Sunday, August 10, 2014

To Reiki or not to Reiki….. that is the question should never be the question. 😉 ‘Where’ to get Reiki done, ‘Which’ practitioner should I call, and ‘How’ often should I go, are the questions to be asking. So today, let’s talk about Reiki.

Reiki is described as: a technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by “laying on of hands” and is based on the idea that an unseen “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. The energy can impact our lives and well-being. When your ‘life force energy” is high, life seems easier to deal with and you have a higher resistance to illness.

I personally view Reiki like this: all life is energy. I believe it can affect us in a positive or negative way. Think about when you are around really exuberant friends or family. It is almost contagious, isn’t it? The same applies to negative people. Do you have one of those people in your life that are just dour? You notice after spending time with them, that they have left you tired, drained, and maybe even feeling a little down? That positive and negative energy also affects our own lives; our own mindset. If we constantly are stressed, angry, upset, or depressed, our energies are down. When our energies are down, we become tired and drained. This lowers our resistance to illness. When our energies are high, our resistance is higher and we feel better. Reiki can assist in bringing those energy levels back up and help keep things like stress, illness, and negativity at bay.

What exactly does all of that mean and how does a Reiki practitioner help my ‘life force energy”, you might ask? A Reiki practitioner is merely a conduit. We are trained to tap into the energy and direct it back toward you. Your body will then utilize the energy to its fullest potential; flowing through and energizing the areas that need it the most. A skilled Reiki practitioner can sense the areas that are needing energy the most and apply extra to those places. For example, if you come in with a headache, a practitioner might tell you that during the session, the energy wanted to focus more on your head.

What is a session like with a Reiki practitioner? Each practitioner will have their own personal touches to the sessions. Some might use candles or stones, while others use music or aromatherapy. Most of them will have you sit in a chair or lie down on a table. The practitioner will wash their hands and ready themselves for the session. They may ask you to take some deep, relaxing breaths. The practitioner will then begin by either placing their hands directly on your body or by holding them slightly above your body. They will usually start at your head and work their way down to your feet. Some will ask you to flip over so they can also work on your back. That, in a nutshell, is what a general Reiki session is like.

Now for the those other questions of “Where, Which, How”. The most likely place to find Reiki practitioners will be on community boards in places like Holisitic book shops or Wellness centers. Which practitioner you chose, is up to you. Ask as many questions as you need before you book your appointment. If you have any concerns, bring those up as well. Prices can vary from location to location so that might be a factor in who you decided to book an appointment with. I would strongly suggest trusting your intuition as well. Go with the person that you get ‘good vibes’ from or that person you feel the most drawn to. And as for how often you should go, that is completely up to you and the practitioner. I personally do not like doing anything more than once a week with a client. An individual can feel the positive effects of a session even days after it is performed. So I personally feel anything more than once a week is overkill. But again, this is individual preference. Talk honestly and openly with your practitioner. See how you feel after the sessions and work together to come up with a plan.

Please keep in mind that Reiki is not meat to replace your contemporary medical doctor. It should be used as a complementary healing modality. Use it like you would massage, acupuncture, or reflexology. It is meant to assist, not heal. Also keep in mind that Reiki should not do any harm to an individual. However, just like there are positive, helping practitioners, there could also be negative practitioners who’s goal is NOT to help. That is why it is very important to ask about their training, intentions, what level they are, and how long they have been practicing. If you are questioning the individual, it might be wise to look for someone else. True Reiki practitioners do not harm, they only help.

Now that you know more about Reiki, get out there and give it a try! If you don’t live near a practitioner, no problem. Many are also trained in distance Reiki. Though not as relaxing and calming as the in person sessions, they can still offer relaxation and other health benefits. Go on, give it a shot! 🙂

Enjoy!
Posted by Stepping Stones Holistic Health at 4:48 PM