What is Reiki?
Reiki is a gentle, non-invasive energy-balancing therapy that originated in Japan. The word itself comes from two Japanese words — rei, meaning "universal wisdom," and ki, meaning "life force energy." Reiki works on the principle that when the body's life force energy is low or disrupted, we become more susceptible to physical and emotional imbalance. When that energy flows freely and is strong, we are more capable of maintaining health and well-being.
As a complementary healing approach, Reiki supports the body's natural ability to restore balance and promotes deep rest — the state in which real healing takes place.
What Can Reiki Do for Me?
Reiki can offer a wide range of benefits for people at all stages of health and wellness. Those who receive regular sessions often report:
- Reduced stress and anxiety — Reiki encourages a relaxation response in the nervous system, helping quiet the mind and ease tension in the body.
- Deep relaxation — Sessions often leave clients feeling profoundly rested, sometimes achieving levels of relaxation that are difficult to reach on their own.
- Boosted energy — By clearing blockages and improving the flow of life force energy, many people experience a renewed sense of vitality.
- Accelerated healing — Reiki may support recovery from illness, injury, or surgery by encouraging the body's own healing processes.
- Improved positivity — Regular Reiki often shifts perspective, helping clients feel more optimistic, centred, and emotionally balanced.
- Clearer thinking — Mental fog can lift following a Reiki session, leaving clients with a calmer, more focused mind.
Where Does Reiki Come From?
Reiki was developed in the early 1900s by a Japanese Buddhist monk named Mikao Usui. After years of study, fasting, and meditation on Mount Kurama, Usui experienced a spiritual awakening through which he received the knowledge and ability to use Reiki healing. He spent the rest of his life practicing and teaching the method, founding the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai (the Usui Reiki Healing Society) in Tokyo in 1922.
Usui's original intention was for Reiki to be a pathway to self-healing and spiritual development — not only a treatment to be received, but a practice to be lived. Over the decades, Reiki has spread throughout the world and is now practised in hospitals, wellness centres, and private practices across dozens of countries.
How a Session Works
A Reiki session is a peaceful, comfortable experience. Clients remain fully clothed throughout the treatment and lie on a massage table in a warm, quiet room with soft music playing softly in the background. There is no need to undress or prepare in any special way.
The practitioner gently places their hands on or just above specific areas of the body — typically the head, shoulders, abdomen, and limbs — allowing the universal life force energy to flow where it is most needed. Sessions typically last between 60 and 90 minutes. Many clients drift into a deeply relaxed, meditative state during the treatment, and some fall into a light sleep.
After the session, your practitioner may share observations or invite you to discuss what you experienced. It is recommended to drink plenty of water following a treatment to support the body's natural cleansing processes.
Taking Reiki Classes
Learning Reiki is a beautiful way to develop your own healing abilities and deepen your connection to your body and spirit. Reiki training is offered at Health Within Holistic Centre in three progressive levels, typically held every other month:
- First Degree (Shoden) — The foundation level. Students learn the history and principles of Reiki, receive attunements that open the channel to Reiki energy, and begin working with hands-on healing for themselves and others.
- Second Degree (Okuden) — The practitioner level. Students receive additional attunements and learn the use of three Reiki symbols that intensify the energy and allow distance healing to take place.
- Master Level (Shinpiden) — The teacher level. Students receive the Master attunement and symbol, and learn to pass attunements to others. This level represents a deep commitment to the Reiki path.
Classes are kept small to allow for individual attention. Please contact us to inquire about upcoming class dates and to register.