Reiki has roots in ancient Japanese healing practices and is considered a form of energy healing. It stems from the Japanese words “rei,” meaning universal, and “ki,” meaning vital life force energy.

The theory is that a Reiki master (a practitioner trained in Reiki) can channel the “universal life force energy” to you. They say they do this by either lightly placing their hands on you or by hovering them just above you, using a series of hand positions. Some people will call these techniques:

• Centering
• Clearing
• Beaming
• Smoothing the aura

Reiki masters say they don’t create energy or give their energy to you. Rather, they say they act as a “conduit” for the universal life force energy that exists around us.

Now, let’s back up this train a moment. Because the idea of a universal life force energy isn’t a concept, we’re all familiar with. And it’s not something that scientists agree even exists.

People turn to Reiki and other energy-healing practices for all kinds of reasons. The idea driving Reiki is that channeling the universal life force energy and encouraging its movement through your body can help to create a healthier environment within your body and mind.

That’s supposed to lead to a range of health benefits. Because the theory goes, “stuck energy” can lead to pain and illness.

Essentially, people use Reiki to get their energy juices flowing. And fans of the practice say it can help with things like:

• Better sleep
• Reduced anxiety
• Boosted mood
• Reduced pain
• Increased energy
• Improved blood circulation

The experience of Reiki is subjective, changeable, and sometimes very subtle. People often experience heat in the practitioner's hands, but sometimes the practitioner's hands feel refreshingly cool. Other common experiences are subtle pulsations where the practitioner's hands are placed or cascading waves of pulsations throughout the body.

People often comment how comforting they find the experience of Reiki to be. An interesting study reported that recipients frequently feel that they are hovering in a threshold state of consciousness, simultaneously aware of their surroundings and deeply indrawn. Some people fall into a deep, sleeplike meditative state. Sometimes the experience of Reiki is dramatic, while for other people, the first session in particular may be uneventful, although they feel somehow better afterward. The most common experience is an almost immediate release of stress and a feeling of deep relaxation.

Reiki is cumulative and even people who don't notice much the first time usually have progressively deeper experiences if they continue. Besides the immediate experience of the Reiki, you may notice other changes that continue to unfold as the day goes on: perhaps stronger digestion, a sense of being more centered and poised and less reactive and sleeping deeply that night.