What is Reiki?

Reiki is an ancient healing art recognized by the National Institute of Health as a form of alternative medicine. It is a type of energy therapy administered by the placement of a practitioner’s hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of facilitating the person’s own healing response. Energy therapy is based on the belief that an unseen energy flows through all living things and directly affects the quality of a person’s health. This belief has been part of the wisdom of many cultures since ancient times.

The practitioner places their hands lightly on or over specific areas of the head, limbs, and torso using different hand shapes, for between 2 and 5 minutes. The hands can be placed over 20 different areas of the body.

The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words - Rei which means "God's Wisdom or the Higher Power" and Ki which is "life force energy".

Why might I want to receive a Reiki treatment?

Energy can stagnate in the body where there has been physical injury or possibly emotional pain. In time, these energy blocks can cause illness.

Energy medicine aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure. Improving the flow of energy around the body, and can enable relaxation, reduce pain, speed healing, and reduce other symptoms of illness.

Is Reiki used instead of medications?

Reiki complements all types of medical and therapeutic treatments and increases the efficacy of these treatments. It is not a substitute for medical treatment.

What Are the benefits of Reiki?

Stress Reduction
Relaxation
Reduction in Muscle Tension
Decreases Pain
Reduces Nausea
Sleep Improvement
Accelerates Healing
Psychological Healing
Decreases Anxiety
Stimulates the body's immune system
Initiates the feeling of security, peace and wellness

Is Reiki used in hospitals?

Reiki has been integrated into the hospital setting with more than 800 hospitals offering it nationwide. These include the Cleveland Clinic, the Mayo Clinic, Johns Hopkins, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital and The Children’s Hospital in Boston. Reiki is commonly given pre-op, in the operating room, post-op, and in oncology, cardiology, orthopedics and internal medicine.

The Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston has one of the largest Reiki volunteer programs in the country. The following is a quote from their website:

“Our data, based on feedback from patients, family members, and staff members who received Reiki sessions, as well as outside research show that Reiki promotes relaxation, relieves stress and anxiety, reduces pain and fatigue, and improves overall quality of life.”

Is Reiki a Religion?

While Reiki is spiritual in nature, it is not a religion. It has no dogma, and there is nothing you must believe in order to learn and use Reiki. In fact, Reiki is not dependent on belief at all and will work whether you believe in it or not. Because Reiki comes from "God", many people find that using Reiki puts them more in touch with the experience of their religion rather than having only an intellectual concept of it.

While Reiki is not a religion, it is still important to live and act in a way that promotes harmony with others. Mikao Usui, the founder of the Reiki system of natural healing, recommended that one practice certain simple ethical ideals to promote peace and harmony, which are nearly universal across all cultures.