The Power of Reiki
25 Jun 2008 ~ Categories: blog • body • mind • wellness
One of the gifts of my recent journey to Southern Asia was the Reiki healing that I received in Kerala, India (thanks to Dr. Kamaraj and Dr. Johnson).
Reiki means universal life force energy and it’s a balancing and healing art with a broad range of happy benefits to both giver and receiver. This healing technique was developed in Japan by Mikao Usui (1865-1926).
Reiki works on the energy flow in the body, otherwise know as Chi in Chinese Medicine or Prana in the Yogic tradition. It has a healing, balancing and extremely relaxing effect on the mental, emotional and physical body. Reiki empowers the body’s innate self-healing ability.
Reiki is usually performed fully clothed and utilizes the light touch of the practitioner’s hands on specific energy centers of the body often channeling heat and sensation from the crown of the head to the soles of the feet. This kind of bodywork is, in one way, the opposite of deep tissue massage in that it is very gentle and calming.
But, I must say, as someone who L-O-V-E-S deep tissue massage, Reiki works beautifully for me. Deep tissue work addresses the musculoskeletal system in the Western medical tradition of treating a specific symptom as opposed to Reiki’s more holistic and Eastern approach of treating the cause of a symptom or the root of the problem, in this case the places where bodily energy gets stagnant or blocked.
Similarly to deep tissue massage, Reiki can help with tension or old holding patterns “stuck” in the tissues of the body. Reiki can also center us with such power that it effects our connection to self and spirit. My business partner and friend, Melissa and I often talk about Reiki being a way to plug into something larger than ourselves, a way to press the reset button on whatever junk or stress might be caught in the mind and body at a given time.
Reiki is powerful stuff and without getting too woo-woo about it, it’s something I believe everyone should experience. Reiki is healing and enlightening. Plus, afterwards I always feel happy as a clam and buoyant as a butterfly. Truly.
Our very own IO Massage Therapist, Carrie Stone, is a Reiki Master. She’s genius. Even though we don’t list Reiki on our spa menu, book a regular massage with her and ask her to do Reiki for either the entire session or to work it in to your regular IO 60 or 90 Minute Massage. You will be thankful.
Namaste,
Amy