7 reasons to try reiki

This Japanese healing technique uses gentle touch to restore your ‘life force energy’, reduce stress and promote balance within your system.

Regular 'attunement' sessions by a Reiki master are believed to reduce aches and pains, relieve emotional distress and even ward off illness.

1. IT BALANCES EMOTIONS
As a coping mechanism, our emotions are often suppressed - especially as kids or during stressful times - and according to Reiki master Alexis Hamer, these feelings can come back to haunt you. In Reiki, the healer channels universal life force energy (chi) to unblock chakras and the emotional issues that they're holding onto. "We all know that stress and tension can cause headaches, fear can cause breathing problems, nervousness can cause sweaty palms, and heartbreak can cause your heart to physically ache," says Hamer. "It's clear there's a definite link between our emotional and physical selves."

2. IT TREATS EVERYTHING
People come to Hamer seeking relaxation and relief from stress, pain, symptoms or emotional issues. But the benefits may show up in unexpected ways. "Reiki doesn't discriminate; the chi energy just flows through your body and is used wherever it's most needed."

3. ALL YOU DO IS LIE DOWN
A Reiki session involves lying fully clothed on a treatment table covered with a blanket for 60 to 90 minutes. The practitioner lightly places their hands on different parts of your body, holds them there for a few moments, and moves them elsewhere. "I'll scan the body's physical, spiritual, mental, emotional, auric and chakra energy fields to detect any blockages or misalignments," says Hamer. "Then I'll bring clearing, strengthening and balancing energies to the specific areas."

4. YOU DON'T NEED TO BE A BELIEVER
Although Reiki is spiritual, it isn't a religion. So for it to have a positive effect on your wellbeing, you don't need to be convinced it works. In fact, most people are quite skeptical at first. But the basis of Reiki is the very same concept as rubbing a numb foot to get the circulation flowing again. And the effects can be just as obvious.

5. IT'S DIFFERENT EACH TIME
A Reiki treatment is a highly individual experience. You may feel relaxed during a session, or you may feel heat, coolness, pulsing or tingling under the practitioner's hands. Or you may think your body is moving, as if it were naturally re-adjusting itself. "People will have all sorts of reactions to Reiki, such as twitching, crying, seeing colours and images, hearing stomach noises, feeling different sensations through the body," says Hamer. "It's all just energy being released - which is a good thing!"

6. IT'S FAST WORKING
You'll walk out of a treatment feeling relaxed, dozy and light. You may notice that pain has disappeared, the frog in your throat has gone, the heaviness in your chest has dissolved, your hips are loose... You may effortlessly say and do things you haven't been able to bring yourself to say or do (best to stay away from your ex or boss!). You may feel like a huge emotional weight has finally been lifted. Or you may just get a great night's sleep. "Top benefits I've seen are decreases in pain and sickness, more energy and an increased sense of wellbeing," says Hamer. "People feel more calm and more grounded and connected to themselves."

7. YOU CAN DO IT YOURSELF
Once you've experienced the benefits of Reiki, you may feel the urge to learn how to use healing hands to help people yourself. As well as being a great way to assist others, Reiki is a powerful tool for inner peace, healing and personal transformation.