How Reiki Helps to Reduce Stress
Stress is a fact of life in the 21st century, for most of us anyway. Even if you live in the safest country in the world, are comfortable financially and in good health, your stress levels can cause chronic health problems. Since 1937, however, Western practitioners have been able to offer Reiki to patients.
History of Reiki
Reiki is believed to have been discovered in the mid-1800s by Dr. Mikao Usui, a Japanese-born Buddhist monk. He practiced for years in the slums of Kyoto, Japan, and was succeeded by Dr. Chujiro Hayashi, whose clinic remained open until 1940.
The practice was brought to the West in 1937 by Mrs Hawayo Takata, a Hawaiian woman of Japanese descent who was successfully treated by Dr. Hayashi. She learned the practice and trained 22 Reiki masters during the remainder of her lifetime.
What Stress Does to You
Stress causes the release of cortisol into your blood, which triggers the “fight or flight” response so many of us are familiar with. Chronic stress raises your blood pressure, suppresses your immune system, increases your risk for heart attack and stroke, contributes to infertility and speeds up the aging process. And there’s little you can do about it on your own. Stress can’t simply be managed by having a “pep talk” or spending some forced relaxation time. A lot of people ask me, “can reiki heal a broken heart?” Receiving reiki healing after a breakup is very beneficial, yes reiki does help your heart heal after a breakup.
How Reiki Works
So how does Reiki help you reduce and control your stress levels? Reiki is an energy healing treatment method, which works on your whole body, mind and spirit. It’s not a system of religious beliefs, but simply a relaxing treatment during which natural, healing vibrations are transmitted through the hands of the Reiki practitioner to your body. This triggers your body’s natural ability to heal using the immune system and helps you to relax and sleep better, which also improves your overall health.
Benefits of Reiki for Stress
Reiki is also known as “energy healing” in some circles. Some of the ways it benefits stress include:
Bringing inner peace and harmony, which is helpful for patients looking to achieve spiritual growth.
Balancing your mind and your emotions. Regular Reiki treatments can result in calming you and giving you the strength to cope with everyday stressors. The increased mental balance also improves your memory and mental clarity, making it easier for you to learn and retain information.
Helping to heal mental and emotional stress, and reducing mood swings, anxiety and frustration. It can also relieve emotional anguish and sorrow, and help with the process of grieving. This is because it cleans and clears your emotions, which provides perspective and prevents them from being so draining to the body.
Enhancing your ability to love, so it can heal and strengthen your personal relationships with others and enable you to connect with them on a deeper level. By doing so, many people are able to reduce the stress of loneliness.
By helping you to relax and unwind, Reiki gives your body and mind the chance to heal. It’s a safe, painless and very relaxing experience.
