Reiki: how does it work?

What is Reiki?

Reiki is an ancient Japanese practice of laying on of hands. While there are different forms of reiki, this method consists of an exchange of energy, between the recipient and the giver.

The goal is to put the hands on places of the body, in order to relieve the person. During a session, the practitioner will act on points located on the vagus nerve (the one which soothes, which calms), and thus promote the cures of suffering, diseases, disorders as diverse as:

• sleep problems
• the stress
• a lack of self-confidence
• concentration problems
• stiffness in the body
• pains
• a weakened immune system

There is nothing magic in reiki, it is simply a benevolent accompaniment!

What are the benefits of a reiki session?

The benefits of reiki can be seen very quickly. At the end of a reiki session, for example, the vast majority of people already feel soothed, relaxed, “better”. They often evoke “blockages that would have jumped” during the session, which allows you to be put back into a more fluid emotional, physiological and psychological circulation.

The main action of reiki, on the body and on the mind is the reduction of stress. As a result, over the course of reiki sessions, we can have improvements on other problems, related to stress. This gentle method allows, for example, to calm digestive disorders (chronic constipation, bloating, digestive discomfort on a daily basis …), or to act on insomnia problems.

Reiki can also be used as an accompaniment to certain illnesses. The practitioner will accompany the person who suffers from a pathology, and who may already be the subject of medical monitoring. The objective of this benevolent support will be to help him feel more peaceful, to accept the situation more, promote the effects of the treatment and thus improve the effect of the overall care of the person.

If the reiki sessions are not intended to replace traditional patient care, they can be seen as a boost in the care process. For example, in the United States, in many health establishments, reiki is used before or after surgery, so that the patient goes there in the best possible conditions and that they can also recover in good conditions. .

The number of sessions needed will depend on the person and the reason for the consultation. Generally, for problems of insomnia, anxiety, a return of burn-out, we recommend between 3 and 5 sessions, spaced at least a week apart (between two sessions, the body continues to calm down, to calm down ).

Some people, who don’t have a particular problem, but who need to be relaxed, feel the need to come back to enjoy a session regularly, every 4 to 5 weeks. They thus find their balance there.

What is the price of a Reiki session?

There is no framework concerning the prices of reiki sessions. In France, it takes around 60 euros for a practitioner in the provinces, in Paris, it will cost between 70 and 80 euros for a session, depending on the practitioner.

A reiki session usually lasts 1 hour, and generally takes place as follows:

• The practitioner begins by exchanging with the person who comes to see him, to find out why he is there, which leads him.
• He will then place the person on a massage table in a comfortable way.
• The practitioner will put his hands on different points, starting with the head and often ending with the feet.
• Certain points will be particularly soothing, because they pass over the “vagus nerve”: the skull, the head, the back of the neck… The practitioner therefore uses these natural reactions of appeasement by placing his hands in these precise places.
• The person will gradually relax, the practitioner will check that the solar plexus relaxes.
• During the session, energy flows again, which will contribute to the well-being of the person.
• Finally, a new exchange takes place at the end of the session, to observe the benefits, and possibly welcome the emotional reactions (when there is crying, we speak of “emotional detox”)

Good to know : during the session, the person is in a state of semi-sleep, very relaxed. She is neither asleep nor fully awake. Also, noises in the belly can indicate that something is happening at the level of energies, nothing worrying, on the contrary!

How to find a practitioner?

To find a practitioner, and avoid offers from unskilled practitioners, check to start the training they have taken. Reiki training is offered over only a few days, and allows you to exercise. But it is even better to turn to a person who also has bases in anatomy, physiology and why not in psychology.

The fact of having several caps, allows him to go beyond, and to offer more targeted, more complete sessions.

Word of mouth and the opinions people give about a practitioner are the best guarantees of quality that you can find when it comes to making your choice.

Reiki: the dangers and contraindications?

While there is no real “danger” during a reiki session, the emotional reactions can sometimes be intense. Thus, some practitioners take care not to receive people who have psychiatric problems (who suffer from bipolar, for example), in order to avoid the risk of psychotic decompensation.

No contraindication in pregnant women, who, on the contrary, may feel a little helpless in the face of anxiety and sleep disorders, and who cannot take medication.

Children and adolescents are very receptive (because they have no psychological blockages). Reiki can be effective in an agitated child, or who suffers from tocs, for example.

Finally, reiki would work very well on animals, in case of behavioral problems.

Thanks to Seforah Benhamou, Reiki practitioner and naturopath, author of Practicing reiki, to regain her vital energy (Éditions Eyrolles). www.seforah-benhamou.com

Source : femmeactuelle.fr