“Reiki” (ray-key) is a Japanese word for “universal life-force energy”. The most widely used form today (but not the first) was developed by Mikao Usui in the early 20th century. A Hawaiian native, Hawayo Takata, travelled to Japan and experienced Usui’s Reiki in the 1930’s. She went on to become a Reiki Master and returned to her home in Hawaii in 1937. Hawayo created a more simplified Reiki process and toured, performed and taught Reiki in the US, Canada and Puerto Rico, with her granddaughter, Phyllis Lei Furomoto. Phyllis continued and expanded on her Grandmother’s Reiki teachings until her passing in 2019.
Reiki is a simple, safe, non-invasive technique that is for any age and everyone. There are many variations of Reiki with the primary goal being to encourage your body’s system to restore to its natural, organic balance.
Chakra is a Sanskirt (Hindu language) word meaning wheel or vortex and there are 7 major chakras in the body (and many minor chakras such as palms, feet, knees, etc):
You are lying on a comfortable table in a quiet, serene space. Hands may be used above or gently on the body to help energy flow to where you need it most. You may or may not experience various sensations such as tingles, heat, chills, lightness, or something else unique to you and will leave the session feeling relaxed. Each session, either a one time or monthly event will be a different experience depending on what you and your body require at that moment in time.
I personally have a regular monthly reiki session as part of my own self-care routine.
Reiki today, is a part of the Integrative Medicine Program used in major hospitals along with other various treatments and modalities such as: acupuncture, meditation, massage therapy, reflexology, Qigong and many more. The Integrative Medicine Program is offered as a complementary service used with traditional medical care that helps support relaxation and reduces stress for patients. This program is a part of many major hospitals such as; Harford Hospital, Hartford HealthCare Cancer Institute in Avon, Yale New Haven Hospital, Smilow Cancer Hospital, Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai and many more.