Reiki - feel the experience

The Treatment

Slowly, feeling a strange heat and tingling sensation travelling down my arms, I could feel energy being passed on to my patient, Kate.  Working with Reiki since 1996, this was a standard reaction I felt when giving a Reiki treatment.

It was Kate’s first experience of Reiki and I was keen to see her reaction after the session.

I could see Kate suddenly relax on my treatment table, her head had gone limp and her breath deepen – I knew at the very least Kate would be benefiting from a deeply relaxed state.

I apply light hand positions on her body from her head down to her feet and start to sense areas on her body which require Reiki energy.  I wait until the feeling subsides in my hands before moving on to the next hand position.  The treatment lasts for roughly 1 hour so I try to make sure I have enough time to cover the whole body.

During the treatment, I feel Reiki energy being drawn into her head and shoulders which may be due to her stress at the moment.  Energy is also required around her left knee.

Eventually, the time is up. 

What is Reiki?

Reiki is an ancient art of healing by touch.  The word is Japanese; REI meaning Universal and KI meaning Life Force Energy (pronounced ray-key). 

Through a series of light hand positions moving every few minutes, Reiki energy flows through the hands of the practitioner into the person receiving the treatment.  This stimulates the body’s own healing processes to relieve aches and pains as well as helping with lifting depression and melting stress.  Most of all it is extremely comforting and deeply relaxing.

The treatment can be given with a person lying down or sitting, whichever is the most comfortable, in a peaceful environment.  No clothing has to be removed as the energy can easily pass through objects or clothing, but you will probably find it is more comfortable taking your shoes off.

Just as a sponge absorbs water, the body takes up the correct amount of energy and directs it to the source of any problem in a completely natural way without the need for diagnosis.

Treatment is totally safe and it can be used effectively alongside conventional medicine and other therapies.  People of all ages and conditions have benefited from Reiki, from pregnancy to Alzheimer’s.  Babies, plants and animals are also very receptive to Reiki and respond well to treatment.

Kate’s Story

I had heard of Reiki and seen the adverts at the local library and paper but had no concept of what Reiki was or what it did.  So I arrived not knowing what to expect.  I work in a hectic environment and my main problem at the moment is dealing with stress.  After a few of my friends had mentioned Reiki, I decided to try a treatment.

I found Helen through her website and decided to give it a go and see what my friends had been enthusing about.

I arrived here without any expectations and slightly skeptical but willing to give it a go and was shown into a room with a treatment table and gently playing music in the background.  After a brief description of what the treatment entailed, Helen asked me to lie down, taking 3 deep breaths and then just to listen to the music.

I kept my eyes closed for the duration of the treatment but as soon as Helen put her hands on my head I could feel a tremendous heat.  Even when she moved her hands to the next position, it felt as through there were still hands there carrying on the treatment.  I didn’t always sense the heat and when she moved to positions lower on the body, I couldn’t feel anything…although I did fall asleep during the treatment, so that might have been the reason! 

I am amazed that Helen picked up my knee.  It is an old injury that I still occasionally get pain from – it isn’t something I mentioned to Helen because I haven’t felt it for a while.  When she was on my knee, I didn’t feel heat coming from her hands the way it did on my head, they were just cold. 

The main thing I did get from the treatment was an overwhelming sense of what I can only describe as bliss.  I have absolutely no idea what I was stressed about today which is something I haven’t been able to do for quite some time.  All I want to do is sit in a big comfy chair and watch the world go by.  I also want a drink of water!

I would definitely recommend a treatment and I will certainly be booking another one.

Helen’s tale

After a treatment like this, it isn’t unusual for a person to either feel full of energy or extremely relaxed.  The body seems to adjust to what it needs at the time and Kate will probably find that she will also have a good night’s sleep tonight.

Coffee and alcohol should be avoided before and after a treatment like this instead drinking plenty of water.  She will probably find that she will want to drink more after the treatment which isn’t unusual.

The sensations that Kate mentions of heat and cold are also very common.  Many people that have Reiki treatments can experience energy in this way; others don’t necessarily feel anything except the benefits after the treatment.  There is no right or wrong way to experience Reiki energy.

A treatment is generally done for 60 – 90 minutes and prices may range from £25-£50 depending on location.

About the author:

Helen Wilkins first learnt Reiki 1996 and has since become a Reiki Master/trainer and teaches Reiki courses at her home and on location.  She can be contacted at her website www.reiki-questions.com which has been specially developed to help with any Reiki questions from people new to Reiki to advanced practitioners.  She also runs a company with her husband which specialise in harnessing the power of sound waves to induce meditational states passively – a method not currently found in music shops – which can also be accessed here.