Explore the Path to Wellness

The session begins with a 15 minute consultation, followed by a 45 minute reiki treatment.

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a complimentary therapy which uses a healing technique connected to the belief that all living things not only have a physical body, but also a non physical field of energy which runs through and around them.

When the energy within us is blocked, not only can we can feel physical pain and illness but we can also feel stressed, anxious, lethargic, depressed, unable to sleep, unable to focus and our physical and emotional health can be significantly affected. The healing practice of Reiki seeks to promote physical and emotional healing and well-being by channeling the reiki, or ‘universal life force’ energy, to clear any areas of blockage and restore balance.

What will happen to me in a Reiki treatment?

During a Reiki treatment, the practitioner positions their hands on or above various parts of the body to connect with your energy field. You may feel sensations such as a change in temperature, tingling, numbness, or that your body may feel extremely heavy or even lighter. The primary aim of reiki therapy is to induce a feeling of deep relaxation, as it is in this state that the body’s parasympathetic nervous system is activated, and self healing can occur.

Stress, the nervous system and it’s impact on our energy system.

Our autonomic nervous system is in charge of our involuntary physical processes such as our heart rate, breathing rate, digestive function, and blood pressure. It is made up of three separate divisions, sympathetic, parasympathetic, and enteric. It is the parasympathetic system which we want to be connecting with during a reiki treatment, to tap into the body’s ability to prevent and heal illness and reduce inflammation.

At times of stress and danger (real or perceived), our body’s job is to prepare us for the pressure we will face in what is commonly referred to as the ‘fight or flight’ state. The response from our sympathetic nervous system is to get us physically ready at short notice to either fight the threat that has presented itself, or run from it.

Our heart rate, blood pressure and breathing rate will all increase. Our pupils will enlarge to improve our vision and our blood vessels will narrow so the blood flow can be immediately redirected to the skeletal muscles. Our digestion slows and in some cases, dependent on how extreme the response is, the stomach may even need to get rid of it’s contents as a requirement for the blood flow to divert it’s supply. (This explains why some people may even feel or actually be sick during times of acute anxiety or stress).

Now, here comes the key part for our health - the immune system. When we are in a state of heightened stress, our bodies release powerful stress hormones which shut down our immune system. This is to prioritise the more immediate requirements for ‘survival’ and divert the energy temporarily to our physical needs such as strength and stamina.

This used to function incredibly effectively for our ancient ancestors, needing to run from predators, but these days our stress responses are 24/7. Stress is everywhere, work, finances, family pressures, social media, the constant barrage of negative news on our screens, road rage, over crowding, lengthy queues delaying us with the increased pace of life and the list goes on. These days we’re more likely to struggle to think of the areas in which stress doesn’t impact our lives, as opposed to the other way round.

Each time our stress levels are raised enough to kick start the fight or flight response, our adrenal glands release a powerful stress hormone called cortisol. Cortisol’s job at this moment is to mobilize energy at short notice to cope with the ‘danger’ by increasing blood sugar levels and suppressing non-essential functions. The longer you are in this phase of ‘survival’ the longer you are diverting energy from your immune system and overall health and well being.

The problem in today’s world is that most of the stress and ‘danger’ we face is not something that we simply run from for a short while until we can rest again. Today’s stressors are a constant part of life, so unless we find a way to signal that the danger has passed, the greater the danger to our long term health.

How can Reiki help me combat this?

In order to switch back out of the flight or flight response and into the ‘rest and digest’ state, we need to signal ‘safety’ to our nervous system. It is in this state of calm where the body can divert it’s energy back to the clean up and restore mode and send the ‘business as usual’ prompt to the body to resume normal healing and protective functions.

Not only can reiki help you achieve that deep state of relaxation, but it can assist in locating and relieving any specific areas where an accumulation of negative energy and stress has caused a physical or emotional blockage and impacted your health.

As a reiki practitioner, my primary aim for the recipient is to hold a safe enough space for them to feel a deep state of relaxation and calm. In doing so, the reiki energy can work to clear those blockages long enough for their own self healing to commence.