What is Reiki?

Reiki is a Japanese relaxation and energy practice. A lot of people in Hyderabad have heard the word but are not sure what it involves. This page covers what Reiki is, its history, what the research says so far, and what a session with Grandmaster Srilatha at Latha Reiki Healing is like.

The meaning of Rei and Ki

The word "Reiki" (pronounced Ray-Key) is Japanese and has two parts:

• Rei (霊): Often translated as "universal" or "spiritual". In the Reiki tradition it refers to a wider intelligence or consciousness that runs through all life.
• Ki (気): "Life force energy", the non-physical energy believed to move through all living things. Other traditions call it 'Chi' (Chinese) or 'Prana' (Sanskrit, in yoga). Some modern writers use the term 'biofield'. In this view, when Ki flows well we feel well, and when it is low or disturbed we are more prone to stress and feeling unwell.

So Reiki is often described as "spiritually guided life force energy". Practitioners see it as working on the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual sides of a person together.

A short history of Reiki

Healing by laying on of hands appears in many cultures. Reiki as a specific system was developed in Japan in the early 20th century by Mikao Usui (Usui Sensei). The traditional account says that after a period of fasting, meditation and study on Mount Kurama (around 1922), he had a spiritual experience and received the ability to channel Reiki.

He taught that this was not his own energy but a universal one that he could channel for himself and others. He developed the Usui Reiki Ryoho system, with its hand positions, symbols and attunements, and founded the Usui Reiki Ryoho Gakkai, which still exists in Japan. He also taught the Five Reiki Principles, which practitioners often recite daily:

The secret art of inviting happiness,
The miraculous medicine of all diseases.

Just for today:

• Do not anger.
• Do not worry.
• Be grateful.
• Do your work honestly.
• Be kind to every living thing.

Morning and evening, join your hands in prayer.
Pray these words to your heart and chant these words with your mouth.
Usui Reiki Treatment for the improvement of body and mind.
– The Founder, Mikao Usui

The principles are as much a part of Reiki as the healing itself. If you want to read more about the lineage and the different schools, The International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT) has a lot of material on its history.

How Reiki is understood to work

Reiki rests on the idea that an unseen life force energy flows through us. A practitioner such as Grandmaster Srilatha has been attuned to this energy and acts as a channel for it. In the Reiki tradition, the energy goes where the recipient needs it, with three main aims:

• Easing blockages: In Reiki thinking, injuries, upsetting experiences, long-term stress and negative habits of thought can disturb the flow of Ki, and Reiki is meant to help it flow freely again.
• Restoring balance: Reiki works with the chakras (energy centres) and meridians (energy pathways) described in older traditions. Client Ravi Chepuri described feeling "balanced, refreshed, and deeply at peace" after a session.
• Supporting the body's own healing: Reiki does not cure conditions the way medicine treats a symptom. The idea is that deep relaxation and lower stress give the body a better chance to look after itself.

Practitioners say they are not using their own energy, only channelling it, which is why they do not usually feel tired after a session.

What the research and clients say

Reiki is mostly something people experience personally, but researchers have started to study it. Reiki is a complementary therapy. It sits alongside conventional medical treatment and does not replace it.

The National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), part of the U.S. National Institutes of Health, states: "Reiki is a complementary health approach in which practitioners place their hands lightly on or just above a person, with the goal of directing energy to help facilitate the person's own healing response." The NCCIH says current research is not conclusive for specific health conditions, partly because energy healing is hard to study. It also notes that Reiki has not been shown to cause harmful effects, and that it is used in some hospitals and clinics to help people relax.

Some studies worth knowing about:

• A 2014 review of randomised trials published in Pain Management Nursing (Thrane S, Cohen SM) suggested that Reiki may help with pain and anxiety. The authors say more high-quality studies are needed.
• Journals such as the Journal of Holistic Nursing and the International Journal of Palliative Nursing have published studies on Reiki for stress, anxiety and well-being, including in people with chronic illness, people having surgery and people in palliative care. Some of these reported statistically significant reductions in pain scores and anxiety levels in post-operative patients who received Reiki alongside standard care.
• The International Center for Reiki Training (ICRT) keeps a collection of Reiki research summaries, covering topics from fibromyalgia to support for depression.

