Introduction to the Reiki system

Do you feel stressed? Have you been feeling that way for quite a while but are baffled about what to do about it? Do you wish to finally find a miracle cure that could help you sleep at night, that could stop the constant headaches and loosen up your tensed muscles? 

Maybe you've tried everything conceivable and are now looking for alternative options. Read on to find out how Reiki might help fight this problem.

You may have encountered Reiki's Japanese stress-busting practice in your meditation and stress relief research. The advent of this technique was at the beginning of the 20th century, but it is now a global phenomenon. Before going on to its health benefits, let us look at Reiki and see whether it is suitable for your needs.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a therapy often described as "palm healing" or "hands-on-body healing", in which a practitioner moves their hands lightly on or over a patient's body. As a result, here, the healer facilitates the patient's healing process by diverting the flow of 'life energy' (you might have seen it used by Mr Miyagi in the 80s classic "The Karate Kid). 

"Reiki" can be split into the two Japanese words "rei" and "ki". 'Rei' means 'God's Wisdom or 'Higher Power', and 'Ki' means 'life force energy. Furthermore, this is the same concept as the Chinese "Qi" or "Chi" and the Indian Ayurvedic concept of "Prana". 

The concept can be put in simple terms, someone's vital life force runs low, and they have a higher chance of experiencing symptoms of depression or hypertension. The practice itself involves the transfer of life energy from the hands of the practitioner to the receiver's body, thus increasing the net positive life force energy in the body.

Reiki can help improve a person's physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being and assist them in achieving a liberated state of mind. In addition, it is a therapeutic technique that involves mystic healing and the improvement of the self.

Is Reiki effective?

As mentioned above, Reiki is a hands-on practice, with the practitioner moving his hands on or above you in various positions to promote recovery in the client. Nevertheless, you might be cynical about its effectiveness.

If the question "Does it work?" pops up in your mind, it is beneficial to look at Reiki's major verified benefits. We have mentioned the advantages of Reiki therapeutic techniques below. In addition, the pieces of evidence imply that the Reiki practitioners have discovered a useful and potent method.

But the query remains: 'Is Reiki effective?' Or even more appropriately, 'How does Reiki work, according to Science?'

How Reiki Works

The science of Reiki explains that it involves funnelling positive energy from the outside to the inside. This mystic energy is guided by the hands, permitting the practitioner to distribute the life force to the target areas where it is required.

While this change is immeasurable, it cannot be missed by those who reverberate with the movement. Many believe that this transfer they feel attuned to is their very 'life force'. And this term effectively encompasses the myriad feelings associated with the practice, including the intense and instant disappearance of stress and mitigation of anxiety that most clients experience post-Reiki. Some studies indicate that people who suffer chronic pain are the ones who most often report a sudden, noticeable change in their pain levels.

To completely appreciate the benefits of Reiki, it's essential to comprehend both the theory of transfer of energy or 'life force and the different techniques used by different practitioners. Practitioners use multiple gestures and movements for different purposes, including imbuing, smoothing out the aura (human energy field), radiating and clearing. All of these methods offer unique advantages.

Can A Beginner Do Reiki?

As you have learnt how Reiki techniques can be beneficial and how they improve the quality of our life, you may want to understand this technique for yourself. It will let you know that anyone can learn how to do Reiki at home!

The ability to learn Reiki is not dependent on intellectual capacity, nor does one have to be able to meditate. It does not take years of practice, individual talent or acquired ability. It comes from a teacher to the student. As soon as this happens, one may do Reiki. As such, anyone can learn it. If you want to be a practitioner, it is better to be trained by a professional. 

While you are not "taught" in the conventional sense, instructors of Reiki pass on their talents to the students under their tutelage. There are plenty of "Beginners Reiki" courses for the uninitiated who wish to either use this as a business opportunity or learn it personally or for their loved ones. Advanced Reiki courses teach techniques to those who wish to hone their skills and perfect their craft. 

You can thus mould yourself into someone attuned to the life force energy and may experiment with the methods involved in transmitting and diverting this energy.

