Beth
 

Things I would like you to know:

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What is Reiki 
Benefits of Reiki and Reiki for your Pet
How to prepare for your Reiki session with Beth
What to expect during your Reiki session with Beth
What to expect after your Reiki session

 

Why Reiki?

In a world where the pressures of our modern world lead to stress, burnout, and operating on auto-pilot, it is more important now than ever to find ways to come back to ourselves. When we learn how to bring ourselves back to our center, we begin to engage with life differently. Reiki can support you with this.

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The main purpose of a Reiki treatment is not only to “clear” your energy, but also to promote self-awareness so you can carry this into the rest of your day and your life. Regardless of your health status, whether you are feeling challenged in life, or just want to level up, Reiki has the potential to benefit everyone.

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People come to Reiki for all sorts of reasons. Some want to renew their energy levels, relieve the stress of daily life, move through burnout, navigate life transitions with more ease, or create momentum when they feel stuck. Others are drawn to Reiki for a spiritual connection, a desire to experience a greater sense of meaning in life. Many of the people I work with feel healthy and want to utilize Reiki as a form of self-care to preserve their wellbeing. Reiki is valuable to them in maintaining this harmony, empowering them to respond to life from a place of resilience and strength.

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Many who utilize Reiki treatments discover that internal balance helps them to better manage a wide range of health conditions, including stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain and insomnia to name a few.

 

What is Reiki?

Reiki is a type of energy healing that many people describe as deeply calming and therapeutic. Energy can stagnate in the body where there has been physical injury or even emotional pain. In time, these energy blocks can cause illness. Energy medicine aims to help the flow of energy and remove blocks in a similar way to acupuncture or acupressure.  Although it should not be used in place of conventional treatments, it can be a powerful compliment to medical treatments and other forms of therapy. Reiki is based on the idea that we all have an unseen “life force energy” that flows through our bodies.

 

How Does Reiki Work?

The honest answer is no one knows for sure! There are theories. One prevalent theory involves a phenomenon known as the “biofield,” an electromagnetic field that permeates and surrounds every living being. In humans, this field extends 15 feet or more from the body. The heart, for example, produces an electrical field (measured through an electrocardiogram, or ECG) to regulate heart beats. In fact, all of the body’s cells produce electrical charges, which then create magnetic fields. According to this theory, the interaction between two human magnetic fields may explain the effects of touch therapies like Reiki. It is thought that the biofield is the energetic force that guides bodily functions, and that Reiki energy influences the biofield. In essence, the Reiki practitioner may be able to gather and direct biofield energy to the recipient through thoughts and intentions.

Reiki therapy is a way of guiding energy throughout the body to promote the recipient’s self-healing abilities. The Reiki practitioner does not cause the healing, nor are they the source of that healing energy; they are a channel for the energy — similar to the way an electrical cord acts as a channel for electricity.

 

What Are the Benefits of Reiki?

1. Encourages deep relaxation that supports the body to release stress and tension

2. Promotes harmony and balance

3. Supports the release of energy “blocks” promoting natural harmony between mind, body, and spirit

4. Provides space to feel more anchored and grounded in the present moment

5. Enhances sleep quality

6. Boosts the body’s self-healing ability

7. Helps relieve pain and eases discomfort

8. Nurtures spiritual growth

9. Compliments medical treatment and other therapies

10. Can be learned for self-care

 

Reiki for your Pet?

Reiki can help animals in many ways, including:

• Stress relief: Reiki can help pets relax, which can be especially useful for animals in stressful environments like shelters or homes with new babies. 

• Pain relief: Reiki can help ease pain and speed up healing. 

• Emotional and mental health: Reiki can help with anxiety, behavioral problems, and other emotional issues. 

• Physical health: Reiki can help with arthritis, digestive disorders, and other physical health conditions. 

• End-of-life care: Reiki can help ease the transition to death when physical healing isn't possible. 

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Reiki is a complementary therapy that can be used in addition to conventional veterinary care. It is non-invasive. The animal is always in control and can choose to participate for as long as they want. Reiki can be just as helpful for animals when it is done with the practitioner’s hands hovering over the animal’s body.

How to Prepare for Your Reiki session:

It can be helpful to go into a Reiki session with the same mindset as you may have when going for a massage or other spa treatment. You will not be asked to meditate or think about anything in particular. There is nothing you need to do and no one you need to be when you are in a session with me. During the treatment, you are welcome to enjoy the music, quietness or even drift into sleep if you wish. 

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During a reiki session, you can adjust your position at any time if you become uncomfortable. You can also ask for additional support, such as a blanket or something under your knees. Here are some other things to make your experience the most comfortable for you:

• Wear comfortable clothing: Dress in layers so you can adjust your clothing during the session. Please note that you will NEVER need to undress for a Reiki treatment.

• Remove bulky items: Take off belts, shoes, and other bulky items before your session. 

• Use the restroom: Go to the restroom before your session so you can lie down comfortably. 

