Reiki has been around for a very long time but it is making a resurgence in Western culture because as the health care system has failed many individuals here. Celebrities are also getting on the bandwagon and adding this treatment to their health plans. Optimal Wellness offers Reiki and has for a long time because we have seen and believe in the effectiveness of this treatment.
Over the past year, Reiki has caused some serious buzz in the wellness world. Stars like Gwyneth Paltrow and Christina Aguilera have added the treatment to their self-care repertoires, and it’s been featured in mainstream publications like Vanity Fair, Cosmopolitan, and Elle, which called it therapy without words.
Even I, a mindfulness minor, was able to experience the benefits of this ancient practice.
On the surface, Reiki seems like the most holistic of holistic healing techniques. It’s founded on the idea that there is an unseen energy, or chi, running through everything on earth. Derived from ancient Japanese medicine, Reiki is the process of balancing difficult emotions, relieving stress, and abating physical ailments using subtle movements and touches.
Curious about how a seemingly simple technique could produce such drastic results, I set out to try it for myself. But as I walked into Element Natural Healing Arts for a Reiki session earlier this month, I was slightly skeptical about whether it would “work” on me.
I don’t consider myself a very Zen person. In fact, I can hardly meditate for more than three minutes without thinking about what I want to eat for lunch. I’m always the first one to duck out of an ommmm in yoga class. My visualization technique could use some work. I recognize the value of mindful, holistic practices, but I’ve never been able to quiet my thoughts for long enough to make them a part of my daily routine.
My concern turned out to be totally unfounded. Even I, a mindfulness minor, was able to experience the benefits of this ancient practice.
The Idea Behind Reiki
Stagnant, low levels of chi in the body are thought to indicate physical malaise, while high levels of free-flowing chi imply strength and well-being. Reiki practitioners are trained to channel the energy of their surroundings to balance the energy of their clients.
“Reiki is a gentle way to balance the mind, body, and spirit,” Christina Morris, founder and co-owner of Element, explained in an email. “Reiki practitioners lightly place their hands on or just above the body to facilitate the energetic flow and balance in the client to promote better health and well-being.”
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