Remember that scene in the Karate Kid when Mr. Miyagi used his hands to heal Daniel's leg, allowing him to victoriously finish the final championship fight?
What this scene depicts is the ancient Japanese healing modality known as Reiki.
Reiki has been around for thousands of years but its current form was developed by Dr. Mikao Usui in the 1920's and brought to the U.S. in the 1940's. So what is Reiki?
Reiki is energy work. The word Reiki translates from Japanese to "Universal Life Energy." This Universal Life Energy exists all around us. It is a harmonizing, high vibration, purifying energy that has its own natural intelligence. When this energy is channeled by a practitioner in a Reiki session, it works to bring the receiver back to their natural state of wholeness, peace and wellbeing. The purpose of a Reiki healing session is to create deep relaxation to accelerate natural healing, reduce pain, and decrease other symptoms the receiver may be experiencing on a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level.
How does it work? It works with energy channels in and around the body. The practitioner serves as a conduit, transmitting natural healing vibrations (the Universal Life Energy) to the body of the recipient. Reiki is given through gentle hand placements over the body. The practitioner's hands stay slightly hovered over the person (so there is minimal touching) while the person is in a relaxed state. During Reiki, both the giver and the receiver may experience some tingling, changes in body temperature, they may see colors... or not.
It is not this.
But... does it work? Reiki is a form of "alternative medicine" which means there's controversy in the medical world over whether it's effective. There are no scientific studies out there that definitively prove the effectiveness of Reiki, and the concepts of Reiki are pretty "mystical" compared to the mainstream understanding of how medicine works. However, its healing properties have gained popularity over the past few years. Some of the top academic medical centers, including Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of Pennsylvania, have incorporated Reiki as a service offered to patients. This is because Reiki can support the body's natural healing process, even if it's not necessarily evidence-based.
Do I have to be there in person to receive it? Because this energy work involves intention and channeling, Reiki can be transmitted in-person or through long distances, there just needs to be synchronicity between the person sending the Reiki and the person receiving it.
In 2018, I received my Level 1 Reiki training with Lisa Levine at Maha Rose and completed Level 2 with Aki Hirata Baker and Manu Del Prete at MINKA Brooklyn. As a certified Level 2 Reiki practitioner I have received the attunement and symbols necessary to send Reiki at a distance.
Reiki therapy offers healing on multiple levels. It provides what you need to heal yourself in ways that are unexplainable through conventional medical means. If you are looking for ways to come back to your whole self, consider Reiki an option and feel free to check out my booking page if you'd like to make an appointment with me. ✨💜
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