Reiki is not massage but is an energetic healing technique for stress reduction and relaxation.
."Just for today, do not worry.
Just for today, do not anger.
Honor your parents, teachers, and elders.
Earn your living honestly.
Show gratitude to everything."
- Dr. Mikao Usui
What Is Reiki?
by Lee Copland
Reiki is an ancient Japanese Healing Art that channels energy through the hands. The energy of Reiki is defined as Universal Life Force, from the Japanese interpretation of REI = Universal and KI = Life Force.
This energy technique helps you relax, grow, and heal on all levels: physically, emotionally, and spiritually. This energy acts through your Divine Consciousness, also referred to as your Higher Self or Inner Wisdom. The recipient guides the energy and does the healing, as the energy flows to where it is most needed.
The practitioner exists as a channel through which energy can be more fully directed to you. The will and intention of the practitioner is never paramount. As such this energy technique is completely non-invasive, very safe and gentle, and additive. Your energy is being added to, not manipulated or moved round by the practitioner.
This added energy, helps bring the body into balance thus accelerating and enhancing the body’s natural healing process. It is not the energy of the practitioner that is being transferred. Receiving Reiki is simply receiving more of the Universal Life Force that is necessary to live.
The average session is 60 minutes but can range from 15 to 90 minutes. Reiki is usually received lying down and fully clothed, although it can be received in the sitting position. It is usually a "hands-on" technique but not manipulative. It can also be given without touching; which means that it can be given at a distance, remotely.
The hands are generally placed over the major energy centers and organ systems of the body. All the recipients need to do is close their eyes, relax, and enjoy the experience! Comfortable clothing is suggested rather than more formal attire. It is often sensible to book several sessions fairly close together, to allow the body to become fully balanced in order to enhance the healing process. Regular sessions work very well with more chronic health conditions.
About the Author
Lee Copland has attained the 3rd Reiki level, sometimes called Master level, and offers treatments either in the workplace or in the home. Reiki is often used in conjunction with the seated acupressure massage that Lee’s company, Touch Works, provides to corporate clients in the Greater Toronto area. Lee can be reached at touchworks@sympatico.ca.
Resources
Reiki for Holistic Health is a Web site with information about this natural, complementary, healing modality that can restore and maintain health by balancing the chakras and auras. The greatest benefit is stress reduction and relaxation, which triggers the body's natural healing abilities.
International Association of Reiki Professionals® is a global professional association.
International Center for Reiki Training is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the re-establishment of Reiki energies in our modern world.
A Basic Reiki Exercise
by Robert Morgen
To get started simply sit or lie down in a comfortable position. Put on the music of your choice and relax. Place your hands over your face with your palms over your eyes. Touch your tongue to the roof of your mouth with the tip of your tongue just behind your front teeth.
As you inhale just open up and feel the energy flow down through the top of your head and down to your heart chakra, then feel it flow out along your arms and out through your hands and into your face. At the simplest level that is ALL you have to do. The energy will go wherever it’s needed and do whatever is required of it. You don’t have to send it anywhere in particular or try to control it.
Getting Deeper
Reiki flows through you simply by your ‘intent.’ You just have to intend to open up to it and you’ll find it readily available. You may feel many different things while giving yourself a treatment. Your hands or the part of your body covered by your hands may get hot, cold, or tingly. Some people feel it very easily and others take awhile to open up to it. The simplest explanation that I’ve found is to think of what the emotion ‘love’ feels like, and then just relax and let it flow.
About the Author
Robert Morgen is a Reiki Master who currently holds a Blackbelt in Hoshin Roshi Ryu and founded 
