Reiki means the energy of the spirit. A holistic Japanese approach complementary to conventional medicine, it is said to help combat stress, fatigue, sleep disorders, and even depression.
Definition
Reiki is a holistic approach of Japanese origin belonging to the so-called “energy” approaches. It consists of awakening a dynamic healing process within each of us by intervening on the person’s vibrational field.
Principles
The practitioner places their hands on different parts of the body and allows the energy to flow. “This ancient process is actually present in every human being as a reflex, spontaneously placing their hands where pain is felt,” explains Sophie Rusniok, an energy healer and Usui Reiki Master Teacher. In this process, the practitioner acts as a channel for universal energy, transmitting it to the patient to restore their vital force, without using their own personal energy. “This energy flows to the areas of the body that need it most,” the energy healer explains. “Reiki recognizes that a low energy level in the body leads to a general state of vulnerability. And when energy flows evenly and harmoniously, the person feels more connected, more aware, and more grounded in the present moment. This environment is conducive to a healthy balance on all levels of being—spiritual, psychological, and physical.” Reiki also has a philosophical dimension. Inspired by Buddhism, Shintoism, and meditation techniques, this holistic approach aims to help individuals find inner peace. It is a true “art of living” whose principles help each person flourish and feel in harmony with the world around them.
The origins of Reiki
Reiki is an energy healing art of Japanese origin developed by Mikao Usui at the end of the 19th century. “Rei” means “universal,” “all”: matter, soul, and spirit. And ki (or Qi) refers to the vital energy that flows within each individual, as in Traditional Chinese Medicine. Reiki is the method of connecting or reconnecting universal energy with the life force inherent in each of us. This energy healing art was introduced to the West in 1937 in Hawaii by Hawayo Takata and has since spread throughout the Western world.
When should you use Reiki?
In Paris and other large cities, clients come to Reiki “because of depression, burnout, or excessive work-related stress. Others are simply tired of city life and overexposed to noise and electromagnetic waves. Some can no longer sleep. Still others come out of curiosity. The focus isn’t necessarily on the body, but also on the mind, emotional blockages, and sleep problems,” explains the energy practitioner. Clients use it to learn to let go, relax, and quiet their inner monologue. They want to rebalance themselves to live peacefully every day. Sometimes they seek to soothe deeper issues. Reiki practice is complementary to other techniques and to conventional medicine. The energy healer recommends “a series of four sessions every six months for a healthy city dweller. For someone suffering or ill, a different type of work is offered, more intensive. The consultations can lead to personal training to carry out the work independently, without depending on a practitioner.”
“We always encourage people to consult their doctor and follow their advice.”
What are the health benefits?
Like any holistic practice, Reiki is said to:
- to soothe the body and mind
- to provide a feeling of well-being
- to harmonize the flow of energy
- to promote a state of relaxation
- to support the healing potential
and consequently, to regain restful sleep, better blood circulation, less physical pain, and less stress. This is the principle of self-healing. “Once the body and mind are ready to trigger this healing process, it can occur naturally at its root cause. You just never know when. There are people who, after ten sessions, still haven’t resolved their problem, just as there are results in a single appointment. Knowing that Reiki naturally targets the most urgent issue, the problem resolved won’t necessarily be the one for which the person initially sought help,” the energy practitioner points out.
How effective is it?
“We always encourage people to consult their doctor and follow their advice. We do encounter failures, but they are rare,” the energy practitioner confides, “and they involve either people who haven’t yet decided to take care of themselves, or who expect everything from external sources, including the confidence they might have in their own sensations.” She continues, “Scientific studies exist abroad. They have highlighted the benefits of Reiki on sleep quality, pain reduction, and heart rate. The healthcare system in France is wary of practices that are not based on any established scientific evidence,” the energy practitioner laments. Current studies are therefore still insufficient to confirm that Reiki is an effective therapeutic approach, despite the benefits observed empirically.
For whom?
Reiki is for everyone, children, adults, and pregnant women.
Where to practice Reiki?
Reiki is practiced in the office of a practitioner who has received direct initiation from a master in the Mikao Usui lineage (see the section on training below). Alternatively, “for those who are initiated in a workshop, they can practice ‘self-treatment’—that is, the laying on of hands—at home. It is compatible with other disciplines such as Yoga and mindfulness meditation,” explains the energy practitioner.
What happens during a Reiki session?
“The session begins with a ritual to call upon (internal) energy, then the practitioner places their hands in specific positions on the entire body of the person, who is clothed and lying on the massage table. Sometimes in contact with the body, sometimes a few centimeters above,” explains the energy healer. “I let the energy flow through my hands. The sensations generally perceived are a gentle or intense warmth, tingling, energy flows, a feeling of warm water flowing through the body. Other effects are common to many, such as the palpable impression that the hands are still placed in a certain spot even though they are already elsewhere. Reiki reaches its target on its own, respecting the person’s rhythm.”
Distance Reiki
Distance Reiki is “very effective and complementary to live sessions. But it does not act at the same level and does not replace the latter,” explains the energy practitioner.
Dangers and contraindications of Reiki
“There is no danger in practicing Reiki,” says the energy practitioner. “The worst that can happen during a session is ‘nothing.’ Hence the importance of verifying that the practitioner has been directly initiated by a master of the Usui lineage, information often verifiable on their website. There are no contraindications, although I prefer not to give a session to someone under psychiatric care without working closely with their doctor,” the energy practitioner explains.
“Reiki is not learned from books or in a purely theoretical way.”
What training?
Reiki training comprises four levels:
- of the first degree initiation (sufficient to practice on oneself or on those around you),
- progressing through the 2nd and 3rd degrees to develop in one’s practice and personal path,
- up to the 4th degree to become a Reiki master teacher. There is no official professional training and the reference association for Usui Reiki is the Usui Reiki Federation (LFRU).
“Reiki is not learned from books or in a purely theoretical way. There is the presence of the master teacher who transmits the vibration of Reiki through him and this intimate and profound experience is necessary. Learning Reiki is a journey for oneself, an energetic and philosophical path above all. This journey can lead to a desire to transmit the energy that one has received,” explains Sophie Rusniok.
How to find a reliable practitioner?
The Usui Reiki Federation provides a directory of Reiki practitioners whose qualifications it recognizes on its website. Word of mouth does the rest.
Price of a Reiki session
Between 50 and 90 euros depending on the geographical location and the reputation of the practitioner.