By Chelsea Barranco

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August 30, 2024

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What is Reiki?

Throughout the years, Reiki has become widely used as a complementary modality in many different medical settings, including hospitals, drug and rehabilitation centers, oncology units, and palliative care. Reiki is a form of energy healing that originated in the early 1900s in Japan and was founded by Dr. Mikao Usui. It helps both the emotional and physical body. It’s not associated with any religion and has long been an accepted form of therapy from many different backgrounds. You can practice reiki both in person and remotely. It promotes a state of calm, restores energy, and brings balance and harmony to the body. In a more balanced state, this stimulates and strengthens our vitality and helps the body’s innate ability to heal. 

 

Do you need Reiki?

Everyone can benefit from Reiki! We all experience some form of energetic imbalance from time to time. This could be from sickness, trauma, injury, stress, heartbreak, grief, anxiety, anger, depression, or PTSD. Overall, Reiki can support many conditions and even uplift your emotions, including overall well-being and general wellness.

 

What to Expect from a Reiki Session:

At the start of your session, the Reiki Master practitioner may ask if you have any specific concerns or would like to set an intention for the session. You will then be asked to lay on the table, fully clothed. Lights will be dimmed, and soothing music will be played to create a calming atmosphere. It is a time to relax and disconnect from your day, and it’s okay if the patient falls asleep! The practitioner’s hands will be just above the patient’s body, moving from head to toe using different hand positions. There is no massage or manipulation. The patient may have a wide array of experiences. They may feel warmth, tingling, or sometimes nothing but the blissful tranquility accompanying a moment to relax. The patient can expect a deep state of relaxation and a sense of lightness after the session. It’s also common to experience better sleep quality, decreased pain, uplifted mood, and a feeling of well-being. 

Significantly, several studies explain the potential health benefits of Reiki. A three-year study conducted at an oncology unit showed that after at least one Reiki session, patients experienced decreased anxiety and pain and improved sleep quality(1). Additionally, in a randomized control study, university students experienced more relaxation after receiving Reiki than from music or meditation (3). 

 

How Often Should I Receive Reiki?

For best results, you should book an appointment either weekly or every 2-3 weeks. Is there a specific area that you would like to improve? If so, please call our front desk for more information and to schedule an appointment. 

 

RNM offers many different healing tools and options, including Reiki, Cranial Sacral Therapy, and an Infrared Sauna!

 

Resources:

1. Birocco et al (2011). The effects of Reiki therapy on pain and anxiety in patients attending a day oncology and infusion service unit. American Journal of Hospice and Palliative Medicine, 29:4. 
2. Keyes, R. (2012). The Healing Power of Reiki. Llewellyn Publications. 
3. Witte D & Dundes L. Harnessing life energy or wishful thinking? Reiki, placebo reiki, meditation, and music. Altern Complement Ther. 2001;7:304–309