Calm woman receiving reiki treatment in the health spaReiki is an ancient healing method that focuses on the flow of life energy within the human body. It is believed that when these life forces are slowed down, the body becomes ill. Reiki helps to release the flow of these forces, effectively healing many types of illness within the body.

The principals of Reiki have been used for thousands of years; however, the actual therapy was discovered and developed in Japan in the late 1800’s by Dr. Mikao Usui.

The practice and teachings of Reiki nearly vanished during WWII, but managed to survive due to a few remaining masters. Mrs. Hawayo Takata brought the practice of Reiki to the United States and it has grown in popularity among Western culture ever since.

When a person seeks healing therapy from a Reiki practitioner, they will first be asked to remove all jewelry, wash themselves and enter a quiet prayerful-like state of mind. The patient lays quietly on a table or floor.

The practitioner has also removed jewelry, washed their hands and become meditative. The purpose of these steps is to remove other auras or barriers to healing.

The practitioner begins by evening out the patient’s aura. Sitting next to the patient with one hand on his own sacrum, and the other held several inches above the patient’s body, the practitioner begins to slowly move his hand from head to foot. The practitioner returns his hand to the patients head by following a circular path along the side of their body. This is repeated several times.

The basic Reiki technique provides healing and relaxation to the body as a whole. Specific movements can focus on locations in the body, such as the head, chest, abdomen and back. Each position focuses on stimulating the life forces within that particular part of the body.

Some of the health conditions helped by Reiki include sinus problems, allergies, colds, nausea, heartburn, gastrointestinal difficulties, metabolism, sexual problems, weight conditions, back pain and adrenal gland conditions.

Using Reiki during an illness or following an operation will result in an increase in the body’s ability to heal itself, will lesson pain and will increase needed relaxation. Used regularly, Reiki therapy increases the body’s basic defenses against disease and illness. It helps the body rebound quicker from injuries and helps keep away depression and other mental illnesses.

When all of the body’s organs and processes are functioning as they should, a person is able to focus on other aspects of their life and bring about a complete satisfaction with living. The ancient art of Reiki helps to attain this end by stimulating the life forces and increasing the ability to heal.