Oh the days of having regular massages. I know, because even when I was at my very poorest I was somehow privy to them. In one job I had, at a cafe, washing dishes and waiting tables, the owner had a deal with a local massage therapist who would work the sore muscles of her employees in exchange for regular free meals. Pure bliss and a sure way to keep those dishes sparkling, I'll tell you. Then there was my roommate who was studying to become a massage therapist and needed someone to "practice" on. I know - it was torture but I felt I had to help her out.
Needless to say, two kids, two pets and many domiciles later, I haven't had one in far too long. But what I do remember distinctly about a massage as I left it was a newfangled thing where the massage therapist didn't actually massage you, they just used ENERGY to heal you. Yes, that's what I said, they didn't use the actual sense of kneading your muscles, but something just out of reach, something called: REIKI.
Reiki comes from the Japanase words for Universal, or God=Rei and Energy or Life Force=Ki. It is an ancient Japanese practice now being promoted and taught all over the world.
Reiki does not require any certification or license. In fact, it has been historically used by people on themselves more often than having someone perform it on another. By placing your hands on or directly above a place that needs healing energy, people have found they can heal themselves. Tapping into a universal life force that is everywhere and contained in all of us is the principle idea behind Reiki; that we have the ability to heal ourselves with our own energy if it is channeled correctly.
Deep relaxation, warmth, tingly sensations and all-around well-being have been reported during and after Reiki sessions. Entering a meditative state will also help if you'd like to try this on yourself; focusing on your breath and reducing distractions can bring you more strongly in touch with your healing energy and focus you on your life energy.
For more information about Reiki and its effects, please follow this link: http://www.reiki.org/faq/whatisreiki.html
and for a more comprehensive overview, go here: http://nccam.nih.gov/health/reiki/
Aimee Boyle is a regular contributor to EmpowHER