Reiki and Stress

Stress seems to be a normal part of our lives, but when it is experienced over a long period of time, there may be detrimental effects to our health.
Working long hours, family obligations, traffic jams, financial issues, not eating nutritious food can all create extra stress in our lives, and eventually create imbalances in our physical, emotional and mental health.By realizing that we are stressed out, we have a choice to manage it through stress reduction techniques such as reiki, yoga and exercise or eliminate  the stressful situation. Reiki has been found to be very beneficial in assisting in stress reduction and relaxation, by activating the bodies ability to heal itself on all levels, physical, emotional, mental and spiritual. Reiki an ancient form of Japanese healing, a subtle form of energy  work, that works with  the universal life force energy or (reiki) . The reiki practitioner allows the universal life force energy to flow through their hands and to their client, which assists in activating the healing response in the clients body. It is powerful, gentle and non-invasive, reiki can assist the body  to return to balance and promote health and well-being by increasing the levels of life force energy in the body. Many clients have found that by experiencing reiki sessions, their  symptoms of anxiety, digestive disorders, insomnia, chronic stress were greatly reduced and some relieved after a few sessions of reiki. Some clients commented how
they could feel the tension melt as they felt the heat of the reiki energy moving through their bodies. The most successful techniques  to relieve stress has been placing the hands on the head, as we hold a lot of tension and stress here, heart as this is we store our emotional memories, stomach, solar plexus area, is a place where we hold a lot of tension, stress and worry and then lower abdomen, bringing us more in touch with our bodies and emotions.
There has been research done in the area of reiki and it’s effect on stress .
A study by  Annie Goldman Shore Ph.D on ‘Long term effects of energetic healing (reiki) on psychological depression and self perceived stress’
Published May/June 2004,Volume 10, No.3 issue of  Alternative Therapies Magazine.
The study concluded that after six sessions of reiki, it was very effective in relieving symptoms of  both stress and depression. Re-testing a year later, showed that the positive results of the six reiki sessions remained intact.
The hospital community is starting to recognize the benefits of reiki and it’s effects on relieving stress and anxiety and continue to do studies in this area.
In England there are some hospitals who employ reiki practitioners to work with patients pre and post operative, understanding the positive healing benefits it has on patients.
Reiki is truly a beneficial way of transforming stress into relaxation and balance and to enhance well-being and positive energy .