Reiki was founded by Dr Mikao Usui (1865-1926), a Tendai Buddhist Monk, Samurai Swordsman and Kiko (Japanese Qigong) master and was originally part of a very personal self-healing practice that was taught by Dr Usui to his disciples. The practice was based on ‘knowing one's true purpose’ through mindfulness, meditation and living by the five Reiki precepts shown above. Only later was it formalised into the Reiki system to treat others that we know and use today. 

 

Energy healing is far from a new practice and the Reiki form has its roots in Tendai Buddhism and Shintoism.  I would encourage anyone interested in the subject of Reiki to investigate its fascinating history with further reading.

 

Why have Reiki?

People seek Reiki for a wide variety of reasons including general energy balancing, stress relief, anxiety, spiritual development, emotional release and wellbeing support with physical symptoms.

 

The benefits of Reiki are thought to be:

• Promotes deep relaxation, calmness and feelings of wellbeing

• Balances energy levels

• Encourages the release of ‘stuck’ or unexpressed emotions

• Promotes feelings of grounding and connectedness

• Works well with other therapies and can be used alongside them

• Encourages the body to initiate its own healing and self-regulating mechanism. 

 

Reiki healing is very gentle and is always applied ‘for the highest good’ meaning the energy will go wherever it is needed in the body.  Relaxing fully & deeply on a regular basis can improve our energy, sleep pattern, digestion and outlook. Reiki sessions can provide the time and space to ‘turn inwards’ to experience relaxation on a deep and therapeutic level.  

 

Can anyone have Reiki?

Given that the Reiki can be performed with hands off as well as hands on the body, it can be applied to anyone.   No medical disorders will prevent you from having Reiki . However, if you’re seeking treatment for an acute illness such as a recent injury, cough, cold or flu this should be discussed by phone before the appointment. As with all complementary therapy, Reiki cannot claim to 'treat' medical conditions.

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What will I have to do during a Reiki session?

The first Reiki appointment will include a short consultation during which a brief medical history as well as any particular reasons for wanting Reiki can be discussed.  A session lasting between 20 and 60 minutes will then be carried out with minimal conversation to aid relaxation. Additional time for discussion can be booked in blocks of 30 minutes. 

 

Reiki is performed with the client fully clothed and in either a seated position or lying on a treatment couch; again, to aid relaxation the latter is recommended.  Reiki is then applied through the practitioner’s hands in a series of positions throughout the body. Typically working from top to bottom the practitioner will gently place their hands on or just above the clients head, shoulders, throat, torso and feet.  The Reiki practitioner may also choose to focus on other areas such as any specific sites of injury or pain for example.

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What is Reiki "good for"?

People sometimes ask if they have to feel something during Reiki and the answer is, no. Everyone is different in terms of sensitivity and what someone does or does not feel during a Reiki treatment is not indicative of how much Reiki they have received or how much it will ‘work’.  That said it’s not uncommon to experience what some call energy phenomenon in the body which can be most simply explained as nerve impulses in the tissues such as heat or tingling or twitches. Other effects could be more emotional like getting the giggles or feeling tearful. It’s all down to the individual.  Some people just relax.

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How many Reiki sessions will I need?

The benefits to our wellbeing from receiving a one-off Reiki session can be huge so if that’s all you can manage or would like, no problem, it’s certainly worth having.  However, much like fitness regimes, the effects of Reiki are traditionally considered to be cumulative so the benefits obtained by building momentum over a course of weekly session would naturally be greater.   If you’re having Reiki with the view to working on a long term issue, a course of sessions over a longer period is recommended.  This can be discussed during the consultation.  

 

To book a Reiki session, Click Here 

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