What is Reiki? Universal (Rei) energy (Ki) is our vital life force that animates and gives life to everything, everyone, and everywhere.

On a daily basis this energy is a part of us at all times. When we are outside and feel the pulsation of nature, while staring at a beautiful landscape or sky, feeling the glow of a moon beam, when taking in a deep breath and feeling re-energized this is all apart of universal energy. That’s why even when hugging a friend or stroking your pet you feel peaceful and calm as it is this transfer of this universal energy.

Some people refer to this energy as Universal Oneness, or Divine. A Reiki healer concentrates, uses and directs this energy as a sacred trust. Reiki is not a religion and should not offend anyone from any lineage. A Reiki Practitioner is initiated by their teacher who opens their energy channels or Chakras allowing this flow of energy to be transmitted. A Reiki Practitioner uses this life given energy through laying on of hands to rebalance and heal a client’s body, mind, emotions, and spirit.

The origins of Reiki predate recorded history. Reiki has been passed down from Master to student in India, Tibet, China and Japan for approximately 5,000 years. Sometime within the second millennium C.E. the symbols and practices were lost.

Dr. Mikao Usui, around 100 years ago, rediscovered the ancient Reiki symbols and reunited them with traditional healing techniques re-introducing Reiki to mankind. Dr. Usui founded the Usui Shiki Ryoho School that continues to teach Reiki healing in modern Japan.

A Reiki treatment can take anywhere from one minute to two hours but usually lasts anywhere from 30 – 60 minutes. It can be done in a chair or on a massage table or virtually anywhere. The client remains fully clothed at all times and the practitioner places their hands on the patient where the healing is needed. In a typical session the practitioner has the client lying down while beginning with the front of the body from the head moving downward to the feet, and then the back of the body. The hands remain static and are never massaging the skins surface. Hands are laid either on the body or slightly above.

The client usually relaxes into a state of meditation or light sleep and may experience feelings of warmth, tingling energy and can even experience seeing various colors.

Your first Reiki session may last an hour or longer and it is important to discuss your wellness history with your Reiki Practitioner so they can be of better service to you.

After experiencing a Reiki session many people feel relief from bodily or emotional discomfort and leave feeling peaceful and at ease.

Gail Robertiello has completed three levels of training and is a Master Level Reiki Practitioner.