| We live in a hectic world, where the affects of acute | | | | areas that relate to your specific issues. When using |
| and chronic stress can have serious impacts on our | | | | Reiki for stress management, for example, your |
| health. Although conventional and alternative medicine | | | | practitioner may spend extra time around tense neck |
| offers many options for stress management, there is | | | | and shoulder muscles. Although even a few minutes of |
| an ancient healing technique that works especially well: | | | | Reiki can reduce stress, a typical full-length treatment |
| Reiki energy work. | | | | can last anywhere from 45 to 90 minutes. |
| What Is Reiki? | | | | A full-length Reiki treatment should make you feel |
| Reiki is a Japanese energy technique that produces a | | | | extremely relaxed and may even cause you to fall |
| relaxation response to reduce the feelings of stress. | | | | sleep. You should be able release the tension being |
| Reiki practitioners are trained to tap into the Universal | | | | held in your body as you reach a new level of peace. |
| energy force and, by the laying on of hands, transmit | | | | Why You Should Choose Reiki for Relaxation |
| healing energy to another person or animal. The | | | | Reiki practitioners believe that negativity doesn't exist |
| premise of Reiki, which is a very spiritual stress | | | | solely in the brain. Instead, they believe that negative |
| management technique, is that it increases your life | | | | thoughts and feelings are also stored in other areas of |
| energy. Reiki is considered to be a holistic therapy | | | | the body and in the body's surrounding energy field |
| because it addresses the mind, body and spirit. | | | | (known as the aura). When negative energy collects in |
| While Reiki is spiritually based, it isn't associated with | | | | and around the body, the flow of life force, or Ki, is |
| any specific religion. That's why there are no intellectual | | | | restricted. This results in headaches, body pains, |
| or spiritual requirements to give or receive Reiki. In | | | | feelings of stress and, if left untreated, more serious |
| other words, you don't need to have any particular | | | | physical illness. |
| beliefs about religion (or any beliefs at all) to either | | | | The healing energy of Reiki is guided by a Higher |
| benefit from it or practice it. | | | | Intelligence that intuitively understands how to release |
| Because Reiki is based on the principles of peace, | | | | restrictions to the flow of Ki. This energy is able to |
| harmony and balance, anyone can learn it. Although it's | | | | work in harmony with the unconscious mind to dissolve |
| a simple technique, the process must be passed on | | | | negative thoughts and help remove them from the |
| from a Reiki master to her student during a process | | | | body and its aura. As these energy blocks are cleared, |
| called "attunement." | | | | your Ki begins to flow unhindered, sending the healing |
| What to Expect During a Reiki Treatment | | | | life force to unhealthy bones, organs and tissues. With |
| During a Reiki treatment, you should be fully clothed | | | | a consistent treatment plan, Reiki allows your body to |
| and will usually lay flat on a massage-like table, | | | | heal itself and restore optimal balance and function. |
| although seated or standing positions can be used in a | | | | Although people with serious health problems should |
| pinch. It's important to be comfortable and warm, so let | | | | consult their doctor before undergoing treatment, there |
| your practitioner know if you need to adjust your | | | | are no known side effects associated with Reiki, |
| position. (Simple things, like placing a pillow under your | | | | which is proven to be a safe therapy for people in all |
| knees to relieve low back pressure or adding a | | | | stages of wellness or ill health. |
| lightweight blanket, can increase your comfort level.) | | | | Stress management is often a lifelong pursuit that |
| When the Reiki session begins, your practitioner may | | | | requires an entire toolbox of traditional and alternative |
| close her eyes and take a moment to gather her own | | | | therapies for maximum relief. Consider incorporating |
| energy before placing her hands on or near your body. | | | | Reiki treatments into your self-care regimen. The only |
| As the treatment progresses, your practitioner will | | | | thing you've got to lose is a little stress! |
| move her hands along your body, concentrating on | | | | |