Reiki

(still learning...)

For more information go to: www.reiki.ca

While not strictly under the auspices of massage, Reiki (pronounced "ray-key") is often practiced in conjunction with other bodywork. The word Reiki comes from two Japanese words - rei, meaning higher power or universal force, and ki, meaning life energy. Loosely translated, Reiki means universal or spiritually-guided life-force energy.

Practiced for thousands of years throughout Japan, China, Tibet and other Asian nations, Reiki was "rediscovered" in the late 19th century by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Buddhist monk and educator, who used the therapy to heal the sick. Today, Reiki is used as a method of healing illness and reducing stress through light touch or, more commonly, by placing the hands near or above the body in specific positions or patterns. Through these positions, a Reiki practitioner can correct energetic imbalances in the body by removing toxic energy, improving health and restoring a person's energy levels.

Reiki is a Japanese technique for stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. It is administered by "laying on hands" and is based on the idea that an unseen "life force energy" flows through us and is what causes us to be alive. If one's "life force energy" is low, then we are more likely to get sick or feel stress, and if it is high, we are more capable of being happy and healthy.

Universal energy or Holy spirit = Christianity, mana = Polynesian, chi = Chinese, ki = Japanese, or prana = Indian exists in all cultures.  Chi is directed through the hands to the body of the recipient, the hands often getting hot as chi is passed to another person or to oneself.  Chakras, or energy centers located in the body are cleaned out with blockages removed.  Considered a path of enlightenment, each level of reiki learned will help clear out your chakras or energy centers therefore allowing the person to hold more "chi".