What is Reiki? How Does it Work?

​Reiki is a spiritual healing art with origins in Japan. The word "reiki" comes from the Japanese word "Rei," which means universal life, and "Ki", which means energy. Reiki is not affiliated with any particular religion or religious practice. Reiki is the life energy that flows through all living things.
            Reiki, as it is practiced in the U.S. today, dates back to the teachings of Mikao Usui in the early 1920's in Japan. Usui traveled widely in Japan during the last four years of his life, offering his spiritual teachings to more than two thousand beginning students, but trained only sixteen as Reiki  masters.
            According to Mari Alfaro, a reiki master, Reiki can help alleviate stress, promote restful sleep, healing, and relaxation. Relaxation alone can be beneficial for the mind, body, and soul. For instance, relaxation can help release painful muscle tension, relieve anxiety, and depression. Additionally, when a person is able to relax the body can heal itself.
            When undergoing a reiki treatment the recipient is asked to lay down, fully clothed, on a table. Little or no pressure is applied to the body during a treatment. Reiki healing is so adaptable that it can be received in almost any setting, a chair, hospital bed, or even through casts and bandages. While recipient is still and focused, the reiki practitioner will place his/her hands above the recipient's head, neck, shoulders, chest, stomach, and limbs. Reiki practitioners usually follow a series of hand positions but can place their hands anywhere the recipient feels pain or discomfort.
            The teachings say that the universal energy flows not from the practitioner but through the practitioner to the recipient. The recipient receives the amount of energy that is needed to bring the body and mind into balance.
            Though reiki techniques appear simple, the effects can feel profound. Most people experience deep relaxation during a reiki session, though others feel slight tingling, pulsing, warmth, comfort, and some even fall asleep.
If you or someone you know is interested in receiving a free mini-reiki treatment, contact Acacia Wellness Center at (208)-498-1760.