Reiki:
Reiki is a method of stress reduction and relaxation that also promotes healing. The technique was developed in Japan and is administered by the laying on of hands. It is based on the idea that all living things have a special energy flowing through them called life energy. When your life energy is high, you’ll feel strong and confident, be more relaxed and centered and less likely to get sick. When it is low, you’ll often feel tired, be more easily affected by stress and less resistant to illness.
Reiki is a Japanese word that comes from two words – Rei and ki. In the Japanese language, these words can mean different things depending on how they are used and how they are combined with other words. When they are used together for the practice of healing, the word Rei means universal spirit, Higher Power or God. The word ki refers to the life energy that flows through all living things. Therefore, Reiki means life energy that is guided by a Higher Power.
A Reiki treatment is a way of increasing your life energy. A practitioner will transmit Reiki to the client through the hands. The hands are lightly placed on or near the body in various positions around the head, shoulders, stomach and feet.
A treatment can feel like a warm glowing radiance that flows through the body. It is a very relaxing experience and some clients report the body feeling heavy as it relaxes and yet the spirit or emotions feeling light at the same time. A treatment will usually release negative feelings or thoughts leaving the client feeling more positive, light hearted and with feelings of well-being.
Sound Healing:
Sound healing is an ancient practice that uses specially tuned instruments to create sound vibrations which are believed to positively impact the body, mind, and spirit by promoting relaxation, stress reduction, and overall well-being through the frequencies produced by these sounds. It involves the use of therapeutic sound waves to balance and harmonize the energy of the body. Sound waves are vibrations that travel through the air and water, and can be either harmful or beneficial to our health, depending on their frequency and intensity.
When sound waves enter the body, they affect different parts of the organism in different ways. Low-frequency sound waves, for example, can be beneficial to our physical health. These sound waves cause the muscles in the body to relax and release tension and stress. They also help to improve blood circulation which helps with nutrient delivery throughout the body.
On the other hand, high-frequency sound waves have a different effect on our mental state and emotional well-being. They can help to reduce anxiety, improve sleep quality, and boost our mood.
Meditation and Breath Work:
Meditation is a practice of training the mind to focus on the present moment, often achieved by focusing on the breath. Meditation is used to help people observe their thoughts and feelings without judging or acting on them.
Breath work is a specific technique within meditation that involves consciously manipulating your breathing patterns to achieve relaxation, stress reduction, or other desired states. This is usually done by taking slow, deep breaths and sometimes using specific breathing exercises like alternate nostril breathing or box breathing.
According to research, breath work may:
- boost mood
- decrease high blood pressure
- deepen relaxation
- help with symptoms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
- improve alertness, focus, and memory
- increase heart rate variability (a metric associated with longevity, fitness, and mental health)
- promote creativity
- promote quality sleep
- soothe emotions associated with grief and trauma
- reduce symptoms of anxiety and depression
- reduce symptoms of asthma
- reduce symptoms of stress
