In addition to the more traditional forms of relaxation, say, a few hours lounging on the couch or treating yourself to a glass of wine after a long day at work, an entirely different form of de-stressing has made its way to popular practice. Reiki [pronounced ray-key], a Japanese technique developed in the early 1900s by a Buddhist monk, relies on the transferring of energies from the palms of the practitioner into the body of the recipient.
Similar to a masseuse, a Reiki practitioner performs several levels of treatments to a person in order to relieve stress and tension within the body. But what differentiates Reiki from other treatments is the active role the participant plays in the entire process. The body chooses how and to what extent they accept and absorb the energies released. Also, with Reiki, there is very little, if any, touching and can be found to be more comfortable and less invasive for some.
At The International Center for Reiki Training describes the treatment “like a wonderful glowing radiance that flows through and around you. Reiki treats the whole person including body, emotions, mind and spirit creating many beneficial effects that include relaxation and feelings of peace, security and wellbeing.”
Spiritual healing may not be for everyone and is shown to be most effective as a lifestyle choice rather than a short-term fad. Reiki might not be the right thing for you but for thousands of others, the Japanese technique has changed their lives. Tapping into our natural energy source, Reiki practitioners have made claims for improved overall health and the curing of many ailments once plaguing the body.
If anything, Reiki is used as a relaxation tool. Creating an open environment for calm and meditation, it might just be what you need to wind down and relieve the stress that may burden you on a daily basis. Helping with anxiety, many hospitals around the country have been offering it to their patients as an alternative way of dealing with illness.
Other techniques for cleansing and calming your mind, body, and soul include exercises such as yoga as well as meditation and/or breathing techniques. A routine of these activities may decrease your current stress levels dramatically, easing your mind and alleviating symptoms associated with high levels of stress. If other methods of relaxation haven’t worked for you in the past it may be time to try something new. For just under a century, Reiki has helped people all over the world. With a strong, credible history like that, Reiki may be just what your mind, body, and soul need to move away from stress and relieve the burdens of the everyday world.