• Communicate: Be ready to share anything you would like to address in the session such as heavy emotions, high stress, mental exhaustion, mental health concerns, negative thought patterns, or behaviors that you would like relief from. Please briefly share any physical limitations such as injuries, medical conditions, or medical history.

• Request silence if you prefer: I will play relaxing music during your session. You can also request silence if you prefer. 

• Food and drinks to avoid: It is helpful to not eat or drink the following things 12 hours before, and 48 hours after the session: heavy meals, alcohol, red meat, and high volumes of heavily processed sugar.

• Avoid usage of recreational drugs: prior to the session

What to Expect in Your Reiki Session:

• We will start with a brief chat (5 minutes): What brings you in today for a Reiki session? Is there something specific you would like to work on? This could include a health or medical-related concern, emotional stress, emotional traumas, mental health-related issues such as anxiety or depression, or any current issues or major stress factors currently in your life. Or are you interested in Reiki as an act of self-care and self-love or personal development and self-growth?

• Let me know of any allergies or sensitivities: I offer complimentary aromatherapy during my Reiki sessions and will choose an essential oil or blend based on what you might be needing that day. I will ask if you have any specific allergies or sensitivities or wish to have a scent-free Reiki session.

• Comfortable position: For the actual Reiki treatment, I will ask you to rest on your back, fully clothed, on a massage table. If you are pregnant, injured, or have mobility issues, please let me know and we will find the safest and most comfortable position for your treatment. Pregnant women will be asked to lay on their sides for safety and optimum comfort for their pre-natal Reiki session.

• Optional weighted eye mask: To help your eyes relax, I will offer an optional lavender eye mask with a velvety cover (washed after each use). I will be sure to ask about lavender sensitivities.

• Energy Scan: Before I begin your Reiki treatment, I will start with an energy scan around your body from head to toe. This allows me to feel out your energy field and look for any blockages within your body. In addition to our chat, this also helps me to know which areas may need the most focus during your Reiki treatment.

• The Treatment (about 45 minutes): I facilitate the treatment with hand positions on areas that need healing on your body. This is standard practice, although there are some Reiki practitioners who prefer to channel Reiki with a little distance between their hand and your body (it looks like the hands are hovering over the body). I call this the hands-off or hover method. I always use the hover method over any sensitive or private areas of the body out of respect and comfort. However, if you prefer no physical contact, you can just let me know that you would like hands-off Reiki for your treatment. This method is just as effective.

  • Minimal talking: I will not speak during the session, allowing you to relax deeply. You are always welcome to speak at any time during the session if needed (e.g. to change position, request a blanket, etc.).

  • Sensations: You might feel warmth, tingling, coolness, or a sense of deep relaxation in the areas where the hands are positioned. You may also feel nothing at all in the moment. All experiences are completely normal and differ from person to person and from session to session depending on your current energy state.

  • No pressure or manipulation: Reiki is a non-invasive therapy, meaning there will be no massage or forceful manipulation. 

• At the End of Your Session: I will gently remove my hands from your body and allow a brief period of quiet reflection before prompting you to rise from your position slowly and gently.

• Wrap-up (about 5 minutes): I will ask open-ended questions about your experience and feelings during the session and may make some self-care recommendations. This will be brief and is not meant to be or to replace counseling.

What to Expect After Your Reiki Session:

Immediately following a Reiki session, many people report feeling deeply relaxed, calm, and refreshed, often with a sense of lightness and increased energy, although some may experience tiredness as their body integrates the healing energy; you might also notice feelings of warmth, tingling sensations, or a heightened emotional awareness, and may be encouraged to take some time to sit and re-center yourself after the session. Here are a few other things to consider:

• Individual experiences vary: Everyone's experience with Reiki is unique. You may not feel significant changes immediately. 

• Listen to your body: After a session, take time to rest and hydrate, and pay attention to how your body feels. 

• Bring up concerns or questions: If you have any concerns or questions about your experience, be sure to discuss them with me.

 

Recommendations - Things to Avoid After Your Reiki Session:

After your session, Reiki energy will continue to work in your body for up to 48 hours. This means that your body could continue healing and detoxing on its own for up to two days after a Reiki treatment. Therefore, it is best to let the body keep detoxing in a purer state by not adding more toxins into it. So as a suggestion, for two days after a Reiki session, I would suggest avoiding the following items:

• Alcohol

• Red Meat

• Caffeine

• Heavily processed sugars items

• All recreational drugs

• Nicotine

Understandably, many of us enjoy a cup of coffee in the morning to get started (myself included!) or a glass of wine at night to unwind. I would like to emphasize that this is only a suggestion for optimum energy detoxification after a Reiki session.

 

Follow-Up Reiki Sessions

After our session, I encourage you to let me know how you feel and see if a follow-up Reiki session would be beneficial for you. It is important to note that Reiki can be done as often as is needed without any harm. In general, it can be beneficial to have a Reiki session every 4-6 weeks as energy maintenance. However, if you experience a sudden transition in life, an unexpected event or difficulty that may cause higher levels of stress and emotions, then it may make sense to meet sooner. Reach out any time.