About Reiki

| Acupuncture | Needles & Technique | Reiki |

What is Reiki (Ray-Key)?

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is based on the concept that unseen life force energy flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's life force energy is low, then that person is more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, there is greater capacity for health and happiness.

What can be treated with Reiki?

Reiki has had a positive effect on all forms of health concerns and troubling conditions. These include minor issues such as head- or stomachaches, bee stings, colds, flu, tension, and anxiety as well as serious illness like heart disease, cancer, leukemia, etc. Side effects of regular medical treatments have also been reduced or eliminated. For example, Reiki has proven effective in reducing negative effects of chemotherapy, post-operative pain, and depression and has improved the healing rate and reduced the time needed to stay in the hospital. Reiki always helps and in some cases people have experienced complete healings that have been confirmed by medical tests before and after the Reiki treatments. However, while some have experienced miracles, they cannot be guaranteed. Stress reduction with some improvement in one's physical and psychological condition are what most experience.

How is a Reiki treatment given?

In a standard treatment, Reiki energy flows through the practitioner's hands to the client who is usually laying on a massage table. The client remains fully clothed. The practitioner places her/his hands on or near the client's body in a series of hand positions. These include positions around the head and shoulders, the stomach, and feet. Other, more specific positions may be used based on the client's needs. Each position is held for three to ten minutes depending on how much Reiki the client needs at each position. A Reiki treatment usually lasts between 45 and 90 minutes.

What does Reiki feel like?

What is experienced during a Reiki treatment varies somewhat from person to person. However, a sense of deep relaxation is usually felt by all. In addition, many feel a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and surrounds them. As the Reiki energy encourages one to let go of all tension, anxiety, fear or other negative feelings, a state of peace and well-being is experienced. Some drift off to sleep or report floating outside their bodies or have visions and other mystical experiences. At the end of the treatment, one feels refreshed with a more positive, balanced outlook.

Does one have to stop seeing a regular doctor or psychologist in order to receive a Reiki treatment?

No. Reiki works in conjunction with regular medical or psychological treatment. Those who have a medical or psychological condition are encouraged to consult a licensed health care professional in addition to the Reiki practitioner. Reiki energy works in harmony with all other forms of healing, including drug therapy, surgery, psychological counseling, and any method of alternative care. As a complementary practice, it will improve the results of other interventions.

Are there any side effects from a Reiki treatment?

Most of the time a person will feel relaxed & uplifted by a Reiki treatment. However, sometimes a person may have what is called a healing crisis. As a person's vibration goes up, toxins that have been stored in the body will be released into the blood stream to be filtered by the liver & kidneys and removed from the system. When this happens, sometimes a person can feel mild discomfort in the head or stomach or may feel weak. If this happens, it is a good idea to drink more water, eat lighter meals, and get more rest. The body is cleansing as part of the healing process so this is a good sign.

Where does Reiki energy come from?

Reiki energy is a subtle energy. It is different from electrical, chemical energy or other kinds of physical energy. Reiki energy operates at a higher frequency than the physical world we are familiar with. When viewed clairvoyantly, Reiki energy appears to come from above and to enter the top of the practitioner's head, after which it flows through the body and out the hands. It appears to flow this way because of our perspective. However, the true source of Reiki energy is within each of us. This does not mean that we use our personal energy when we do Reiki, but that the energy is coming from a transcendental part of ourselves that is connected to an infinite supply of healing energy.

Is Reiki a Religion?

Although Reiki energy is spiritual in nature, Reiki is not a religion. Practitioners and patients have the freedom to continue believing anything they choose and are encouraged to make their own decisions concerning the nature of their religious practices.

Who can be a Reiki? Master?

Reiki is a very simple technique to learn and is not dependent on one having any prior experience with healing, meditation, or any kind of training. Over one million people from all walks of life, both young and old, have successfully learned it. The reason it is so easy to learn that it is not taught in the usual academic way that other skills are taught. The ability to do Reiki is simply transferred from the teacher to the student through a process called an attunement that takes place during a Reiki class. There are several levels or degrees of training that a student would need to under take to become a Reiki Master. However there are plenty of people who have gone through only level one Reiki training that are able to give powerful treatments. Mountain Spirit Acupuncture offers individual or group Reiki classes for all levels of Reiki training. Please contact Brian for more information.