Reiki

What is Reiki & who can benefit from it?

Reiki is a non-invasive energy therapy that strengthens and balances body, mind and spirit.

Used in conjunction with other therapies Reiki therapy can be very effective in helping with ongoing pain due to chronic and acute illness or injury.

The Atlantic reported in 2020 that a number of studies had established the benefits of Reiki in relation to diminishing side effects of chemotherapy; regulating the nervous system and improving patients’ability to manage emotional and physical pain associated with illness. The article noted the growing acceptance of Reiki as a complementary therapy by U.S. hospitals.

Another research study at Hartford Hospital in Hartford, Connecticut (USA) indicates that Reiki treatments improved patient sleep by 86%, reduced pain by 78%, reduced nausea by 80%, and reduced anxiety during pregnancy by 94%.

Reiki therapy can also help patients address issues connected with emotional trauma.

Whether you are a child, an adult, pregnant or recovering from an injury or suffer from anxiety and stress, everyone can benefit from Reiki.

I always like to stress that Reiki therapy does not oppose but complements-and can even enhance-the virtues of modern allopathic medicine.

How often should I receive treatment?

As with most therapies, treatments have a cumulative effect. For more effective and sustainable results Reiki therapists often recommend that every treatment cycle starts with four consecutive treatments (i.e., a session once or twice-weekly).

Even people who don’t notice much the first time usually have progressively deeper experiences if they continue. Besides the immediate experience of the Reiki, you may notice other changes that continue to unfold as the day progresses: perhaps a sense of being more centered and poised, being less sensitive to little daily upsets, and sleeping more soundly at night.

A maintenance program can be personalised – based on your individual needs.

What is a Reiki session like?

During the treatment, you may experience warmth or cold, tingling sensations, sleepiness, deep relaxation and perhaps acute sensorial awareness while being in a semi-conscious state; in other words, feeling that you are hovering in a threshold state of consciousness, simultaneously aware of your surroundings yet deeply indrawn.

Others report falling into a deep, sleeplike meditative state. For some people, the initial experience of Reiki can be dramatic, while for others the first session in particular can be uneventful-though they feel somehow better afterwards.

The most common experience is an almost immediate release of stress and a feeling of deep relaxation.

Therefore everyone’s experience of Reiki is subjective, changeable, sometimes very vivid in its impact and sometimes very subtle.

Reiki and pregnancy

How does Reiki help pregnant mothers?

Reiki is safe for pregnant women and it works well in helping them at all stages of pregnancy, including conception and child birth.

Throughout pregnancy, regular Reiki treatments can:

Provide general relief while supporting the mother’s body changes.
Give emotional as well as physical support.
Address issues such as morning sickness, lower back pain, tension in the neck and shoulders and insomnia.
Ease anxieties in a future mother who is unsure of herself and her body as childbirth approaches or who worries about motherhood. Relieved of some of the physical and emotional discomforts of pregnancy, the expectant mom will feel more positive and connected with her baby.

Did you know?

A growing number of medical institutions worldwide are now recognizing the benefits of Reiki and are increasingly incorporating this discipline in a variety of protocols. To name a few:

The Tucson Medical Center in Arizona (cancer care), the Portsmouth Regional Hospital in New Hampshire (pre & post-surgery), the Hartford Hospital in Connecticut (pregnancy & birthing process), the University College London Hospitals (stress management, mood disorders and as a complement to treatments for endometriosis) and the St George’s hospital in Tooting (to support patient care and to generate new knowledge about the role of Reiki through research).

Can Reiki be used during labour?

By providing a safe, non-invasive form of pain relief and facilitating the mother’s focus on breathing, Reiki helps creating a peaceful atmosphere for mother and baby.

How does Reiki affect babies?

Reiki causes no harm and can actually be highly beneficial for babies.

Directly connected and impacted by their mother’s thoughts, moods and emotions, babies will derive a sense of calmness and peace during Reiki.

Treatments are therefore a powerful way for mother & baby to bond.

What about after the baby is born?
…And what about the mother’s partner?

Once the baby is born, Reiki can assist the mother with physical healing and help her regain balance in her transition from pregnancy into motherhood.
Nurturing a mother helps her to nurture her infant.
The baby will benefit from Reiki treatments also after childbirth. It will adapt faster to his new world. The body of the child still changes constantly and fast. Reiki brings the energy back in balance. The baby will be healthier and more comfortable.
Both parental figures undergo their own transitions during pregnancy and the postpartum period. Reiki can help restore and balance their energy levels as well as provide some much-needed emotional and mental support during this exciting and transformational time.