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Our beauty industry experts answer questions about every aspect of running a successful salon or spa business. I am a spa owner looking to expand my wellness offering by adding reiki. What exactly is it and what does it involve?

Reiki is a safe, gentle, non-intrusive hands-on healing technique for use on yourself, or on others, using universal energy to treat physical ailments and emotional issues, without using pressure, manipulation or massage. It is a holistic system for balancing, healing and harmonising all aspects of the person – body, mind, emotions and spirit – and can also be used to develop personal and spiritual awareness. Reiki is a natural therapy that gently balances and revitalises one’s energies and encourages health and well-being. The intention is to create deep relaxation, to help speed up healing, reduce pain and decrease other symptoms one may be experiencing. We are alive because life force is flowing through us. Life force flows within the physical body, through pathways called chakras, meridians and nadis. It also flows around us in a field of energy called the aura. Life force nourishes the organs and cells of the body, supporting them in their vital functions. When this flow of life force is disrupted, it causes diminished function in one or more of the organs and tissues of the physical body. The life force is responsive to thoughts and feelings. It becomes disrupted when we accept, either consciously or unconsciously, negative thoughts or feelings about ourselves. These negative emotions attach themselves to the energy field and cause a disruption in the flow of life force. This diminishes the vital function of the organs and cells of the physical body. The reiki practitioner places his/ her hands over the chakras (energy centres within the body) and the reiki heals by flowing through the affected areas of the energy field and charging them with positive energy. This causes the negative energy to break apart and fall away. In so doing, reiki clears and balances the energy pathways, thus allowing the life force to flow in a healthy and natural way.

Equipment

It is best to use a proper healing bed, like the ones used in beauty salons. One needs a good quality pillow for the head and under the knees. An eye mask is also a good suggestion if the room one is working in is particularly bright. Most practitioners incorporate crystals in their healing sessions.

Training

The minimum requirement in order to operate as a reiki practitioner is the successful completion of the Usui Reiki 2/Advanced course. What follows is Usui Reiki Masters, Karuna Reiki and Lightarian Reiki. These further qualifications are not required in order to practice, but should the practitioner make the choice to do so, they will be able to access the highest bands of reiki energy and therefore transmit a higher energy healing.

Pricing

A reiki session can vary between 60 and 90 minutes, dependent on whether the practitioner is including any form of discussion or advice. The price can vary from about R400.00 per hour to R600.00 per 1 ½ hours.

Helen Watson is an internationally qualified Karuna Reiki® Master and an Affiliate Member of The International Center for Reiki Training, an internationally qualified Lightarian Reiki™ Master, registered with the Lightarian Institute, and an independent Usui Reiki Master. She has been practicing as a healer and teacher for nine years. helen@reikijohannesburg.co.za