Holistic healing

Energy healing 101: reiki and chakra

Discover how this alternative therapy can be used to balance your body’s natural energy system.

In an increasingly busy world dominated by work and social stresses, it’s easy to see the appeal of holistic and spiritual practices that return us to the natural. Odds are, if you’ve ever taken a yoga or meditation class, you’ve likely heard of reiki. This alternative healing technique alleviates feelings of stress, deficiency and pain by using metaphysical energy to bring balance to our body and its chakras. While the more cynical side of you may note that there’s little scientific evidence to support the concept of chakra and spiritual energies, as with many alternative therapies, there are clear improvements to the emotional wellbeing of people who enjoy regular meditation, exercise and mindfulness, and we all know how important positivity is for our health. It’s mind over matter, after all, so don’t dismiss this interesting therapy just yet!

Chakras explained

The Hindu concept of chakras originated in ancient India, where it was believed that the human body contained several spinning wheels of energy centres, literally named ‘wheels of life’. Traditionally, we’re believed to have seven chakras in the body, with each one playing a different role in our life, physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually. When all seven are healthy, with a good balance of energy, we also feel balanced. However, many things can affect our chakras negatively, from our physical environment to our emotions. If just one becomes blocked due to stress, illness, trauma or a specific injury, it’ll affect the rest, as they function as a system, explains expert healer Katy Meade-King. The aim, then, is to keep the flow running smoothly.

So what is reiki healing?

Similar to pranic healing, which focuses on the energy of prana, reiki healing works by having a reiki master, professional or practitioner perform chakra balancing and blockage-opening by channelling life force energy through their hands into the person needing healing. It is based on an ancient Japanese healing technique, and is thus named ‘rei’, for the ‘transcendental spirit or boundless essence’, and ‘ki’, for the ‘omnipotent energy in everything’.

“Energy is all around us and inside us, and the philosophy is that if your aura or energy field is in a state of harmony, then the physical body will also be harmonious,” explains Hunni Palmer, reiki practitioner and co-founder of Yovedic Retreats. “However, if there is too much energy in an area or not enough, that comes out of balance and there is the potential for illness.” Despite this, practitioners agree that reiki therapy is not meant to replace medical treatment, but rather should be used to complement other healing methods.

What happens in a reiki treatment session?

As Shannon Yrizarry, a mind, body and soul expert of Daily Life points out, people can only become certified to offer reiki once they have been attuned to the energy by a reiki master, since it’s all about the flow of energy. However, reiki sessions can vary depending on the practitioner and your preferences, and some may simply hover their hands over you while focusing on the chakra healing, while others may accompany it with chanted mantras, a reiki massage or chakra yoga, says spiritual healer Barbara Brennan. During the session, you will likely feel a sense of relaxation and peace, so much so that many people sometimes fall asleep while being healed – don’t worry, though, you will still receive all of the reiki benefits, assures the International Association of Reiki Professionals.

How to unblock chakras yourself

While it’s generally perceived to be not as effective as going to a practitioner, you can help balance your body with chakra meditation after some training on reiki courses – this meditation will help declutter your mental and spiritual blocks and get the reiki energy flowing. To do this, visualise the colour of the respective chakra and imagine sending life force energy into the different chakra points of your body, starting from the root chakra, for about three to five minutes each. Healing crystals are also used to amplify the energy used in any kind of healing session, to different effects depending on their type and vibrational frequencies.

How do you know if your chakras are blocked?

Root chakra

Located at the base of the spine and known as ‘Muladhara’ in Sanskrit, your root or base chakra is associated with your adrenal glands, kidneys, spinal column and legs. It forms our foundation and is related to our sense of security and survival, enabling us to take care of and stand up for ourselves. As a result, when the chakra is imbalanced or blocked, you may suffer from an overabundance of anxieties and fears, as well as physical afflictions like lower back pain and problems with the hips, legs and feet.

The chakra is associated with the colour red. To help open and maintain a healthy sacral chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of chakra crystals like red jasper, onyx and hematite, and perform relevant yoga poses like the wide-legged forward fold, malasana squats and the mountain pose. You can also help by taking time every day to establish a regular grounding practice, such as visualisation or focusing on a single sensation.

