Reiki is a form of healing that has become increasingly popular since the mid-90s, indicating the integration of holistic health and conventional Western medicine for modern day health and wellness. For people who are unfamiliar with reiki, it's a healing treatment that works on both mental and physical levels. The practitioner who is able to perform reiki is called a
Reiki Master. During a reiki session, the Reiki Master uses their hands to lightly touch several locations on the patient's body on the head and on the front and back of the torso. There is no pressure, discomfort, or intrusiveness during this process. The word “
reiki” is made up of two Japanese words: “
rei” (spiritual or sacred) and “
ki” (energy).
When our life force energy (the energy that allows us to be alive) is flowing freely, we are generally happy and healthy but when its flow is disrupted, we're more likely to feel stress or become sick. A benefit of reiki is that it helps raise our life force energy and the function of our body's
healing system. There are several other health benefits that could come from reiki, including:
- Stress reduction and relaxation
- Reducing blood pressure
- Pain relief
- Emotional cleansing and cleansing the body of toxins
- Boosting our body's immune system/healing abilities
- Help with discomfort resulting from acute injuries or chronic problems such as asthma or consistent headaches
Some common feedback you may hear from someone who has had a
reiki session is that they felt more relaxed and like they were thinking more clearly, or that they noticed pleasant changes like the ceasing of a headache. It is important to note that everyone's experience is different depending on the state you're in when you begin the session.
I tried reiki for the first time with
Heidi Martin, a certified Reiki Master in Ancaster Ontario. I had a cold at the time and during the session I experienced a subtle burning sensation in my chest that lasted for a while after the session. Heidi said that this rarely occurred and that she believed it was because I was experiencing a release of old (negative) energy. I felt more focused and relaxed afterward, and my cold was gone within a few days. This situation exemplifies the benefit of emotional cleansing and the release of toxins from the body that is gained by reiki. Heidi made it a great experience for me and if you are looking for someone who offers reiki services in Ancaster I would highly recommend her!
As previously mentioned, reiki relates to
holistic health because it is a holistic healing modality that focuses on the mind and body. Holistic health isn't just a treatment, it's a continuous approach to life. Similarly, reiki is most effective when you follow a program that includes several sessions instead of engaging in it sporadically. Recognizing the connection between these three parts of yourself and nurturing them through healing methods like reiki can play a huge role in boosting your immunity and overall health.
