What Is Reiki?

Reiki is a healing method developed from an ancient Tibetan Buddhist technique, by Dr.Mikao Usui, in Japan around the early 1900’s.  “Rei” means spiritual wisdom and “Ki” means universal life energy force.  When our “Ki” or “Chi” is low or blocked we are more susceptible to illness.  Reiki can then be defined as “spiritually guided life energy force.”  This energy works on the Chakras and Meridian systems of the body to balance the flow of energy.    Although developed by Buddhists, Reiki is not a religion, nor does it require any specific religious beliefs from client or practitioner to be affective.   

How does it work?

The practitioner has been trained by a Reiki Master to allow energy, the same energy that is flowing all around us at all times, to flow through them and out through the palms of their hands.  This means that the practitioner does not use his or her own energy to heal, and the client’s energy intelligence will pull more intensely where the balancing is needed the most.  If you look at the Chakra System, you will see 7 main circles, all representing different emotions, physical body systems, in different colors.  These are what the practitioner will be focusing on, these Chakras or “Energy Wheels” are what are responsible for the healthy flow of energy throughout the entire body. 

Fun Fact: Dr Robert Becker, Dr John Zimmerman and Max Cade experiments have shown the biomagnetic energy coming from a Reiki practitioners hands to emit over 1000 times more than normal.  For more information check out http://www.ttem.org/forum/index.php?topic=143.0 

Why choose Reiki?

Reiki is a non-invasive treatment that has no contraindications.  The treatment is balancing the body, emotions, mind and spirit.  In a few words, Reiki energy goes where it is needed the most.   Although every treatment varies, the very least that clients feel is deep relaxation, we all need that from time to time!  Imagine feeling absolute peace, almost like reaching a state of deep sleep or even meditation, only you are awake and fully aware, this is what most people feel when receiving a Reiki treatment.   However, in some cases in order for a blockage of any sort to be released, an individual may have to breathe through some discomfort and let go of a particular issue they have been holding on to.  It works at a cellular level, therefore while it would seem that you are just relaxing, there is so much more happening in your body.

 Fun Fact: Dr.Oz’s wife Lisa is a Reiki Master!  He recommended Reiki on his show.  Check out http://www.healingreikiclasses.com/become-a-reiki-master-now-says-dr-oz-from-oprah for details on this episode.

Where is Reiki practised?

Reiki practitioners can be found in various health facilities.  It can be used as a complimentary treatment for any healing technique.  Many hospitals, medical clinics and hospice programs in the United States integrate Reiki as an ingredient in standard care.  For more information you may go to http://www.centerforreikiresearch.org/.  However, one does not have to be a health care provider to become a Reiki practitioner.  It is a method that is open to anyone.  Many take the training to do self-healing or help a certain friend or family member.   There may be someone in your office that is a practitioner or perhaps even a neighbour.  Reiki can be practised anytime and anywhere, even while simply having a conversation. 

Is it safe?

Reiki is a non-invasive therapy that can be done on anyone.  There are no contraindications and it cannot do any harm.  This also means it can be done no matter what medications you are on, and will have always have a positive effect on the individual.  This is a very gentle yet powerful technique, the experience is not stressful. 

Who can benefit?

Everyone can benefit from Reiki, it affects the mind, body, emotions and spirit, and clients have left the treatment room feeling lighter, looser and even more grounded from before the treatment.  Some have even called the next day to give feedback on changes they have noticed in themselves after leaving the treatment room.  Reiki will continue to work in you even after leaving the treatment, so be aware of the changes that occur!  Here is a short list of benefits my clients have expressed.  

Benefits of Reiki:

Deep relaxation
Mind body balance
Calm mood swings
Manage regular headaches
Clear mind to assist problem solving
Detox of the body
Enhancing of the senses
Treating physical pain
Improve one's focus
Facilitate a spiritual connection
Ease emotional pain
Compliment medical treatments

What to expect in a treatment.

A standard treatment can be done with the client fully clothed, I say standard because some practitioners may incorporate Reiki into massage therapy or even use aromatherapy in a session.  There will only be very light contact, and at times no contact at all.  Even then, the client and practitioners will be able to feel the energy, this may feel like tingling, heat, cold and possibly dull aches on areas of past injuries or where there are major blockages.  It is important to understand that every treatment can be different, but that each time the energy is catering to specific needs.  Water is life, so it is crucial that the client drink more than usual after their Reiki treatment.  It’s OK to ask questions or comment on your treatment as you go along, your practitioner will be happy to address them.  Be open-minded, have fun and be inspired!  

