What is Reiki?
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is one amazing healing practice you should combine with yoga, practiced by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unvisible “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low or blocked, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high or healthy, we have more probability of being happy and healthy. The word Reiki is made of two Japanese words – Rei which means “God’s Wisdom or the Higher Power” and Ki which is “life force energy”. So Reiki is actually “spiritually guided life force energy.” Reiki is a form of energy healing that dates back to the late 19 Century, yet its benefits can easily apply to the modern world. Here’s what to know about this gentle practice.
History of Reiki
Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is practiced by “laying on hands” and is based on the idea that an unvisible “life force energy” flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one’s “life force energy” is low or blocked, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high or healthy, we have more probability of being happy and healthy.
Reiki was developed in the late 1800s by a Buddhist monk turned Japanese doctor named Dr. Mikao Usui. While meditating for 21 days, he discovered the ability to heal through gentle touch or near touch. Later, one of dr. Usui’s pupils, Dr. Chujiro Hayashi continued and expanded the practice, including many of the hand positions used today.
Today, the International Center for Reiki Training estimates that more than 4 million people have studied Reiki, and more than 800 American hospitals incorporate it as a way to help patients manage pain.
Benefits of Reiki?
According to practitioners, the healing effects are mediated by channeling the universal energy known as qi, pronounced “chi.” In India, this is known as “prana.” This is the same energy involved in tai chi exercise. It is the life force energy that some believe surrounds all of us.
Reiki is alleged to aid relaxation, assist in the body’s natural healing processes, and develop emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being. Reiki relieves pain, anxiety and fatigue, treats depression, enhances quality of life and boosts mood.
If you want to know more about Reiki
What happens during a session of Reiki?
A typical Reiki session involves an hour of meditative relaxation. All you need to do is close your eyes and surrender to the experience. Some fall asleep during sessions, and that’s okay. Your practitioner may play soothing music as she works with your energy. Some practitioners place their hands on the body, while others hold them just above.
Some Reiki practitioners also may focus on your chakras, to make sure the energy there is flowing. They may use a crystal pendulum, holding it over each chakra to check for movement. You likely won’t feel anything during this stage of the process.
Once your Reiki practitioner begins work, you may feel warmth from her hands or energy. You may even feel tingling, or an ache as something releases. Sometimes you won’t feel anything at all.
Reiki can be done from a long distance, too, usually over the phone, and the practitioner sends healing to you. How you receive the energy depends on you. In general, the practitioner will ask questions at the end of the session, and you can then verify any sensations you were feeling.
Where to find Reiki practitioner?
You can find a Reiki practitioner virtually anywhere, whether at a massage clinic, your local yoga studio or through a simple online search.
There are four levels of training to complete before becoming a Reiki Master. However, those who’ve been certified through Level 2 are qualified to practice.
There are also many retreats which offer a full Reiki treatment combined with Yoga.
One Amazing Healing Practice You Should Combine With Yoga
Find your Retreat
Take a moment for yourself and combine Reiki and Yoga joining a retreat.
How to heal yourself with reiki?
It really comes down to us in terms of doing the work. We have to help ourselves heal, and allow it to happen. With Reiki, self-healing is much like meditation and you can personalize your methods to what works best for you.
Here’s one exercise to try:
Start by grounding yourself. Imagine there are roots extending from your seat and feet down into the earth. If you are lying down, they can come from your back body. Once you feel rooted, imagine healing white light pouring into your crown chakra, at the top of your head. Imagine the light filling your body. You can color the light a warm shade (like purple or orange) if you wish, to charge it with energy, or keep it white and glowing. Inhale this light as you feel it coming in, and then exhale any pain, fear or negativity. You can color what you exhale grey. Continue to inhale the white light, and exhale the grey.
Next, either run the light down through your body, your chakras, or any area of yourself that feels pain or tightness. If you are experiencing emotional pain, you may want to send the light to your heart, chest, or gut.
Sit with yourself like this for either a few moments or longer, as you would with meditation.
How to combine Reiki with your Yoga practice?
One Amazing Healing Practice You Should Combine With Yoga. Sending energy via touch during Savasana is a way to practice Reiki while teaching yoga. Just make sure to get their permission first.
Yoga involves channeling and using lifeforce energy, or prana, so combining the two modalities makes sense. Certain ‘opener’ poses like Pigeon or Camel also serve to unblock energy, to allow it to release and flow.
There are several ways to combine Reiki with yoga and even in your personal practice at any moment. One way, for example, if you wish to experience Reiki during class, is to incorporate inhaling light and universal energy into your body. When you perform poses and holds, send energy into the spaces. You can also incorporate your Ujjayi breath, by sending the warm energy to specific spots during your holds.
If you’re a teacher, you could have your class perform Yin or Restorative Yoga, and perform Reiki on students as they hold their poses. You could also lay your hands on students’ shoulders and feet during Savasana, to send them energy and ground them. However, it’s important to ask a student’s permission first before you touch them or do any healing work.
