If you’ve ever taken a look at our website, you’ve seen that some of our therapists offer Reiki Massage. Most likely you’ve heard both words separately, but what does it mean when the both are put together? Reiki is not meditation, massage or prayer, yet many therapists use this powerful Japanese healing method as part of a mind, body massage.
The word ‘Reiki’ comes from the words ‘rei’ (spiritual) and ‘ki’ (energy). Together it is a Japanese expression for ‘spiritual life force’. Many believe that the practice of Reiki supports the body’s natural ability to heal (which is at the core of Reiki). Of course, there’s no proof that energy exists, but if you think about it, your body is made of 75% water, but we’re not all puddles with arms and legs. Somehow that water holds us together, and takes on different forms. Energy does the same thing. There’s a lightness in some places, and a heaviness in others. When the body experiences an overload of negative energy it can cause a host of issues. This negativity most often comes in the form of stress, and can cause many noticeable issues, and some underlying issues that lay brewing beneath the skin to manifest in disease or discord in the body or mind. Reiki shifts the energy and balances the body to help us heal faster and stay healthy.
Reiki isn’t an ancient form of treatment; actually, it was developed in 1922 by a Japanese Buddhist, Dr. Miao Usui. He taught the practice of freeing unbalanced energy flow in the body. The massage itself is more vigorous and manipulates the muscles while the act of Reiki uses only touch and the proximity of the healer’s hands to parts of the body that are unwell. There are 12 to 20 prescribed hand positions depending on the training, and the therapist. This hybrid therapy blends both the manipulation and releasing of toxins that massage therapy offers, and the energy shifting practice of Reiki.
During a Reiki session you may experience a variety of sensations; heat or coolness, tingling, vibrational buzzing, numbness, itchiness, electrical sparks, pins-and-needle sensation. Most common is yawning and feeling light and float-y. Many say afterwards they feel an inner happiness and calm, or refreshed. Reiki is cumulative and although many don’t notice what they experienced the first time, the experiences become progressively deeper and pronounced.
Consult with one of our therapists about your Reiki massage; ask what you should expect, talk about what you suffer from, and learn about the essential oils we use during your massage to give you the ultimate massage experience.