Reiki For Beginners: 4 Steps to Perform Reiki

Despite having no formal training, it can still be practised at home and reap some major benefits. Beginner Reiki lessons are quite easy, and we can practice by trying it out on ourselves.

The following are the sequential steps to learning some basic Reiki techniques:

1. Get a place where you are not likely to be disturbed, and make sure this place is clean and comfortable. Therefore, it is better if the place is quiet and peaceful. And sit down, place your legs on the floor and keep your palms on your lap.
2. Slowly shut your eyes and breathe in deep, fortifying breaths. Gently coax your thoughts and heart rate into slowing. Learning Reiki brings out the ability to see oneself in an open state of mind.
3. Check your body from top to bottom, and note all the myriad sensations you feel. In addition, keep an eye out for regions that feel knotted and tense, or your body's life force energy seems to be blocked. Moreover, don't doubt these sensations; acknowledge their existence and accept them.
4. Lay your palm over one of the tense spots, precisely over the aching area or knotted with tension. Visualise the absence of tension. You might picture darkness going out or light pouring in and padding the area.

If you are performing Reiki on others, you will have to rely on their feedback to isolate the tense areas, but you can use the same visualisation technique.

List of Reiki benefits

Now that your interest is piqued, let us learn about the Reiki benefits. This technique has several benefits, which can benefit one and all.

1. Reiki benefits anxiety 

Studies indicate that Reiki acts as a mood stabiliser and helps reduce the symptoms of Anxiety and Depression. Reiki benefits anxiety disorders and depression by acting as an anti-depressant that leeches away the negative energy and supplies positive energy while destroying any energy blockages.

Further into the treatment, your stress is at an all-time low, and you may begin your journey of self-actualisation, as anxiety or mood swings will never hinder you.

Research has similarly concluded that practising Reiki benefits anxiety patients and makes a notable difference in an individual's depression and anger levels.

2. Enables Lucidity and Clarity of Emotions and Fosters Spiritual Transcendentalism.

Reiki can help you control your emotions, erase your traumas, boost your ability to love others and enable you to form meaningful, fulfilling relationships.

Reiki benefits your spiritual growth and permits your acceptance of your emotions.

3. Reiki benefits self-care

Reiki is a useful skill to de-stress after a workday and have peace of mind. Focusing the healing energy on where we may have hurt ourselves during the day can heal that region using Reiki.

You can go all out during self-care by creating a nest with a few pillows and scented candles, and then practice Reiki on yourself to drain the tension of a day's work. At the end of the session, you will discover that you are much calmer and feel peaceful.

4. Reiki benefits as a Pain killer

Studies show that Reiki has helped people exhibiting pain symptoms and other difficulties. While it may not be a complete cure, it does alleviate the worst of the symptoms, including a wide range of physical as well as psychosomatic difficulties.

One particular study even quotes figures that show that Reiki is the third-best therapy.

A different study confirmed that Reiki reduced symptoms of lethargy, aches and anxiety in cancer patients. Thus, Reiki is an effective combatant against pain, as supported by research.

6. Boosts the production of WBC in the Blood, Increases Immunity

A case study contained two groups of people. One group had received Reiki, in opposition to the control group who relaxed without it, and the ones who practised Reiki had more white blood cells. This study proved that Reiki enhances the body's natural immune response.

White blood cells (WBCs) are the antibodies that fight against diseases, microbes or infections. This points out that Reiki is even helpful in preventing deadly diseases.

6. Enhances Perception and Ingenuity

Reiki can help you reduce stress levels. In addition, it can bring you peace and concentration. This helps you focus on your instinct. This will help you feel more sensible and hassle-free.

Reiki helps break down the energy blockages that have suppressed your creativity and stimulates the natural flow of ideas. This helps us hone our ingenuity and can assist us in coming up with original and innovative ideas.

7. Reiki Helps Calm the Psyche

Reiki can reconnect you with your soul and with your Spiritual Self. In addition, it can help you find our centre and help clear out any negative "ki". This will help us detect the detrimental patterns our mind insists on clinging to.

So, practising Reiki can make us realise when we hold on to negative emotions. In addition, Identifying this root cause can help us tackle the problem effectively and ensure that only positive energy remains.