Natural Living

The Lowdown On Reiki

There’s a wonderful world of alternative therapies out there just waiting to be discovered. This month, we shine a light on reiki.

Relaxing and reducing stress levels to promote healing, is the key concept of Japanese technique reiki. This is based on the idea that unseen life force energy flows through us. Practitioners believe that, if your life force energy is low, you are more likely to experience illness or stress, and, if it is high, you are more likely to feel happy and healthy.

The first records of reiki suggest it was developed in the early part of the 20th century by Japanese buddhist Mikao Usui, but there is evidence it had been practised across Asia for hundreds of years before that. Over time, it has become a progressive healing method, with the therapist having the ability to channel energy into their patient by means of touch, restoring emotional, mental and physical balance.

London-based reiki healer Reeya Avani told us: “The biological perspective of reiki is still being discovered but recent scientific studies indicate that reiki healers do emit electro-magnetic and bio-magnetic energy from their hands, and this energy has been shown to induce current flows in tissues and cells of the patients.

“The conditions I heal tend to be very similar – emotional healing, such as boosting confidence, selfesteem and clarity of thinking, as well as helping people feel more positive. Reiki helps with creative blocks, and has been reported to help those dealing with divorce and bereavement, anger, addiction and anxiety. It also aids physical healing, which includes healing those suffering from low energy, sleeping troubles, headaches and muscle aches. This can have a domino effect in helping the body to eliminate toxins, improving sleep and creating an overall sense of wellness.

“Reiki has risen in popularity in the last decade. The internet has paved the way for shared information and research advances, so people have a better understanding of the concepts. Several NHS trusts have also began offering reiki healing in hospitals and health clinics, increasing the credibility of the complementary therapy. I would also suggest that a rise in self-care and individual development through mindfulness has lead to people trying new methods of improvement, whether it’s yoga, crystal healing or reiki. We are most definitely going through a resurgence of self-healing.”

To find out more, and locate a therapist near you, visit reikifed.co.uk

On trial

Everything you need to know about your first session

Patients are encouraged to relax through a guided meditation, laying down on a bed. The therapist then scans the body, looking at the seven chakras, the entire body, and the energies for any anomolies so that they can establish the root causes of any energy imbalances or blockages. The focus will next go into the chakra blockages. The reiki energy will be applied through the therapist’s hands onto the patient. People often feel a sense of intense warmth and a tingling sensation at this stage, which can take up to an hour depending on their needs, the severity of the blockages and their energy imbalances. Once finished, patients should drink a glass of water as the process can often make you feel dehydrated.