What is Reiki?
Reiki energy healing therapy is based on an Eastern belief that vital energy flows through your body. During the Reiki session, the Reiki practitioner will use gentle touch or place their hands just above your body – to help guide this energy in a way that promotes balance and healing.
Reiki was developed in the 1920s by a Japanese professor Mikao Usui. The term comes from two Japanese words: “Rei,” which means universal, and “ki,” which translates to ‘a life force of energy’. Reiki has been studied for conditions like pain, anxiety, depression, insomnia, eating disorders.
What to Expect at Your First Reiki Session?
Reiki sessions vary in length, but they often last between 60 to 90 minutes. The person receiving Reiki will spend the entire session lying fully clothed on a treatment table (this looks like a standard massage table), or on the bed, with their eyes closed, totally relaxed. Pregnant woman or people who can’t lie flat, may use a chair or a recliner. During the session, it is recommended to wear loose, comfortable clothing, made from natural fabrics, in light colors. Avoid wearing anything tight or restrictive. During the session, you should not wear any belts, bulky accessories or jewelry. Dress in layers in case you get too warm or cool during the session.
The practitioner may or may not talk during the session, but typically there’s very little talking. Generally, people feel deeply relaxed and content during the session. You’ll likely daydream, and you may even fall into a light sleep. “Sometimes people will say, ‘Oh, I fell asleep,’ but I’m not sure it’s physiological sleep”. Instead, I believe people enter a deep meditative state that helps restore the nervous system. But personal experiences and sensations can vary widely depending upon the individual, and can be related to many factors, including characteristics of the practitioner, so be open to whatever emerges for you and then discuss after the session.
The cost of a Reiki session will vary depending on each person’s needs. Reiki treatments can be offered in person or online.