Healing Through Touch: Reiki

When a child falls and scrapes their knee, what is your reaction? For many of us, our first instinct is to pick them up and hug them or “kiss it and make it better.”

Human Touch…A simple, yet somewhat overlooked tool we all possess and can use to heal ourselves and others.

Think about the last time you received a hug or a friend lovingly put a hand on your shoulder. It felt nice, and you smiled.  But do you know why? Human touch has more physical and emotional benefits than you know. It can decrease anxiety, lower blood pressure, increase white blood cells (immunity) and reduce cortisol levels (stress).  So the “good feeling” you got from that hug from your neighbor really had an affect on your body and mind.

An amazing way to receive more healing touch in your life is through Reiki.  Reiki is an ancient Japanese form of bodywork that uses “touch” to heal. A Reiki practitioner has had their energy pathways cleared in order to channel the universal energy through their body and pass it on to the recipient through light touch. Once it is passed on, the recipient’s body will take the energy to areas of the body where it is needed, both physically and emotionally. An incredible sense of peace and deep relaxation is felt and the body is restored.  A Reiki session can last anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and can be combined with other massage modalities. If you haven’t experienced this form of our most innate means of healing, “TOUCH, “ you have to give it a try!