Reiki loosely translates as "Universal Life Force Energy." It is a somewhat westernized version of hands-on-healing brought to the United States from Japan but thought by many to have ancient Tibetan Buddhist origins. It is a very safe, non-invasive and natural healing method that utilizes light touch on the fully clothed body, or at certain positions located above the body. Reiki is normally carried out with the client lying comfortably and fully clothed on a massage table, or seated in a chair. A Reiki treatment may take 60-90 minutes if one practitioner is working with you or a slightly shorter period if a team of us are working with you. Some conditions are more responsive to longer sessions. Many Reiki practitioners recommend a series of sessions to maximize benefits, but we have found that Reiki works best when individualized to the client and condition being worked with.

Reiki is a very effective means of stress reduction that increases the ability to focus and the balancing of one's energy. Reiki is now used by several million people in many healing centers, private offices, hospitals and countries around the world.

Reiki supports and enhances the body's own natural healing processes by working to bring balance of body/mind/spirit, thus increasing the opportunity for wellness. You may have heard of the word "chi" that is used in acupuncture and the Chinese Martial Arts. The "ki" of Reiki is the Japanese equivalent of "chi". Blockages or imbalances in "ki" can have a negative effect in many ways. Imagine for a moment that there was a blockage in the cooling system of your automobile. Perhaps it would overheat, start to leak, or harm the engine. Or imagine an imbalance in that same automobile's fuel system. It wouldn't work very well, would it? Now imagine a blockage or imbalance in your personal energy system. What symptoms might happen as a result? How would you feel and function? There are many ways in which energy blocks and imbalance can cause illness or prevent a person from living a balanced life. Stress alone can cause imbalance and left un-resolved can lead to physical symptoms and/or emotional discomfort. Reiki works to decrease or eliminate such imbalances and blockages. It releases stress from the body, mind and spirit, thus promoting relaxation and harmony of our systems. Reiki works with the underlying causes, not just the symptoms. Many illnesses manifest first in what is referred to as the subtle bodies which are the energy bodies that surround a person's physical being. Those subtle bodies make up what is commonly called the aura, something that people were once quite skeptical about, but which has now been scientifically demonstrated numerous times. If you have heard of the concept of personal space, it really involves these subtle energy bodies. A person's physical body is the last to respond to thoughts or emotions. Reiki not only works with the physical body, it also works with the subtle energy bodies in order to promote healing and to prevent dis-ease.

Reiki is not a religion, although it does come from ancient Buddhist teachings. You do not need to be Buddhist or to hold to any particular spiritual belief system. You do not need to have the same spiritual beliefs that the Reiki practitioner does. Reiki does not contradict natural laws of the universe; instead, it will work in synchronicity with what ever belief system the person embraces, working to stimulate the inner healer to heal harmoniously on the physical metal, emotional and spiritual planes.

Reiki has been demonstrated to be helpful to many in general functioning and concentration, as well as with many other conditions. Some of those conditions include but are not limited to stress, anxiety, general weakness, grief, depression, chronic pain, other physical disorders, recovery from surgery, addictions, and many other problems. Reiki works not only with symptoms, more importantly it works with the underlying causes of those symptoms. It does not replace medical treatment as there is a different focus to Reiki than medicine. It is a complement to medical treatment, and has earned a respected place in what is now called Complementary Medicine. Reiki can also be a useful tool for increasing effectiveness in the creative arts or in corporate or private business enterprises. Imagine how creative energy or planning abilities would be enhanced and increased out if one's capacities in those areas were flowing smoothly.