creating conflict. The root chakra is connected to one’s sense of survival, safety, and security. Given that I had a very chaotic upbringing that involved moving a lot and living with various family members, a parent who had unpredictable mood swings and uncontrollable rage, and another parent who struggled with addiction, this resonated deeply.
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Following a session, Mihopoulous recommends drinking lots of water to flush toxins away.
“Many people like to journal about their experience and what feelings or thoughts came up for them,” she adds.
What Are the Benefits of Reiki?
The best part about reiki is that it’s safe and beneficial for anyone and everyone, says Mihopoulos — at any stage of life, and in any health condition.
“The key is being open and willing to receive the healing energy,” she explains.
Skeptics may insist that the benefits of reiki are merely due to the placebo effect, but research has shown that’s not true. Studies suggest that reiki healing may help to:
One of the most well-studied benefits of reiki is that it promotes relaxation. Researchers believe that this is because it activates the parasympathetic nervous system — which regulates the body’s “rest and digest response.” This response helps to bring the body back to a state of calm and relaxation after the “fight or flight” response has been activated due to perceived threat, stress, or danger.
According to Mihopoulos, some people feel the benefits of reiki immediately after a single session. Others may see gradual improvements after three or more appointments.
As for how often you should receive reiki healing, it all depends on your goals. While some receive weekly or monthly treatments, others may only opt to come once or twice a year as needed, says Mihopoulos.
“I really rely on the recipient to trust their intuition on when to return for more healing,” she adds.
Finding a Reiki Healer
Nowadays, you can find reiki healing services at many of your local spas, resorts, wellness centers, and wellness retreats.
One of the best ways to find a quality reiki practitioner is a recommendation from a friend or family member. If you don’t know anyone who’s tried reiki, simply Google “reiki healing in [your location].” And if that doesn’t yield any promising results, try checking out the directories created by the International Association of Reiki Professionals and The International Center for Reiki Training.
Something to keep in mind: The quality of your experience can depend largely on the level of training your reiki practitioner has had. There are four levels of reiki healers, the highest being reiki master and reiki master teacher. For best results, try seeking out someone with one of these certifications.
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