You may already know a little bit about Reiki, you may have had a taster session, or you may have read previous blog posts about Reiki and felt drawn towards trying it. If you’ve never heard of Reiki, you may want to read my blog post, What is Reiki? which explains about it in more detail. Reiki is an 
energy healing system with different levels. If you train in Reiki 1 you can carry out Reiki on yourself, while Reiki 2 is practitioner level and you can offer sessions to others. Reiki Master is a third level, with additional training to allow the practitioner to offer Reiki training.
So, why would you book a Reiki session?
Personally, I use Reiki as a time for energy clearing and balancing. Due to the number of people I will meet and engage with on a personal level, I sometimes find I accumulate energy which affects how I feel. I do use Reiki on myself to help manage my energy levels and sometimes I feel that, as a therapist, I should be able to keep on top of it, but regardless of the techniques I use, I find this is one of my weaknesses. And that’s OK, because we’re all human with our own weaknesses and individual requirements. Fortunately, I know a lot of great therapists who can help me in managing this and, very much like many of my clients who gather physical stress in a part of their body and find the massage helps relieve it, I find a Reiki session does the same on an emotional level. As with physical aches, I know when I’m building up an energy issue, as I have a vulnerable area in my body that collects it. I use techniques to keep on top of it, however I know when the level has built up too much and I need to check in for a Reiki session. That’s when I go to another professional.
For some, a Reiki session doesn’t seem like much, as the therapist will hold parts of the body, or even hold their hands over the body. For me, however, I find it very relaxing and I can physically feel the energy shift and move as it is released, much the same way as when I have a massage it can release the physical tension in my body. Some people are unsure about Reiki because it is an energy therapy, however I’d recommend you read the previous blog post to understand it more.
After a Reiki session I find I feel lighter and more balanced. During the session I may have found my mind drifting, occasionally I meditate and sometimes I may have been close to falling asleep. My response is right for the session at the time – some people do fall asleep or see various colours, and what happens will change for each session depending on what is going on at the time.
It’s important to choose a therapist who resonates for you. Different therapists work in different ways and it’s important to choose one who can help your energy rather than hinder it. Choose a therapist who walks their talk, does their own self care and is able to leave the outcome of the session to you, as when you’re working with energies this is an important aspect. A Reiki session can be a great choice to manage emotional imbalances and to relax you if you have trouble switching off. A word of warning – if you’re unaccustomed to switching off, you may find it strange to lie for a time without anything actually happening, but if you can stick with it the process becomes easier and you will relax more if you continue. As with all things, don’t expect miracles immediately if you’ve let the issues build up to a chronic situation.
Louise is an holistic therapist who owns Therapy Centre, Bristol BS14 9HB, a clinic offering a range of holistic and beauty therapies. Louise offers reflexology, aromatherapy, holistic massage, Indian head massage, reiki, baby massage and story massage. She is a mum of two boys and when she is not working she enjoys getting outdoors with her family. For further information about Louise, visit louise-morgan.co.uk.