Heard of reiki but not too sure what it is? Read on to discover how this traditional Japanese method of healing works and who it can help.

The word ‘reiki’ translates as ‘universal life energy’. The therapy uses this invisible energy to stimulate the body’s own natural healing processes by facilitating its flow throughout the body.

Reiki is a powerful form of natural hands-on healing of which there are many variations. They all aim to balance the mind, body and spirit and reinforce the body’s natural ability to heal itself at all levels: physical, mental, emotional or spiritual.

A reiki practitioner uses touch or near touch – placing their hands close to the body – to encourage the flow of this energy. They gently place their hands, non-intrusively, on or near the body. In reiki there is no massage or manipulation and they treat the whole person rather than focusing on specific symptoms. The reiki practitioner will typically change the position of their hands several times during treatment, for which patients stay fully clothed.

During their reiki treatment many people say they can feel a flow of energy – a mild tingling, warmth or sometimes coolness – while others say they feel nothing at all.

What can reiki help with?

Reiki is used for a wide range of conditions, including physical problems, mental issues and emotional distress. Reiki is a deeply relaxing therapy and can help to reduce stress, as well as relieving pain and promoting self healing.

Who benefits from reiki treatments?

We all have the potential to find reiki beneficial and it can be used to treat patients of all ages. The therapy is very safe and can by used alongside conventional medical treatments.

We offer reiki treatments with our two reiki masters Dr Robert Maida and Caroline Hulme. Robert studied medicine at St Andrew’s University. He has been practising at the Good Health Centre since 2002, where he offers acupuncture and reiki treatments, sometimes combining the treatments with very powerful effects.

Caroline Hulme has been practising reiki for nearly 10 years, during which time she has offered the therapy both at our practice and our sister company Aesthetic Health, as well as at Wheatfields Hospice and through her own mobile practice.

To make an appointment with Robert or Caroline, call the practice on 0113 237 1173 or click here to request a callback.

Reiki facts

Reiki has been practised since the early 1900s when Japanese Buddhist Mikao Usui (known as Usui Sensei) brought together elements of his own spiritual practices to pioneer the healing method we know today.

A woman called Hawayo Takata (known as Takata Sensei) is credited with bringing reiki to the West during the 1930s.

Reiki is not taught in the normal way of teaching. Rather a reiki master (teacher) passes on the ability to use energy to heal to their students through a number of attunement sessions.