Ask me "Why?" I love it

I get the question “why massage therapy?” a lot.  Why did you get into it?  Why do people get massage therapy?  Why should I get it?  Why are you ok with touching strangers? Why do some massages hurt so much, but make me feel better later?  Why are all massage therapists so different?  So why am I telling you this? I really have grown fond of these “why” questions.  It tells me people are interested, and curious...I too am quite the curious soul; their why’s make me think, sometimes deeper than intended.  I will only talk about a few of these “whys” for now.

From when I was very young, I had to touch everything.  For those of you who have children like this, you may be familiar with the phrase, “look with your eyes, not with your hands.”  On top of it all, I didn’t just touch things, but people as well, mainly if they had been hurt in some way.  My little brother was the common body to experience this observable fact, it reached the point where he would rather suffer in silence than let me know he had bumped his chin.  Now don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t squeeze peoples’ injuries, I was actually quite gentle, to my judgement anyways.  However, when one hurts themselves, that vulnerable region becomes protected by a mental Fort Knox that may respond physically by a quick pulling in closer and a “Don’t touch!” I don’t know why I had this need as a child but I didn’t exactly grow out of it.  Instead, it became a subconscious desire to take away pain, it was a modified reflex that I was mentally familiar with so I would try to control it, aim for people I knew.  

I also took this into account when choosing a career.  I thought the most logical option was to go to Mexico and go into Medical School, (long story for another day.)  When I lived in Mexico this wasn’t really a problem, it is custom to give and receive a kiss on the cheek as an ‘Aloha!’ even when interacting with a stranger.  Hugging and making physical contact throughout a conversation was socially acceptable.  Therefore, the sense of touch was constantly integrated into the culture, and I loved it.  When I came back to Canada, this was sincerely missed, and rightly so!  It is a proven fact that feeling touch from another person is a human need, thank you psychology! 

So why do people get massages?  There are countless websites and endless literature that can give you a list of conditions that massage has been known and proven to help.  I am not here to defend or attack them.  But I will scratch the surface to what I have experienced thus far in my own journey. Many people come through my door with headaches, if you don’t suffer from regular headaches take a moment to feel blessed...and another one for good measure...there.  For those of you who do, you’re not alone and there is help, this is a big problem in our society, let’s not play the blame game right now, I just want to say most reoccurring headaches can be treated with massage therapy and self-care.  Example: regular 30 minute massages, perhaps trigger point therapy, followed with relaxation massage AND (self-care) drinking water and getting some sleep.  

Another common issue is repetitive strain injury, how many of us have a job that we are doing the same movement every day, using the same muscles over and over.  With time, these muscles are overworked and inflamed.  With massage, ice and rest this too can be treated.  

Our body is such an amazing design, when our muscles are fatigued, it finds a way around the problem...you may have heard the word compensation, our body is famous for it.  What does this mean?  Other muscles will take over the task, the action we are asking our body to do may not be their #1 priority, but they can pull it off.  There is however a catch, our posture is going to change slightly and now we are risking this new set of muscles’ wellbeing.  When it gets to this point all is not lost, but in time you can have another level of repetitive strain added on, not to mention some posture issues.  Think of a left sprained ankle, it’s not repetitive strain injury but it is similar.  Not only are you going to be putting less pressure on your left leg, but now the weight is not evenly distributed so your right side takes on more than it is used to.  So yes, your right leg may be sore after awhile, but what is your leg attached to?  Your hip, the hip bone is covered in muscles and ligaments vital to even the simplest of activities, walking. What is between the hip, your sacrum.  The sacrum is the bone that contains our “tailbone” but right now we are going to mention that at the top of the sacrum, our largest vertebral bone sits.   See how I could go on and on to how a left ankle sprain could affect us to the very top of our heads through body compensation...not only that, it may affect one person different from another but in the big picture our posture has the great potential to become unbalanced and create problems.  A massage therapist’s job is to help the body take back that balance it so longs for and educate the client on what else they can do outside of the massage room to acquire physical wellness.

P.S-it will take more than one posting to do this ‘why people get massage therapy’ question justice.