Whenever I speak to a group of nurses about Reiki, the number one question I get asked is: ‘What the heck IS Reiki Practice?’ While that is a great question, it is also a difficult one to answer. As a Reiki Nurse who uses Reiki as a self-care tool on a daily basis, I have come to understand the very individual nature of Reiki Practice. Here’s a quick video delving into ‘what’ Reiki is all about.

Reiki has helped me in the following ways:

• It has helped me be less reactionary and has opened me up to the natural flow of life;
• Reiki has helped me feel less angry, impatient, and bothered by other people in my life;
• I have found that I fall asleep with great ease and no longer lie awake worrying about my day;
• Reiki makes it easier for me to focus, think clearly, and stay on target with my goals.

However, Reiki isn’t only about mental and emotional health. Reiki Practice is a spiritual tool that invites balance- on any and all levels. Reiki can improve physical well-being, invite emotional calm, and bring about harmony in relationships.

The interesting thing I have found with my Reiki Practice is that the benefits are unique to each individual. So that is one of the reasons it’s so challenging to answer the question: ‘What IS Reiki?’ As an individual embarks on daily self-practice, they come to know Reiki for themselves.

When I share Reiki with nurses or teach Reiki I to nursing students or groups of nurses, I always start out by saying: ‘The best way to understand Reiki is to experience it for yourself”.

So I encourage you to do that for yourself. Look for a Reiki practitioner in your area. They can typically be found at Yoga studios, spas where massage is offered, or at integrative or holistic wellness centers. Approach Reiki with an open heart and a beginner’s mind. See what’s it like for you and if you can answer for yourself what Reiki Practice is all about.

I’d love to hear from you! Who has received Reiki therapy before? What was it like for you? What is your understanding of Reiki and how would you describe it? Please share in the comments below.

About the Author: As a speaker, workshop facilitator, and Reiki Master, Elizabeth partners with hospitals, organizations, associations, and nursing groups to help transform the field of nursing from the inside out. As the  host of the Your Next Shift Workshop, Elizabeth guides nurses and nursing students to a change in perspective, helping them make the inner shift needed to better maneuver the sometimes challenging realities of being a caregiver.