Welcome to the UK School of Holistic Therapies

It is the Life Force Energy that brings about healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels, encouraging the body to heal itself .

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a hands on healing therapy, which originated in Japan at the turn of the last century. A Japanese gentleman, Mikao Usui, put together the system of healing which we now know as Reiki, through combining traditional Japanese hands on healing methods with techniques and attunements that came to him during a period of deep meditation on Mount Kurama, near Kyoto.

The word Reiki (pronounced Ray Key), is usually translated as “Life Force Energy”. It is this energy, which is transmitted through the Reiki practitioner and into the client, that brings about healing on the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual levels. Reiki encourages the body to heal itself and always goes to where it is needed most. Although Reiki has it’s roots deep in Buddhism, it is not religious and does not conflict with any Religion. There are no creeds or dogmas that you must adhere to, in fact you do not even have to believe in Reiki for it to be effective. All you need is an open mind. This is brilliantly demonstrated by the fact that Reiki works really well on plants, animals and babies and they have no known belief system! Despite the fact that it is not a religion, Reiki can be deeply spiritual and often leads to a more spiritually aware way of being.

Reiki is a safe, simple and effective form of healing and does not conflict with other methods of healing, whether they be traditional medicine or complementary.

What can Reiki be used for?

Reiki can be used for almost every physical ailment and condition. In our experience, the only time we would not give a Reiki treatment would be to someone who is currently receiving chemotherapy. This is because Reiki has a powerful detoxifying effect and would strive to eliminate the toxins in the chemotherapy drug cocktail. Reiki before and after the course of chemotherapy would be very beneficial.

It is generally thought that 70% of our modern illnesses have their root cause in stress or powerful, unresolved, negative emotions. These negative “energies”, if they are not dealt with, do not go away, they fester and eventually become a physical illness. There is a saying in the world of complementary medicine, that if you do not listen to the whispers then you will have to hear the screams. Reiki is very effective at listening to these whispers and gently dissolving the negative energy that they create.

Reiki has a wonderfully calming effect on stress and emotional problems and can assist with depression, lack of confidence, low self esteem and bereavement. There is no condition that would not benefit from Reiki and the good news is that you don’t have to be ill to receive the amazing, calming, relaxing and uplifting effects of a Reiki treatment!

How does it work?

Many Eastern medical systems and philosophies believe that as well as having blood and lymph circulating around our bodies, we also have life force energy. This is collected into the body through a series of spinning energy centres (known as Chakras) and then distributed throughout the body in a network of channels and meridians, rather like the circulatory system. Each Chakra is responsible for certain organs, glands and physical systems of the body, certain emotions, certain mental attitudes and the higher Chakras are responsible for our spiritual aspects. When this energy flows freely and unimpeded through the body, this is perfect health on all levels. However, if stress and/or powerful, unresolved negative emotions cause the energy to stagnate or become sluggish, then we will feel ill on many levels (disease).

Reiki’s powerful and positive energy gently dissolves these blockages and allows the energy to again flow freely through the body.

During a treatment, the Reiki practitioner places their hands on the clients body and the client then draws in the energy from the practitioner. Reiki is taken and cannot be forced onto anyone who is not open to the experience. It is the client’s need for the energy which causes the Reiki to flow.

Reiki Treatments

Reiki may be received by either a physical treatment or from "distance healing".

A Reiki treatment may take between 45 minutes to an hour or sometimes longer and is usually done with the client remaining fully clothed and lying down on a massage table. As Reiki is able to flow through all clothing, (remember that this is an awesome energy that will not stop at a bit of polyester!) there is absolutely no valid reason for a Reiki practitioner to ask you to remove your clothes, if they do, then get the hell out of there! (That is, of course, if the practitioner is doing a Reiki treatment and not Reiki in conjunction with another body work therapy, that they are qualified to do and have discussed with you prior to the treatment.)

The treatment may be done with the client seated in a chair if they are unable for any reason to lie down on a massage table. It is usually done in silence, with maybe some relaxing music playing to create a calm environment conducive to healing. The practitioner usually starts by “putting in the intention”, this is to focus the client and practitioner on a positive outcome to the healing. The practitioner may encourage the client to visualise a white or gold light coming in through their crown chakra, each practitioner will have their own particular way of starting a treatment. Reiki is usually done with the practitioner gently placing their hands in various positions around the head and body of the client for approximately 3 to 5 minutes in each position, although some areas may require more energy. Some practitioners prefer to work with their hands about 6” over the body. This makes no difference to the effectiveness of the Reiki healing, although clients we’ve spoken to prefer the human warmth of a hands on treatment. Reiki is a non-manipulative therapy, so the practitioners hands should be still during each position. During the treatment, the client will experience a deep sense of relaxation, akin to that state between waking and sleeping, known as the alpha state. Many clients actually fall asleep. There is no right or wrong way to experience a Reiki treatment. Some people feel warmth from the practitioners’ hands, or a tingling sensation, or cold. Some people see colours, others will have “mini dreams”, or have physical sensations such as a rush of energy out through their fingers and toes. Each person experiences Reiki in their own unique way. Most of the experiences are very pleasant, but occasionally, if there is a big release or shift of negative energy, it may result in the client being quite emotional. This may be temporarily uncomfortable, but in order for deep healing to commence, that release is necessary and is a very positive sign that healing has taken place on a profound level. Th is temporary worsening of physical or emotional symptoms is known as a healing crisis and passes. Take it as a positive sign that a great release on a physical, emotional, mental or spiritual level, for your own highest good, has taken place.

Distance healing is when a Reiki practitioner, trained to at least the second degree, is able to send the Reiki healing through time and space by means of special Reiki symbols. It is a very effective form of healing when a person may not, at that time, be able to have a hands on treatment.