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Reiki principles and philosophy can explain and aid better life-balance and overall well-being; enable the furthering of self-development and discovery, as well as being a remarkable healing and recovery treatment.

That 'the mind affects the body and the body affects the mind' has long been accepted in the world of alternative/complementary therapy. Every cell in your body is literally eaves-dropping on the thoughts you are having and connecting with your emotional state. When we are weighed down by negative emotional states or have a stressful mind we send the body into chaos rather than coherence leading to disharmony and if untreated this will eventually show up as disease.

And this is where Reiki comes in. Reiki simply taps into this infinite energy for the mental and physical well-being of both the practitioner and recipient. The Reiki practitioner is merely a conduit through whom the energy flows into the recipient, and the practitioner has the happy advantage of benefiting from the session too.

Reiki can be given as a 'hands on' treatment or at distance. Reiki distance healing can be performed at any distance from the recipient. A mutually convenient time is normally arranged, although a Reiki Master can send healing to anyone at any time. A Reiki treatment raises the vibrational frequency of the recipient and clears blockages that disrupt the energy flow, allowing healing to begin at a cellular level. The energy supply is limitless.

Reiki is a great healing technique for preventive measures and in clearing at the energetic level before it manifests within the body. Reiki will also accelerate healing so is an ideal complement to anyone who is recovering from post -operative procedures. As healing proceeds, the recipient may begin to look at areas of his/her life that have been difficult in some way and make steps to address these issues. Apart from the direct healing from Reiki, an important tenet of Reiki is a commitment to one's own health. The recipient should accept, indeed embrace his/her responsibility for his/her own well-being. Reiki is not an insurance policy against living in an unhealthy manner but will support you in actively promoting your general improvement.

Sessions are normally one hour duration and you can expect to feel deeply restful at the end of the session. You will lie on a massage bed for that time and may drift off into a deep sleep or feel conscious but are likely to experience a deep meditative trance as Reiki helps to slow the brainwaves down. You may experience heat or cold sensations as the practitioner works slightly off the body at the key chakra points and experience some sensation in your body as the energy begins to move. Everyone is unique in their experience. After the session you may feel more tired than usual, sometimes more emotional too and will generally benefit from a good night's sleep and plenty of water.

Sometimes you may experience a healing crisis lasting a few days with cold like/flu-like symptoms which is often a direct confirmation from your body that toxins are lifting out due to the shift in energy created.

Perhaps not surprisingly, given the underlying philosophy of Reiki, it is likely that you will be guided to the right Reiki Master for you.

Fees vary too, and as with other services and advisors, a high fee doesn't necessarily mean best or right for you. Trust your instincts, and allow yourself to be 'drawn' to a person you feel is right for you.

Ultimately, choice will come down to a feeling, a sense that this person will be good to trust and if you feel safe in the teacher's hands - then you're probably right to go along with your intuition.

It's worth saying that there isn't a regulating body for Reiki so there is a wide range of practitioners out there ranging from those who have had substantial experience in this field and undertaken their own in-depth spiritual journey and cleared their own energy field to those that may have just taken up the therapy as a practitioner but may have much to learn about themselves.

The key is that the Reiki energy flows to anyone attuned to this channel but if deeper spiritual teaching is desired it is a good idea to undertake your own due diligence and personal referral can be a good way of gaining a sense of a Reiki Master or Reiki Teachers' capabilities.

Reiki is currently unregulated within the UK. This means there are no laws which stipulate what, if any, qualifications and experience are required in order to practice. Practitioners can join a professional association and they do require members to provide proof of qualifications, as well as adhering to a Code of Ethics and Conduct. Reiki professional associations include:

• The Reiki Guild
• The UK Reiki Federation

There are also two regulatory bodies accepting registration from Reiki practitioners; The Complementary and Natural Healthcare Council (CNHC) and General Regulatory Council for Complementary Therapies (GRCCT)

All Reiki practitioners on the site have indicated they are members of a professional body, however it advised you also make the necessary checks.

Our Reiki description was kindly supplied by Kath Roberts.