Reiki
Reiki is a gentle energy healing practice that promotes health, relaxation and balance. During the practice of Reiki, the practitioner places the hands above or gently on the recipient. Many people report warmth or other sensations during Reiki. When used in conjunction with aromatherapy the treatment can be quite powerful depending on the type and properties of the oils used during the treatment. When one's energy is balanced we are capable of feeling vibrant and fully alive. If unbalanced, we are likely to feel stress or develop a weakened immune response. A practitioner uses his or her intuition to sense where areas of need may exist in the recipient which then enables the body to take on the function of self-healing. Reiki goes where it is needed. The word Reiki is Japanese in origin and is made of two words. Rei translates to a "higher power or wisdom" and Ki means "life force energy." Reiki was discovered by Mikao Usui or Usui Sensei as he is called by his students in Japan and is the founder of the Usui System of Natural Healing. Reiki treatments are often described as a feeling of "warmth and radiance." Practitioners of this healing art learn ancient tenets and philosophy of the practice as well as the placement of hands to transmit energy, ancient symbols that enhance the process and an initiation that includes "attunements" by Reiki Masters. Reiki is not a religion, however vital to the practice, is the belief that it is important to live in a manner that promotes harmony with self and others. Reiki is helpful for many illnesses and maladies as is always beneficial for the recipient. It has gained the respect of the medical community and is utilized in leading hospitals and medical facilities throughout the world. Reiki is becoming increasingly useful and supportive in conjunction with other medical or therapeutic techniques to relieve the side effects of treatment, chemotherapy, anesthesia and medication, fatigue and depression. Reiki is offered as a complement to traditional treatments in many leading hospitals such as Memorial Sloan Kettering, Beth Israel, Columbia Presbyterian Medical Center, and the Yale Center. In Memorial Sloan Kettering, for example, it’s considered so valuable that it’s offered regularly for in-service courses for all hospital staff so that it can be integrated into their patient care. This gentle healing art promotes natural healing, stimulates endorphins, lessens or eliminates pain, lowers blood pressure, regulates hormone levels, reduces heart rate and anxiety, promotes deep relaxation, and increases energy. The prestigious American Cancer Society recognizes that Reiki speeds healing, contributes toward spiritual and physical well-being, and reduces the intensity and frequency of nausea and vomiting due to chemotherapy and medical interventions. Many practitioners attest that Reiki shortens hospital stays, lessens patients’ need for drugs, decreases the side effects of treatment, and improves the quality of life. Children and animals are very responsive to the healing nature of Reiki. If you practice yoga, Reiki can be used during Savasana to deepen the relaxation response. Private Reiki sessions are $100 per 60 minutes. Reiki with essential oil aromatherapy are $125 per hour. There are many good books that deal with the historical background of Mikao Usui and the practice of Reiki. Reiki Precept: Just for today, do not worry. Just for today, do not anger. Honor your parents, teachers, and elders. Earn your living honestly. Show gratitude to everything. Dr. Mikao Usui