Research in this area is still limited and mixed, so it is best read with care. What comes up again and again is that people find Reiki deeply relaxing, which is why some hospitals offer it to help patients cope with the stress of treatment.

Clients of Latha Reiki Healing describe it in their own words. Rajitha Reddy Adamala called it "a tranquil space offering exceptional healing sessions".

What happens in a session

All sessions with Grandmaster Srilatha are online distance Reiki, so you stay at home. This is how it usually goes:

1. Initial consultation: A short, confidential conversation where you tell her what is bothering you, physically, emotionally or in some part of your life, and ask any questions you have.
2. Getting comfortable: At the agreed time, you lie or sit somewhere quiet where you won't be disturbed. A light blanket or soft music can help.
3. The Reiki: Srilatha does the healing from a distance, working through the main chakras from head to feet and keeping in mind what you discussed. There is no physical contact.
4. What you might feel: This varies a lot from person to person. People describe things like:
   • Feeling very relaxed. Homdeep Reddy Adamala called it "a peaceful haven".
   • Warmth, coolness, tingling or a gentle pulsing in parts of the body.
   • Seeing colours or shapes with your eyes closed.
   • Emotions coming up, such as sadness, relief or happiness. That is fine.
   • Feeling light, or pleasantly heavy.
   • Drifting between waking and sleeping, or falling asleep. That is fine too.
   • Not feeling anything in particular, which is also normal.
5. Session timing: Session timing depends on your needs and is agreed with you during the initial consultation call.
6. Afterwards: Rest for a few minutes and drink some water. Srilatha then tells you what she observed during the session and anything she suggests next.

If it is your first time, our blog post goes into more detail: Your First Reiki Session: What to Expect.

What people use Reiki for

Experiences differ, but these are the things people most often say Reiki helps them with:

• Stress and relaxation: The most common thing people notice is that they feel calmer. That is especially welcome with the daily pressures of city life. Read about Reiki for Mental Wellness.
• Emotions: Some people find it easier to let go of worry, grief or anger after a session.
• A clearer head: Clients sometimes say their mind feels quieter and they can concentrate better, which matters to busy professionals and students.
• Energy: Some people say they feel less tired and more like themselves.
• Sleep: Feeling relaxed can make it easier to sleep. Anjan Reddy Gaddam wrote that his sleep improved after his session.
• General well-being: Lower stress is good for your overall health, and Reiki is one way people look after themselves. It does not replace medical care.
• Spiritual life and self-awareness: For people with a spiritual practice, Reiki can feel like a way to reconnect with their own intuition and sense of purpose. Aishwarya Guda spoke of finding "a pathway to success".
• Personal goals: Some people use Reiki to support them while they work towards personal or professional goals. See Reiki for Success.

You can see all the ways Srilatha works with clients on the main Services page.

What Reiki is (and isn't)

Reiki is:

• A gentle, non-invasive practice that, in the Reiki tradition, works with the body's subtle energy.
• A complementary therapy that can be used alongside medical and psychological treatment.
• A spiritual practice that fits with any belief system.
• Generally considered safe for people of all ages, and for pets.
• Concerned with the whole person: mind, body, emotions and spirit.

Reiki is not:

• A religion, or tied to any religious creed.
• A substitute for medical or psychological diagnosis and treatment. Grandmaster Srilatha does not diagnose conditions or prescribe medicines, and does not perform Reiki for medical reasons. Always see your doctor about health concerns.
• Massage, physical manipulation or psychotherapy.
• The practitioner's own energy. They act as a channel.
• A quick fix. Some concerns need a series of sessions, and it helps to come with an open mind.

Who comes for Reiki?

People in Hyderabad and further away, through distance sessions, come to Reiki for reasons such as:

• Wanting to feel more comfortable while living with pain or going through medical treatment, alongside their doctor's care.
• Anxiety, low mood or grief, alongside any professional support.
• The stress of busy city life.
• Wanting to feel generally better in themselves.
• Wanting a clearer, calmer mind.
• A wish to deepen their spiritual practice.
• Getting through a big change or a hard time.
• Simply wanting to rest properly.