What is Reiki?

Reiki is associated in the category of therapeutic touch or laying of hands techniques. These methods involve non-obtrusive, gentle hand placement techniques on or near the client’s body.

Initial objectives are creating an environment in the client’s body to enhance their immune system, restore homeostasis and induce relaxation.

Laying of hand techniques mostly originated out of the Eastern part of the world. Tibet, China and Japan to name a few, have researched and developed over thousands of years methods in inducing the body into strengthening, and recovering from injury or sickness. Acupuncture, Acupressure and Chi-Kung are several techniques that have been accepted and implemented in the United States as a means of effective treatments for various illnesses. Many other techniques are emerging into the western world, one of which has been Reiki.

Energy, Japanese; Ki (pronounced Key) and Chinese; Chi (pronounced Chee) are synonymous terms described as any living organism’s life force or life energy. One example of human life energy is located on the upper part of the right atrium of the heart, which is called the sinoatrial node. This amazing group of special nerve tissue is responsible for creating the electrical impulse for the heart to beat. Electrical impulses are occurring thousands of times per second throughout the body, whether it is used to digest food or read a book. We as humans contain a myriad of electrical impulses constantly fluctuating, which is directly related to our daily activities and present health condition. Without these special nerve tissues, their ability to conduct energy impulses, along with the organs and glands that monitor and control them, our biological bodies would cease to function.

What makes Reiki unique from associated techniques is its source of energy or Chi/Ki.
Chi-Kung, Polarity Therapy and simple laying of hands techniques may use either the clients energy, the therapist’s energy or a combination of both to create the environment for homeostasis to take place. Reiki practitioners are trained to integrate what is known as universal Chi or universal life force energy. This universal energy is directly related to one’s own personal energy, but on a much larger scale, envisioned as an infinite network of energy created by all living things connected together by an electrically conductive web. This form of energy when applied to the body intuitively or systematically, gently and naturally assists the body to return to homeostasis.

The effects of Reiki treatments vary from person to person. It’s important to understand this energy works with the body so the body heals itself in it's own unique way, which in turn reaching closer to homeostasis. Most common attributes are the awareness of heat from the therapist’s hands to a sense of deep relaxation and inner alignment of one’s thoughts.

Although explaining Reiki is one avenue of understanding it's technical nature, clearly it's best method of understanding is in a session. Preferably in a quiet, comfortable setting where you can commit time for yourself to explore the energetic body and how it's awareness of energy can lead you to a more constructive living.