Reiki is an ancient healing system that originated in Japan which makes use of energy to facilitate balance in the mind and body. In Reiki, both the client and the Reiki master or practitioner reap the benefits. Reiki operates in various levels- physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual.
Reiki is non-invasive and non-sectarian; it does not represent or is exclusive to any institution or religious/spiritual group, lifestyle, gender, age. The practice is highly inclusive, as the vision of its founder, Mikao Usui, is for Reiki to be accessible to everyone.
In many hospitals particularly in Japan, Reiki is being utilized as a complementary/supplementary tool for curing disease, both physical and psychological. In fact, Reiki practitioners are working side by side with conventional medical doctors. This highlights Reiki's inclusivity and accessibility, and indeed Reiki can be learned by anyone.
The practice involves the laying of hands to transmit healing vibrations from the Reiki practitioner to the body of the client, focusing on specific energy areas. The result is relief from pain and stress, better relaxation, release of emotional blockages, and the acceleration of natural healing.
Although Reiki has been discounted by mainstream scientists and medical practitioners, slowly Reiki is picking up and proving how effective it is. William Lee Rand, the president and founder of the International Center for Reiki Training, was able to provide evidence-based research to prove that Reiki is indeed a holistic healing modality.
Lee Rand has pioneered the evaluation of more than 25 test studies to see how Reiki treatments really work. His efforts have paved the way for the better understanding of the practice of Reiki in the West. There is now a growing collection of strong evidence showing how Reiki provides a positive biological response in both animals and humans. One study showed that Reiki can significantly reduce stress, anxiety and depression.
