What is Reiki?

Reiki (pronounced ray-kee) is a Japanese form of energy healing meaning Universal Life Force Energy (“rei” meaning universal and “ki” meaning energy). Reiki moves through all living things – humans, animals, plants – and is all good energy, nothing spooky here! Sometimes, certain events or daily stressors can affect this energy in our bodies. The practice itself involves gentle touch that use the placement of hands to support and boost the body’s natural healing processes by recharging the receiver with Universal Life Force Energy and balancing the Chakras.

What’s a Chakra?

“Chakra” translates to wheel in Sanskrit, an ancient classical Indian language that’s no longer spoken in the modern world but if you’re lucky, you can find a school that still teaches it. As a matter of fact: All of the yoga poses we practice today are translated from Sanskrit (eg., Balasana, Janu Sirsasana, etc.). According to Vedic texts, the body is home to a system of seven Chakras located along our spine from the base of our sacrum to the crown of our head. I like to visualize Chakras as pinwheels constantly spinning at a moderate pace, keeping our bodies and our “ki” in balance. Each Chakra symbolizes an aspect of ourselves spiritually, physically, and emotionally. As we experience stressors and traumas, our Chakra system is affected and can bring us out of balance.

For example: The throat Chakra, which is located at the base of our throat, represents the emotional aspect of ourselves responsible for communication. When we have an open or balanced throat Chakra we can express ourselves effectively, in most cases verbally. If this Chakra is restricted, it can translate as insecurity or shyness. In contrast, if we have an “overactive” throat Chakra, we may be indulging a little too much into gossip, intervening in situations when we should be neutral, or using our words to hurt others.

While the Chakras don’t physically exist, they are excellent symbols to meditate on when we are seeking self-improvement in certain areas of our lives.

Is Ultimate Restore right for me?

Ultimate Restore is a great introduction to those new to Reiki. Typically, Reiki sessions are administered in a one-on-one setting, and is less common in a group setting – it just depends on the practitioner. You may wish to seek Reiki with no specific concerns other than to support your own health and well-being, but if you’d like me to focus on a specific area of your life that needs a boost or energy tune-up, you are welcome to mention it to me at the beginning of the session and I will focus Reiki into these areas.

Aside from Reiki, you’ll be guided through a Restorative Yoga sequence. This style of yoga is floor-based and not hurried, which makes it suitable for all-levels.

Ultimate Restore is a 2-hour event, but students have mentioned that it had felt much shorter! If you’re looking for something a little shorter, you can read about Energy Tune-Up which are 45 minute sessions.

Even if you’re unsure about Reiki and Chakras, one can still benefit from the hands-on therapeutic touch portion, which is widely used in health care settings. Studies on therapeutic touch involving a range of individuals from those under palliative care to those suffering from cardiac disfunction have been shown to decrease anxiety levels, helping patients to relax.