Sacral chakra

The second chakra is located one or two inches below the navel, known as ‘Svadhisthana’ in Sanskrit, and is associated with the gonads, prostate gland, reproductive system, spleen and bladder. The sacral chakra governs a person’s emotions, feelings and sexual energy, says Andrea Everingham, founder of OneYoga Studio, and represents change, fluctuations and movement. When imbalanced, you may suffer from a lowered libido, feelings of apathy, hypersensitivity or a proclivity towards unhealthy addictions.

The chakra is associated with the colour orange. To help open and maintain a healthy sacral chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of carnelian, tiger’s eye and sunstone crystals, and perform relevant yoga poses like the pigeon, goddess and warrior II pose. You can also help by taking special care of your body; try spending an extra five minutes after your shower massaging moisturiser into your skin.

Solar plexus chakra

The third chakra is located one or two inches above the navel, known as ‘Manipura’ in Sanskrit, and affects the pancreas, liver, digestive tract, stomach, spleen and gallbladder. As Jigyasa Shiv, yoga teacher at Azulfit Yoga & Pilates Retreats explains, the solar plexus chakra is the storehouse of your energy, carrying every emotion and experience we go through, whether good or bad. As a result, it’s the centre of our self-worth, enthusiasm and courage, and when imbalanced, can lead to feelings of self-doubt or egotism, or even physical symptoms of a tummy ache or digestive issues.

The chakra is associated with the colour yellow. To help open and maintain a healthy solar plexus chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of chakra stones like citrine, pyrite and amber, and perform relevant yoga poses like the boat pose, twists and the warrior III pose. You can also help by focusing on past achievements instead of mistakes and doing something spontaneous or out of your comfort zone.

Heart chakra

Located in the centre of the chest and known as ‘Anahata’ in Sanskrit, the fourth chakra affects the thymus gland, heart, lower lungs, circulatory system, skin and hands. The chakra meaning is love, towards yourself, others and the world around you, and is the centre of your compassion, understanding and sense of inner peace. As a result, when the chakra is blocked, you may experience feelings of jealousy and possessiveness, suspicion of others and a lack of empathy.

The chakra is associated with the colour green. To help open and maintain a healthy heart chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of rose quartz, jade and malachite crystals, and perform relevant yoga poses like backbends, the reverse plank and upward-facing dog. You can also help by being gentle with yourself and showing loving tenderness in all that you do.

Throat chakra

This fifth chakra is located in – you guessed it – the throat, known as ‘Vishuddhi’ in Sanskrit, and associated with the thyroid gland, jaw, upper lungs and vocal cords. The chakra is related to communication, self-expression and creativity, and according to the Power of Positivity chakra blockage guide, when imbalanced, can lead us to find it difficult to express ourselves, such as through a fear of speaking up or the urge to be secretive – dishonesty is one of the core negative energies that affect the throat chakra. It might also manifest in thyroid, throat or jaw problems.

The chakra is associated with the colour blue. To help open and maintain a healthy throat chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of lapis lazuli, aquamarine and kyanite crystals, and perform relevant yoga poses like the fish, plow pose and shoulder stand. You can also help by singing, listening to music or writing to express your feelings.

Third eye chakra

The sixth chakra, also known as the third eye or brow chakra, is located slightly above and between the eyebrows, known as ‘Ajna’ in Sanskrit, and affects the pituitary gland, lower brain, left eye, ears, nose and central nervous system. It functions as the centre of your intuition and inner vision, and is associated with your awareness, perception and invention, allowing you to cut through any illusions and drama to see the clear picture. Due to this, an imbalance can lead to difficulty concentrating, memory problems and a lack of imagination, as well as more physical issues such as headaches and dizziness.

The chakra is associated with the colour indigo. To help open and maintain a healthy third eye chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of amethyst, purple fluorite and labradorite crystals, and perform relevant yoga poses like the child’s pose, dolphin and eagle. You can also help by practising visualisation meditations or making time to play.

Crown chakra

The seventh chakra is located on the top and centre of your head, known as ‘Sahasrara’ in Sanskrit, and affects the pineal gland, upper brain and right eye. It serves as a direct connection to our spirit, our collective consciousness and the greater world beyond. Due to this, an imbalance can be characterised by loneliness, a sense of disconnection from others and the need to compare yourself negatively to everyone else, which results in a lack of direction and purpose in life.

The chakra is associated with the colour violet. To help open and maintain a healthy crown chakra, take advantage of the healing properties of selenite, clear quartz and lepidolite crystals, and perform relevant yoga poses like the headstand, tree pose and savasana.